RIP – Spencer Taylor Jr., Highway QCs Lead and Godfather of Quartet Music

By Robert M. Marovich

I was saddened to hear that Spencer Taylor Jr. of the Highway QCs passed away on September 5, 2025, at the age of 97. Here is a brief history of his career, taken from my essay on the QCs from the Malaco Music Group website.

Born March 6, 1928, in Indianola, Mississippi, to Spencer Taylor Sr. and Amanda Dabner Taylor, Spencer Taylor Jr. migrated to Chicago around 1947 and began attending Greater Harvest Baptist Church, where he met and sang with a quartet called the Holy Wonders. Taylor entered the service and was recruited by the Highway QCs when he returned to civilian life in late 1955. In 1957, several original QCs left to focus on family and work responsibilities. Taylor assumed lead duties of the Highway QCs and recruited former Holy Wonders singers James Walker and Chris Flowers to fill the gaps.

With Spencer Taylor Jr. on lead and the addition of guitarist Arthur Crume from the Swan Silvertones, the QCs released a string of hits for Vee-Jay Records during the 1950s and 1960s. The group moved to Peacock after Vee-Jay went bankrupt in 1966. From 1975 to 1983, the QCs recorded several albums for Savoy Records and later for Malaco / 4Winds. Taylor appeared on Malaco Records’ Legends of Quartet DVD, alongside Thomas Spann (Brooklyn All Stars), Jo Jo Wallace and Horace Thompson (Sensational Nightingales), Willie Rogers (Soul Stirrers), Clay and Cleve Graham (Pilgrim Jubilees), and Percy Griffin (Swanee Quintet).

Until recently, Taylor continued to tour with the Highway QCs, now comprised of a new generation of singers. In March 2017, Spencer Taylor received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stellar Awards at its celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada.