Memories of the Texas Rangers Quartet

L/R: Arnold and Vernon Hyles, founders of the Rangers Quartet

The Texas Rangers Quartet was the first fully independent Quartet, meaning they were not affiliated with the Vaughan Music Company or the Stamps-Baxter Music Company. They were also the first self-supporting Quartet. They held no other jobs.

Arnold Hyles, a SGMA Hall of Fame inductee born in 1906, and his brother Vernon, born in 1910, in Italy, Texas, were the founders of the Texas Rangers Quartet. The brothers attended a Stamps-Baxter school in Dallas, Texas in 1929. They fell in love with Southern Gospel Singing and pursued a career from that time. Arnold was proclaimed to be the lowest bass singer in the business. Vernon could sing bass in most Quartets, but was also an outstanding lead singer. The brothers enlisted two of their friends-George Hughes, a tenor singer, and Walter Leverett, a baritone singer-to join them. Vernon, an accomplished guitarist, provided the instrumentation.


Pictured L/R: Arnold Hyles - Walter Leverett - Geroge Hughes - Vernon Hyles

This yet unnamed Quartet went to Dallas, Texas, to appear at the 1936 Texas Centennial along with the Chuck Wagon Gang and several Stamps-Baxter Quartets. The Governor of Texas, James V. Allred, heard the Quartet and loved them. He made each member an "Honorary Texas Ranger" and the Texas Rangers Quartet was born.


Pictured L/R: Arnold Hyles - Walter Leverett - George Hughes - Vernon Hyles

Their next move was to plan a trip to New York city to appear on the Major Bowes "Amateur Hour" which was one of America's most popular radio programs of the day.

They decided they would like to make money and a splash on the trip to New York. They talked the Montgomery Ward Company into giving them four brand new bicycles, the Justin Boot Company into four pairs of high-heeled cowboy boots and the Ralston Hat company through in four ten-gallon hats. The idea was to ride the bicycles from Texas to New York and do concerts in towns and cities along the way to pay for the trip. After a few days of bicycle riding, they decided to put the bicycles on top of the car until they got close to the next town, take the bicycles off the car put on the boots and hats and go riding though the main streets of town promoting their concert for that night.

When they arrived in Louisville, KY, they went to WHAS, a 50,000 watt radio station to sing. The station manager liked them so much he offered them $32.50 per week to do a two-hour 5am to 7am daily show and they could promote their concert dates. This offer was too good to turn down, so they forgot about Major Bowes and the Amateur Hour. For the next few years, the Rangers Quartet was said to be the most popular Quartet in America.

Because of the Texas Ranger's success as a independent Quartet several other Quartets such as the Blackwood Brothers broke away from the song book companies and went out on their on.


Pictured L/R: Walter Leverett - Vernon Hyles - Arnold Hyles - Denver Crumpler

In 1938, tenor George Hughes decided to retire. An Irish tenor from Magnolia, Arkansas, named Denver Cumpler joined the Rangers. Denver stayed with the Rangers for fifteen years. In the fall of 1953, Denver joined Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet.

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Picured L/R: Marion Snider at the piano, Arnold Hyles -Walter Leverett - Denver Crumpler - Vernon Hyles

SGMA Hall of Fame inductee Marion Snider joined the Rangers in 1941 as their first pianist.

Other noted Rangers pianists included Hovie Lester, Lee Roy Abernathy, and Doy Ott- all of whom are SGMA Hall of Fame inductiees.


Pictured in first photo (L/R) The Rangers with Hovie Lester, next with Leroy Abernathy (center) and last with Doy Ott (center).



First photo L/R: Arnold Hyles, David Reece, Denver Crumpler, Ermon Slater (Ermon was killed in the auto accident in which Arnold was seriously hurt) Vernon Hyles. Next Photo: Vernon Hyles, Jimmie Jones, Arnold Hyles ( at this time Arnold was using a walker after the accident) David Reece and Denver Crumpler

Pianist David Reece had the longest run as pianist for the Rangers Quartet. When Arnold and Vernon retired they sold David the group's name.



Close to the end of the Rangers Quartet's career, Arnold came off the road due to serious injuires sustained in the auto accident. Jimme Jones, a bass singer, who many of you will remember from his days with the LeFevres joined David, Vernon and Denver. Pictured L/R Vernon, Jimmie, Denver and David at the piano.


Pictured L/R: Roy McNeil - David Reece - Clark Thompson

David reformed the group as a trio in 1960 along with Clark Thompson and Roy McNeil. The Rangers Trio like the Quartet was also very successful for many years.

The Rangers Quartet not only pioneered new ground and set a standard for Quartets, they proved a good Quartet could be successful on it's own, and nothing beat good quality singing. I have several recordings of the original Ranger Quartet and they were great.

J.D. Sumner loved Arnold Hyles and used Arnold as his benchmark for his career. JD told me, "Arnold was the greatest bass singer I had ever heard until I heard me sing. The only problem Arnold had was he was ugly, so I was better than him in two ways."

I regret I did not ever meet Arnold personally, but I have known many great bass singers such as George Younce and Rex Nelon and they all praised Arnold Hyles as being one of the best ever.

Copyright by Jerry Kirksey 2005

Posted by Jerry Kirksey at 3:00 PM - Send Comments - Email This Post