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Despite the march of time and age, The Fairfield Four soldiers on
By Steve Wildsmith
of The Daily Times Staff

It’s been more than 60 years, but Isaac “Dickey” Freeman still remembers the exact amount of money he received from his first gig with the legendary gospel group The Fairfield Four.

“My first check was for $468.75,” Freeman told The Daily Times this week, his deep voice booming through the phone line during a Wednesday interview. “I’d never made that much money at one time, so I was kind of excited over that. I wasn’t used to that much money in my pocket from one program. I was at the hotel that night, but I didn’t sleep because I was just so happy and excited about it.” Click here to read entire article.

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Veteran Nashville gospel act sticks to the old stuff
by Bradley Hanson, Metro Pulse, Knoxville, TN 

For many music fans, the Fairfield Four is the overalls-clad African-American gospel group featured on the otherwise bluegrass- and old-time-dominated soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? The group’s stripped-back, a cappella rendering of the traditional song “Lonesome Valley” stood out even on an album brimming with masterful performances. Legendary bass singer Isaac Freeman says O Brother put the Fairfield Four in touch with a new generation of fans eager for enduring musical experiences.

“I would say after we did the O Brother soundtrack thing, there were a lot of young people that came out to hear us sing,” Freeman says. “They came out to see what it was like in the ‘40s and ‘50s. They’ve never heard it before and they’re elated over it. They look at us surprised and say, ‘I can’t see how you guys been doing it for so many years.’ It’s a great experience.” Click here to read entire article.

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Celebrity Access
December 1, 2005

WILSON “LIT” WATERS, JR. OF THE FAIRFIELD FOUR SUCCUMBS TO CANCER

NASHVILLE, TN (AP) -- Wilson "Lit" Waters Junior, a member of the Grammy-winning gospel group The Fairfield Four, died Thursday at his Nashville home. He was 74 and had been battling cancer.

Waters joined the group, which originally formed in the 1920s with singers from Nashville's Fairfield Baptist Church, in 1982.

Previously Waters performed and recorded with gospel group The Skylarks, which also included future The Fairfield Four members James Hill and Isaac Freeman.

During Waters' time with the group, The Fairfield Four won two Grammy awards and recorded with John Fogerty, Elvis Costello and others.

The group also contributed to the film and soundtrack of "O Brother Where Art Thou," which won a Grammy in 2002. The Fairfield Four won its first Grammy in 1998 for the album "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray."

Nashville musician Colin Linden remembered Waters as a singer with a powerful voice.

"He didn't step out that often as a lead voice, but once in a while he would take a verse or part of a verse and he would astound you with his power," Linden said. "It was something that he kept in his back pocket."

Waters is survived by four sons and a daughter.

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