The Fairfield Four is a legendary gospel group whose a capella singing embodies an African American style that dates back to the 1800s. They have been a part of the American scene for more than eight decades, and have been honored with a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, as well as a Grammy Award and the James Cleveland Stellar Award, the African-American gospel equivalent of the Grammy. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, and their rhythmic, emotional style has influenced generations of performers both inside and outside of the gospel genre, including Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, John Fogerty, and Steve Earle. Although the group was defined as a quartet, this does not refer to the number of singers, which varied; the term refers to the fact that the group sang harmony in four parts: alto, tenor, baritone, and bass. The Fairfield Four's style was