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The Original Four Black Country Singing Miners

The 'Four Singing Miners' were Gornal locals with particularly fine singing voices, namely John 'Jack' Abbiss, Edwin Parkes, Benjamin Parkes and James 'Jim' Massey.
They formed a quartet firstly under the title of 'Four Singing Miners' then 1912 onwards as 'The Four Black Country Singing Miners' to distinguish them from other similar groups of singing miners.
The Four toured England's variety stage during the period 1910 until the outbreak of the war in 1914 and were always well received.
Their stage show was aptly called "At The Mouth of the Pit".
The line-up may have changed over time, as J. Richards and Jack Porter appear to have joined forces with the Parkes' in 1913.

1913: Dudley Chronical, 15 November.
OPERA HOUSE, DUDLEY
THE FOUR SINGING MINERS
A very pleasing engagement has been entered into which will appeal largely to the inhabitants of Dudley and District, e.g, the first visit locally of the Four Singing Miners. These gentlemen are all connected with the Gornal district, and have all worked in the surrounding pits, but they were found to possess voices of such remarkable purity that they were advised to give the public the opportunity of hearing them, and so they have gone on the variety stage, where they have made a tremendous hit. They appear in their miners clothes just as they worked in the pits, and we feel sure their reception will be a right royal one.

1913, Dudley Chronicle, 18 November.
THE FOUR SINGING MINERS
Under this title there will appear next week at the Opera House an excellent musical turn, comprising songs descriptive of life in the mines, and popular part songs, including the famous "Comrades In Arms." Now I know these four good men, and can tell you that they possess excellent voices, and that they are Messrs. B. Parkes (1st tenor), E.Parkes (2nd tenor), J. Richards (baritone), and J. Porter (bass), and each is a genuine miner, and all come from the ancient parish of Sedgley. Now they are good lads, and their whole-hearted enthusiastic endears them to me. One member of their party, Jack Porter, is a member of my Dudley Male Voice Choir, and he has come up from Gornal in all weathers to add to his musical knowledge, and next Wednesday night, "betweeen turns," he will go from the Opera House to the Colosseum to help his friends in their concert pieces (Maritana etc.) That is something like enthusiasm. Don't miss this turn. It ought to appeal to all Black Country folk.

1954: Newspaper Obituary, Australia.
OBITUARY LATE MR. B. PAKKES
Mr. Benjamin Parkes, a former resident of Weston, who passed away recently, was born at Gornal Wood, Staffordshire, 79 years ago. The late Mr. Parkes came to Australia 30 years ago. Mr. Parkes, who was a coal miner, played an active part in the development in England of the mineworkers union and the Labour movement. For some years before World War I he was on the stage as a tenor in a quartette, the Four Singing Miners, who sang in England and Wales and did work with the late Sir George Robey. After the war, the quartet raised money for the unemployed and for various charities, but did not return to the professional stage. On arrival in Australia, Mr. Parkes went to live at Lambton. He then moved to Weston where he was a leading tenor in the Weston Male Voice Choir. Cavilled out from Hebburn No. 1 Colliery during the depression, Mr. Parkes went to live at Adamstown. He often sang with J J Kelly's Hamilton Choir and became a strong supporter of Adamstown Rosebuds' Soccer Club. Later he returned to Lambton. He was an active member of the Methodist Church. Surviving him are three sons, William Stanley, Thomas Edward and Ralph.
With the outbreak of the First World War, the men tried to enlist, but were directed back to their former occupations working coal.
After the war, the Singing Miners did not persue their professional singing further.
However the quartet continued singing locally for several years more, mainly for charitable causes.
Jack Abbiss became the landlord of the Swan Inn in Lake Street during the 1930s.
Ben Parkes [1875-1954]
Ben Parkes was a coal miner with a fine tenor voice and a leading member of the 'Four Singing Miners', apart from mining, he had held a variety of jobs in Gornal, as a builder's labourer, insurance agent and he also ran a furniture shop part time.
Ben was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Parkes of Wakelams Fold, Lower Gornal, his father was also a coal miner. Ben married Alice Beatrice Marsh at the United Reform Church, Ruiton in 1913, Alice was a teacher and local girl from the large family of William Henry Marsh, who were liviing at 1 Himley Road in 1901, Ben and brother Edwin were both living in Bull Street in 1915, Ben at No.9 and Edwin at No.3.
Ben and family emigrated to Australia in 1924, starting out on their epic journey on Christmas Eve, an eight week trip to get to their final destination and start their new life in New South Wales.
1924, Dudley Chronicle, 4 December.
ONE OF THE SINGING MINERS -The friends of Mr. Benjamin Parkes, one of the singing miners of Lower Gornal, are arranging a concert in order that they may take him a present before he leaves this country for Australia. Mr. Parkes is well known in the district as one who has raised considerable sums of money for charity, and inhabitants will wish the best of luck "down under."
Once settled in Australia, Ben turned again to coal mining - working above ground, but as before in Gornal, he could turn his hand to anything, later in life as a shopkeeper.
Benjamin Parkes died in 1954, his wife Alice died in 1946.
William Stanley Parkes [1913-1990].
Ben's Son, William Stanley Parkes, was born in Lower Gornal on 29th May, 1913, he was only 10 years old when the family emigrated.
'Stan' as he became known, lived an interesting and accomplished life in New South Wales, Australia.
Stan Parkes, among other things was an historian, writer and teacher, he was a co-author of the book 'Mines, Wines and People : a history of Greater Cessnock' and several other works.
In 1943, Stan Joined the RAAF and a couple of years later married Marguerite Fernance, they had four children.
He was a keen cricketer, and known for his study of Aborigine cultures.
William Stanley 'Stan' Parkes continued to live in Australia until his death in 1990.
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