The Statesmen Quartet was a Southern Gospel Music group founded in 1948 by Hovie Lister. Along with the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen Quartet was considered the most successful and influential gospel quartet of the 1950s.
During the first years, the group underwent several member changes, and included singers like James "Big Chief" Wetherington, Denver Crumpler, Jake Hess, Doy Ott, Hovie Lister, Rosie Rozell, and Jack Toney.