Wendy Bagwell

Born: May 16, 1925, Chamblee, Georgia, USA Died: June 13, 1996, Atlanta, Georgia, USA The founding member and leader of the Southern gospel music and comedy trio, Wendy Bagwell And The Sunliters. He joined with two young singers he met in church, Geraldine Terry (later known professionally as Jerri Morrison), and Georgia Jones, to form the gospel trio. Georgia Jones was ultimately replaced by "Little Jan" Buckner, the wife of Bagwell's adopted nephew. Bagwell was best known for his comedy monologues, notably the million-selling "Here Come the Rattlesnakes" (also known as "The Rattlesnake Song"), an account of the trio's performance at a small church that engaged in snake handling. Bagwell was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.