Biography
The Hazels sing Gospel classics, hymns, and country-styled inspirational songs that reconnect listeners with the roots of their faith, and re-ignite hope in a chaotic world.
The Hazels ReUnite
The Hazel siblings have reunited after many years to blend their family harmony once again singing songs of faith wherever they have an opportunity. The group consists of Donna Hazel Lasater of Stephenville, Wayland Hazel and his wife Elaine of Bluff Dale, Barry Hazel of Granbury and Carolyn Hazel Neill also of Granbury.
In the 1970s and 80s, the Hazel Family of Lubbock, Texas sang together with their parents, the late Glenn and Mae Hazel, for churches and civic events in Lubbock and surrounding areas and later other regions of Texas. They recorded several albums during that time. In the 1990s and 2000s Barry and Carolyn sang together as a Christian Country duo performing several original songs. Barry Hazel wrote “I met Jesus in Texas,” a tune that has been recorded by several other artists and is used in Cowboy churches.
How It Began
In a West Texas cotton field during the Great Depression, a young teenager, Glenn Hazel, knew God wanted him to be a singer. While farming would be his way of life for several decades, he began to develop musical talents and skills at every opportunity.
During Glenn’s time in the Navy in WWII, he met a fellow sailor, also from Texas, who shared the same musical interests. The two honed their sight-reading and singing skills from Stamps Baxter songbooks during their work breaks. Back home, Glenn eventually met and married his friend’s younger sister, Mae Peterson. Mae came from a farming family that was musical and sometimes sang on a local religious radio program.
While bringing up four children, Glenn and Mae Hazel left farming and moved to Lubbock in 1967. It was here that gathering around the piano in the evenings to sing became a nightly occurrence. The older children were teens and could sing harmony. They began attending local Sunday afternoon convention singings and sang as a group at these events. Soon churches and civic groups were inviting them to present gospel music concerts.
For the next 15 years the Hazel Family shared the Gospel message in music. While music was at the forefront, the heart of it all was centered on God’s eternal Truth and the hope that is found in Him.