Skylite
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording, Gospel music |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founder | The Statesmen Quartet, The Blackwood Brothers |
| Fate | Merged with Sing Music Company to form Skylite-Sing |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee (original), Nashville, Tennessee (after 1966) , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Joel Gentry (owner from 1966) |
| Products | Gospel music recordings |
Skylite Recording Company is a gospel music label originating from Memphis, established in 1959 by The Statesmen Quartet along with The Blackwood Brothers. In addition to these founding groups, Skylite signed influential artists such as The Speer Family and the Oak Ridge Quartet, which later became known as The Oak Ridge Boys. In 1966, ownership transferred to a group of investors led by Joel Gentry, who moved the company's headquarters to Nashville's Music Row.
History
Leveraging the mainstream appeal of The Oak Ridge Boys—particularly their hit Elvira—Skylite issued numerous compilation albums featuring the group's earlier work. Although some key members of The Oak Ridge Boys were minimally involved in these original recordings, promotional materials frequently showcased contemporary images of the band. During the early 1970s, Skylite diversified into Christian Rock by signing bands such as Eternity Express.
Between the 1960s and 1990s, Skylite established itself as a premier southern gospel label, producing albums for nearly all prominent groups within the genre. Its artist lineup included J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet, Jake Hess, The Imperials, The Masters V, Florida Boys, Harmoneers, Kingsmen, Prophets, Rebels, The Weatherfords, among others. Numerous accolades were earned by Skylite artists, including Grammy Awards won by The Blackwood Brothers.
Eventually, Skylite merged with Sing Music Company—owned by The LeFevres—to create Skylite-Sing. It has been reported that a fire destroyed the original master tapes belonging to the label.