Biography
Since their establishment in 1952, the Violinaires have remained a cornerstone of Detroit's gospel scene, performing under shifting designations such as the Violinaires and the Fantastic Violinaires while being guided successively by founder Willie Banks and later by Robert Blair, whose leadership extended until his passing in 2001 and whose role then passed to pastor Danny Walker.
Isaiah "Lil Shot" Jones, Leo Coney, and Wilson DeShields assembled the ensemble's initial lineup that same year, after which Providence Thomas and Raymond, Mississippi-born Willie Banks entered the fold, prompting adoption of the Violinaires name. Although personnel rotated regularly from the beginning, Jones, Coney, and DeShields anchored the group throughout the remainder of the decade.
The Violinaires entered the studio for the first time in 1953 with the release of "Another Soldier Gone" on the regional Drummond label. A secular reissue the next year on Swing Time Records under the pseudonym the Question Marks prompted the ensemble to explore R&B material toward the decade's close; during that period Wilson Pickett handled lead vocals on the 1957 single "Sign of the Judgment."
Following their 1964 move to the Chess subsidiary Checker, the act reverted to gospel repertoire with Robert Blair assuming lead duties, while Jones, Coney, and DeShields continued as members. The Checker association lasted through the sixties, after which the group transferred to Jewel for the seventies.
In the eighties the Violinaires rebranded as the Fantastic Violinaires and aligned with Malaco Records; the roster at that point comprised Blair alongside Robert Arrington, David Battle, Dwight "Tito" Arthur, David "Bunker Hill" Walker, and Dr. Frank "Daddy" Thompson, Jr. This configuration persisted until the late eighties, when the ensemble shifted to Atlantic International Records for the album The Pink Tornado. Throughout the nineties membership continued to fluctuate at intervals, incorporating Danny Walker among others, while recording affiliations ranged across Paula, Grammercy, Gospel Jubilee, and Universal Music.
Robert Blair remained at the helm of the Fantastic Violinaires until his death on March 19, 2001. Following his departure several parallel versions emerged, one of them briefly featuring Rev. Charlie Brown in Blair's former position. Pastor Danny Walker subsequently steered the primary continuation under the billing Danny Walker & the Fantastic Violinaires, whereas Titus "Lil' Blair" Stallworth directed a separate offshoot known as Lil' Blair & the Fantastic Heirs, and another ensemble operated as Robert Blair & the Fantastic Violinaires.
Isaiah "Lil Shot" Jones, Leo Coney, and Wilson DeShields assembled the ensemble's initial lineup that same year, after which Providence Thomas and Raymond, Mississippi-born Willie Banks entered the fold, prompting adoption of the Violinaires name. Although personnel rotated regularly from the beginning, Jones, Coney, and DeShields anchored the group throughout the remainder of the decade.
The Violinaires entered the studio for the first time in 1953 with the release of "Another Soldier Gone" on the regional Drummond label. A secular reissue the next year on Swing Time Records under the pseudonym the Question Marks prompted the ensemble to explore R&B material toward the decade's close; during that period Wilson Pickett handled lead vocals on the 1957 single "Sign of the Judgment."
Following their 1964 move to the Chess subsidiary Checker, the act reverted to gospel repertoire with Robert Blair assuming lead duties, while Jones, Coney, and DeShields continued as members. The Checker association lasted through the sixties, after which the group transferred to Jewel for the seventies.
In the eighties the Violinaires rebranded as the Fantastic Violinaires and aligned with Malaco Records; the roster at that point comprised Blair alongside Robert Arrington, David Battle, Dwight "Tito" Arthur, David "Bunker Hill" Walker, and Dr. Frank "Daddy" Thompson, Jr. This configuration persisted until the late eighties, when the ensemble shifted to Atlantic International Records for the album The Pink Tornado. Throughout the nineties membership continued to fluctuate at intervals, incorporating Danny Walker among others, while recording affiliations ranged across Paula, Grammercy, Gospel Jubilee, and Universal Music.
Robert Blair remained at the helm of the Fantastic Violinaires until his death on March 19, 2001. Following his departure several parallel versions emerged, one of them briefly featuring Rev. Charlie Brown in Blair's former position. Pastor Danny Walker subsequently steered the primary continuation under the billing Danny Walker & the Fantastic Violinaires, whereas Titus "Lil' Blair" Stallworth directed a separate offshoot known as Lil' Blair & the Fantastic Heirs, and another ensemble operated as Robert Blair & the Fantastic Violinaires.
Albums
