The Nelons

A longstanding family outfit rooted in Georgia, the Nelons have long stood as a cherished Southern gospel act whose sound fuses inspirational material with a cappella vocal blends and rustic Americana touches. Fronted by vocalist Kelly Nelon Clark, the ensemble first gained notice in the 1970s while under the direction of her father, vocalist Rex Nelon, a future Gospel Music Hall of Famer; during that era the group released well-received collections such as 1985’s In One Accord and 1997’s Glad You’re Here. Kelly Nelon Clark later assumed leadership alongside her husband, singer and multi-instrumentalist Jason Clark, and their two daughters, sustaining the family legacy through further recordings that include 2014’s Hymns: The A Cappella Sessions and 2017’s The Americana Sessions.

Born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1932, vocalist Rex Nelon immersed himself from childhood in country and close-harmony sacred repertoire. At fourteen he claimed victory in a singing competition, and shortly afterward he began performing bass parts with regional outfits including the Homeland Harmony Quartet. He entered the celebrated family Southern gospel unit the LeFevres in 1957, remaining with them for two decades of performances and recordings. When the final original member, Eva Mae LeFevre, stepped away in 1977, Rex Nelon took the reins, first renaming the act the Rex Nelon Singers and ultimately the Nelons. Operating out of Atlanta, the ensemble introduced itself with 1977’s The Sun’s Coming Up and secured a Christian-chart success in 1980 via the track “Come Morning,” drawn from the previous year’s Feelings.

The Nelons’ combination of longstanding gospel numbers and fresher original material appealed across generational lines. Their visibility expanded through the 1980s as they collected seven GMA Dove Awards, among them Southern Gospel Album of the Year honors for 1982’s One Step Closer, 1983’s Feeling at Home, 1984’s We Shall Behold the King, and 1985’s The Best & a Whole Lot More. Kelly Nelon was married during this stretch to fellow member Jerry Thompson. The group’s profile also propelled individual careers for alumni such as vocalists Janet Paschal and Karen Peck along with pianist Stan Whitmire. A first Grammy nomination arrived in 1990 when Let the Redeemed Say So contended for Best Southern Gospel Album.

By 1991 Karen Peck had departed, and Kelly Nelon, then known as Kelly Nelon Thompson, had established herself as a prominent figure. Rex Nelon began contemplating retirement and even the possible dissolution of the ensemble, yet the Nelons sustained their audience by welcoming vocalists Charlotte Penhollow and Tammy Britton and earning a Singing News chart placement with “I’m Glad I Know Who Jesus Is” from 1991’s A New Generation. Seeking continuity, Kelly Nelon released her 1996 solo project under the billing Kelly Nelon Thompson & the Nelons, an effort that effectively signaled her assumption of leadership from her father. Subsequent personnel shifts included Jerry Thompson’s exit following his divorce from Kelly Nelon. Rex Nelon also withdrew from active duty yet continued occasional performances, notably with Bill Gaither’s Homecoming series, until his passing in 2000 at age 68.

Kelly Nelon wed the Nelons’ bassist and vocalist Jason Clark in 2001, and the couple assumed direction of the group. After soprano Amber Nelon Thompson, their daughter, joined, the Nelons operated as a trio and debuted the configuration on 2005’s Light of Home. Additional trio projects followed, among them 2008’s You Are God, 2010’s Beside Still Waters, and 2011’s Come on Home. Younger daughter Autumn Nelon Clark entered the lineup beginning with 2014’s Hymns: The A Cappella Sessions. That same year Amber received Female Vocalist of the Year at the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. Two further quartet albums appeared in 2016, Stronger Together and Family Harmony, and the Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. The Americana Sessions arrived in 2017, succeeded a year later by the seasonal release A Winter’s Carol. On 26 July 2024, Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, and Amber Nelon Kistler (also known as Amber Nelon Thompson) perished in a small-plane accident en route to Alaska for participation in a Gaither Family Cruise.