The Swordsmen Quartet
songs of faith passed down through the family
The Swordsmen Quartet is a family gospel quartet rooted in Star, North Carolina, carrying on a tradition that traces back to the original Swordsmen of Winston-Salem. Three generations — Alton and Joanne Riley, their daughter Annette, and their grandchildren Melanie and Curtis — share the stage alongside longtime tenor Dink Hunsucker, blending bass, tenor, alto, and harmony voices in songs of faith passed down through the family.
Meet the Group
Alton Riley
Alton sings bass and is the group’s bus driver extraordinaire. He sang with the original Swordsmen out of Winston-Salem, NC. He married Joanne in 1968.
Joanne Riley
Joanne is the group’s pianist. She also plays the organ. She started singing with Alton in 1964 as The Revelators. They were married four years later.
Annette Bouldin
Annette sings lead or alto for the group. She started singing with the group in 2014. She is the middle daughter of Alton and Joanne. Besides singing, she enjoys cooking, reading, and working jigsaw puzzles.
Melanie Bouldin
Melanie sings harmony for the group. She is a third-generation vocalist. She is the granddaughter of Alton and Joanne. When not singing, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, and cooking.
Curtis Bouldin
Curtis plays the bass guitar. He is the eldest grandson of Alton and Joanne. He surrendered to the ministry in 2022. When not working on seminary classes, he enjoys fishing, reading, and playing disc golf.