Southern Gospel History

Rex Nelon Singers, 1981

Group Members

(incomplete member list)

Rex Nelon ? (1977-1998)
Kelly Nelon (1977-1991, 1992-present)
Rodney Swain ? (1977-????)
Janet Paschal (1977-1981)
Jerry Thompson ? (1980-1998)
Karen Peck (1981-1990)
Todd Nelon ? (1982-1992)
Charlotte Penhollow ? (1993-1996)
Jason Clark (1995-present)
Amy Roth ? (1997-????)
Dan Clark (1998-2002)
Melody ??? (????)
David Hill ? (????)
Paul Lancaster ? (????)
Katy Peach ? (2000-2002)
Amber Thompson ? (2003-Present)
Jeff Stice (????-????)

Nelons (1977-Present) (AKA The Rex Nelon Singers)

History

The Rex Nelon Singers were formed in 1977 from the remnants of the LeFevres. The name of the group was ultimately shortened to “The Nelons.” Original group members included Rex Nelon (bass), Kelly Nelon (alto for the LeFevres since 1972), Rodney Swain (tenor), and Janet Paschal (soprano). The group’s first recording for the Canaan label in 1977 was titled The Sun’s Coming Up. A live recording followed in 1978 which included a song written and performed by Rex Nelon called “I Love To Call His Name.” In 1980, a song from the group’s 1979 recording Feelings became the Nelons’ first number one song on the Singing News chart. “Come Morning” actually hit the top position three times in non-consecutive months, which is rare.
\\ After Janet Paschal’s departure from the group in the early 1980s, Karen Peck became the soprano for the Nelons. Jerry Thompson married Kelly Nelon and began singing with the group as well. The group would enjoy a successful run of popularity with Peck and Thompson. Four songs that are now considered Nelons classics all came from a 1983 project titled We Shall Behold The King. Those songs are “We Shall Behold The King,” “When I Receive My Robe And Crown,” “Oh, For A Thousand Tongues,” and “Walk Right Out Of This Valley.”

For the rest of the 1980s, the Nelons sang in a style that came to be labeled “middle of the road.” They were more progressive than most Southern Gospel groups of the time, but they weren’t full blown contemporary in style, certainly not compared to other vocal groups of the day like Second Chapter of Acts or the Imperials. Songs like “God’s Way Up,” “Don’t Give Up” and “Thanks” attracted a younger audience while tunes like “The Sweetest Song” continued to appeal to traditional Southern Gospel fans.

By the early 1990s, Peck had left the group to form New River. The singing members of the Nelons were all relatives for a couple of years with Rex and Kelly and Jerry joined by Todd Nelon. Another Nelons song reached number one on the Singing News chart in 1992. The song was “I’m Glad I Know Who Jesus Is.”

1991 began a series changes for the group. At a couple of points, there was a question of whether the group would continue. Jerry and Kelly left the group to pursue a vocal duo career around this time. Rex considered retirement, but discovered a young 17-year old talent in Charlotte Penhollow and carried on. Jerry and Kelly subsequently returned to the group in 1992.

The group then went through another series of personnel changes in the late 1990s. Charlotte Penhollow had married drummer Greg Ritchie in late 1995, and within a few months, she had left the Nelons to join her husband in Jeff & Sheri Easter's group. Amy Roth sang soprano for the Nelons, joining around 1996 or early 1997. Jerry Thompson and Kelly divorced some months later, and Thompson left the group. Rex Nelon retired. David Hill was with the group for one CD in 1998. Paul Lancaster was also on hand briefly for a CD titled Following After, an album titled in memory of Rex Nelon's death in 2000.

Ultimately, Kelly married the group’s bass player Jason Clark, who began singing tenor with the group. Jason’s father, Dan Clark, joined the group to sing bass and Katy Van Horn was the group's soprano until Kelly's daughter Amber Thompson replaced her. At that point, all the members were related once more (though three of them now had the last name of Clark). Dan came off the road in 2003 and the Nelons subsequently became a trio consisting of Jason, Kelly, and Amber.

Awards

The Nelons have won five Dove Awards, including four for best Southern Gospel Album. Kelly Nelon received seven Singing News Fan Awards in the categories of Favorite Female Vocalist and Favorite Alto between 1980 and 1990.
Singing News Fan Awards
Favorite Mixed Quartet (1981)
Favorite Band (1985)