Chuck Wagon Gang celebrates 85 years with Brady concert

The Legendary Chuck Wagon Gang will be returning to the Heart of Texas Events Center in Brady, Texas, for an afternoon Gospel concert on Sunday, November 1. The performance will be at 3:00 PM and admission is $15.00 per person. To book a church group for reserved seating (minimum of ten) call (325) 597-1895.

This appearance marks the 85th year of performances since the original Chuck Wagon Gang was formed in Lubbock, Texas, by founding member D.P. “Dad” Carter with his son, Jim, and daughters Rose and Anna, the grandmother to the current Gang manager, Shaye Smith.

The original Gang performed from the back of mule-powered wagons at outdoor church arbor meetings throughout the South before coming to Nashville in 1937 to record their early records.

“I grew up in Louisiana after being born in Nashville,” Smith shared. “Grandmother Anna had married Jimmy Davis, Louisiana’s singing governor, by the time I came along.”

“Sometimes, we came to Nashville when Grandmother Anna and Governor Davis would appear on the Grand Ole Opry, where he would perform his hit song, ‘You are My Sunshine’,” Smith said, as she traced back in time. “That’s some of my memories of Grandmother Anna as I was growing up.”

The Chuck Wagon Gang became superstars in gospel music through their earliest performances in the 1930s and ‘40s and well as recordings and a daily radio show.

Over the decades, the Chuck Wagon Gang has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.

“We still sing many of the older, original songs,” Smith added. “We won’t stray far from what the Chuck Wagon Gang has stood the test of time doing. Our goal is to use our God-given talents to reach the hearts of as many people we can about the love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” she explained.

Today, the Gang comprises of leader Shaye Smith, Karl Smakula, a multi-talented instrumentalist and song writer, and Stan Hill, who hits the high notes of tenor and harmony, as well as Melissa Kemper, whose soprano notes ring the rafters pure and clean.

The gospel concert benefits the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum, a 501c3 non profit organization in Brady, and a portion of the funding for the performance was provided by Sue Higgins.