IRA TUCKER may 17, 1925

Tucker loves fishing, because, as he says, "It puts him in another dimension".  He first learned to fish as a young boy, when the man he worked for took him out regularly on the local river. When the Birds  would travel to the East Coast and headquartered in places like Jacksonville, Fl. Tucker would spend his off time fishing in Jacksonville, Fl. 

"I've never been with an attitude about what I didn't have. Always prayed for what I had and I wasn't jealous of nothing. When I sit down and write songs like "The Mood That You Be In" , it signifies where I come from. Just like when you hear all these blues, these guys come from the Delta and the lower part of the South. They worked. They were out in the fields. They sung what they felt. 

Same is true with gospel. Gospel came from loneliness. 

Born April 1965 , raised by a loving mother and preaching father. I would say 1st I'm  a child of the king, devoted husband, father, brother, uncle , friend, and an avid listener of all Gospel music  I became interested in Gospel Music very early. Growing up a preachers kid. I thought the stereo at home was broken because the Gospel station was all we listened to.  The Blindboys of Alabama, The Soul Stirrers, The Dixie Hummingbirds; I was hooked  I played mostly choirs early on but did manage to play with a few local quartets in Texas. One particular group was some sisters called The  Sprituallettes, they really could go. I didn't play with too many groups then because I did not want to be a player playing with "everybody". My very 1st pro job was early 90s with Spencer Taylor &The Highway Qc's. A lot of what I learned I will always credit Mr. Taylor, a Legendary Gentleman. 

Some years later I came across a internet conversation about "Greatest Gospel Group"  plenty of names but no one mentioned the DHB.....so I came to the conversation saying The Birds were the Worlds Greatest Gospel Group....voted Ebony Magazine and me lots of laughs (lol). Well in that conversation I met Ira Tucker Jr. He ask if I play or sing ? I said yes to both;  background and I play bass guitar. He said, he was trying to bring "pop" up to speed with a bass player and ask would I be interested. I told him yes!  We exchanged information and he sent me a whole lot of music to learn. 

Learned all I could, went to meet the group and within a year I was in studio and nominated for  Grammy. 

 The past, the present and the future;  in 93 yrs those 3 moments are predicated upon the fact that everything must change to live. We must always evolve. But in evolving we have to stay true  to the quality of men, find qualified men, and stay true to the Hummingbirds Way and sound. As long a we honor those things the future of The Dixie Hummingbirds  is bright.

Let's go out to the Programs, whenever we are in your town.