Gospel bluegrasser Lilimai Whitaker (1939-2014) was prolific and persistent regional artist, recording an impressive number of indie albums over a decades-long musical career. She and her husband, mandolin picker Charlie Whitaker lived in Kenton, Ohio, a little to the north of Dayton and Columbus. The Whitakers founded their band, The Dixie Gospelaires way in 1959, along with banjo player Noah Hollon, who helped anchor the band for several decades. Charlier Whitaker took a hiatus in the early '80s to tour with Bill Monroe(!) and the Gospelaires disbanded for about a decade, reforming in 1995, with Whitaker's youngest son Jeff joining as the band's lead guitarist. Here's a quick look at their work...
Lilimai & The Southern Gospel Singers "The Church In The Valley" (Harp Records, 1965-?) (LP)
Rugged bluegrass gospel from Ohio... Lilimai Whitaker (vocals, guitar) was accompanied by bassist Curnie Collins, fiddler Aaron Hicks and her husband Charlie Whitaker on banjo and vocals. Ms. Whitaker wrote two of the songs, "Lord Show Me How" and "You Gotta Go To Judgement," which fit in nicely with a repertoire that includes a couple of Reno & Smiley covers, as well as other songs listed as traditional material. The Whitakers have recordings dating back at least as far as the early 1960s, and appear to have been part of the whole Dayton/Columbus/Cincinnati country gospel scene, also recording with J. D. Jarvis.
Lilimai & J. D. Jarvis "The Old Crossroad" (Jewel Records, 1968-?) (LP)
(Produced by Rusty York)
Lilimai & The Dixie Gospel Aires "Lo, I Am With You" (Artists Records, 1970) (LP)
Lilimai & The Gospelaires "Jesus Has Called Me" (Rural Rhythm Records, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Rusty York)
Lilimai & The Dixie Gospel Aires "Working On A Road Bluegrass Style" (Down Home Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Dennis Hensley)
Lillie Mae & The Dixie Gospelaires "There's A Big Wheel" (Rome Recordings/Gloryland Records, 1974-?) (LP)
(Produced by Jack Casey)
Straightforward bluegrass gospel, with several originals as well as covers of old standards, and a couple of contemporary tunes from the likes of John Duffy and J. D. Crowe. Lillimae Hardy Whitaker is joined by her husband, mandolin picker Charlie Whitaker, along with stalwarts Tommy Boyd (dobro), Jimmy Dutton (fiddle), Noah Hollon (banjo) and George Smith (bass). This session was recorded at the Rome Studios, in Columbus, Ohio -- their only album, I believe, working with producer Jack Casey. The set includes two originals penned by Ms. Whitaker ("God Lives Today" and "That's The Stranger") along with one from fiddler Jimmy Dutton ("Streets Of Gold").
Lilimae & The Dixie Gospel-Aires "Hymn Time" (Rome Records, 1976-?) (LP)
(Produced by Marvin Jones)
Another set recorded at Rome Records in Columbus, Ohio... Significant change in the lineup this time around, with Lilimai and Charlie Whitaker joined by bass player Rick Whitaker (their son?), Noah Hollon (banjo), Wayne Lewis (rhythm guitar) and Danny Milhon on dobro. They cover a couple of Bill Monroe songs, as wel as a version of Willie Nelson's "Family Bible," but of course it's the original material that's of particular interest, with two songs credited to Lilimai: "He Is Mine" and "Things Aren't The Same Anymore."
Lilimae & The Dixie Gospel-Aires "Lilimae & The Dixie Gospel-Aires" (Old Homestead Records, 1978-?) (LP)
(Produced by John Morris)
Lilli Mae & The Dixie Gospel-Aires "Lord Lead Me On" (Old Homestead Records, 1983) (LP)
(Produced by John Morris)
