Edward and Edgar were twin boys born to Edward Vazon O'Neal, Sr. and Rowena Taylor O'Neal. Their father was a professional cook and their mother was a government employee.
Edward Vazon O'Neal, Jr. one of the O'Neal Twins gospel singers, died December 15, 1990.
Mr. O'Neal and his brother, Edgar O'Neal, began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.
In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.
During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area.They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse.
The O'Neals — with Edgar on piano and both brothers singing — challenged gospel tradition. "The main gospel thrust at the time (was) male quartets, and we were a piano group," Mr. O'Neal said. "We were considered in a different category from the male singing groups. But then the quartets got into piano. It took some years as we stayed out there before our style took hold."
Edward passed away after suffering a heart attack and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, his lifetime hometown.
Edward Vazon O'Neal, Jr. one of the O'Neal Twins gospel singers, died December 15, 1990.
Mr. O'Neal and his brother, Edgar O'Neal, began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.
In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.
During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area.They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse.
The O'Neals — with Edgar on piano and both brothers singing — challenged gospel tradition. "The main gospel thrust at the time (was) male quartets, and we were a piano group," Mr. O'Neal said. "We were considered in a different category from the male singing groups. But then the quartets got into piano. It took some years as we stayed out there before our style took hold."
Edward passed away after suffering a heart attack and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, his lifetime hometown.
Edward and Edgar were twin boys born to Edward Vazon O'Neal, Sr. and Rowena Taylor O'Neal. Their father was a professional cook and their mother was a government employee.
Edward Vazon O'Neal, Jr. one of the O'Neal Twins gospel singers, died December 15, 1990.
Mr. O'Neal and his brother, Edgar O'Neal, began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.
In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.
During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area.They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse.
The O'Neals — with Edgar on piano and both brothers singing — challenged gospel tradition. "The main gospel thrust at the time (was) male quartets, and we were a piano group," Mr. O'Neal said. "We were considered in a different category from the male singing groups. But then the quartets got into piano. It took some years as we stayed out there before our style took hold."
Edward passed away after suffering a heart attack and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, his lifetime hometown.
Edward Vazon O'Neal, Jr. one of the O'Neal Twins gospel singers, died December 15, 1990.
Mr. O'Neal and his brother, Edgar O'Neal, began singing gospel at age 12. In 1969, the O'Neals were voted the "World's Greatest Gospel Duo'' by the National Association of Television and Radio Artists. Their duet "Jesus Dropped the Charges'' won them national acclaim in the movie "Say Amen, Somebody'' — a documentary on gospel music pioneer Willa Mae Ford Smith.
In 2004, the duo were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and other gospel figures. The duo recorded nearly two dozen albums, including some for Leon Russell's record label.
During the 1950s, the O'Neal brothers performed in churches around St. Louis. By 1960, they were performing outside the area.They performed nationally at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center, and locally at the Fox Theatre, American Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, Kiel Auditorium and Westport Playhouse.
The O'Neals — with Edgar on piano and both brothers singing — challenged gospel tradition. "The main gospel thrust at the time (was) male quartets, and we were a piano group," Mr. O'Neal said. "We were considered in a different category from the male singing groups. But then the quartets got into piano. It took some years as we stayed out there before our style took hold."
Edward passed away after suffering a heart attack and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, his lifetime hometown.
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