The fans of America's "First Family of Bluegrass-Gospel Music," who live around Lincolnton, Ga., have included Elvis Presley, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and a long list of country stars including Chet Atkins and Vince Gill. Former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller wrote for the group's Live in Georgia video album (1993), "No one else sounds quite like The Lewis Family. They are in a class by themselves."

The family was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992. They turned serious about performing in the late '40s and early '50s as The Lewis Brothers featuring Wallace, Little Roy, Talmadge and Esley. The latter two eventually dropped out and their sisters, Miggie, Polly and Janis eventually dropped in along with their father, Roy "Pop" Lewis.

About 1951, the family did their first recording of two 78 rpm records on the Sullivan label. That led to more than 60 albums on various labels. They began a weekly TV show in 1954 on WJBF in Augusta, a year after the station went on the air. The show continued until 1992, making it one of the longest-running country and gospel shows in television history. The Lewis Family log in excess of 100,000 miles annually on their custom-designed touring bus.