In 1950 at Dayton , Ohio , the Reverend Loren Kolb had an idea that there should be a Gospel television program in this south-western Ohio area. He tried several different formats until the program GOOD SHIP ZION evolved and was accepted for public service programming by station WHIO-TV. “Captain” Kolb found a Gospel Quartet from Dayton and named them the Gospel Mariners. The program, presented as though it originated on board a ship, consisted of three or four songs by the quartet and a short message by “Captain” Kolb. The GOOD SHIP ZION program was one of the longest sustaining programs in the country.

Through the years the personnel of the Gospel Mariners changed from time to time, as there were many demands on the time of each member. In addition to the TV program, there were practice sessions and a number of personal appearances.

In late 1962, after a heavy fall schedule of personal appearances, several personnel changes became necessary. For several months into late summer of 1963, personnel adjustments were being made in the quartet as the personal appearances increased. The new combination of members, including only the bass and tenor of the 1962 quartet, was an immediate success. The popularity of the group grew to such an extent that it became necessary in the fall of 1963, to become a full time organization.

At the same time it was necessary to limit the number of appearances on GOOD SHIP ZION as the program was carried “live” on Sundays at noon . It was very difficult to get back to Dayton in time for the program from our personal appearances. This problem was solved by adding another Gospel Mariners Quartet to the staff of GOOD SHIP ZION. The full time group became the Mariners, dropping the Gospel from their name, but certainly not from their singing.

The Mariners then spent their full time traveling and making personal appearances at churches, revivals, “all night sings”, county and state fairs and community gatherings. They appeared on many TV programs including “Hootinnati” (WKRC-TV Cincinnati), “Dialing for Dollars” (WTVN-TV Columbus, Ohio) and “Easter’s Parade” (WIMA-TV   Lima, Ohio) to name a few.

In 2003 after 40 years, the original full time quartet members felt the Lord calling them back into His service. We hope you will be blessed when seeing The Mariners in concert.