Jack grew up listening to the famous gospel groups such as the Blackwood Bros. Quartet and the Statesmen.  His idols were James Blackwood and the beautiful tenor voice of Cat Freeman, both of whom were later to become good friends.

At Sardis High School, Jack joined the FFA quartet. In addition to school functions, the quartet sang regularly on local radio and later won the State FFA quartet competition.

Jack's first professional singing work came in 1951, when Rev. John Hull asked Jack to join him and wife, Agnes, as part of his evangelism team. They became the "JoyMakers."  Jack came to know the Lord through the Hulls and attributes any professionalism he attained to the early work with the Hulls.  His first recording was with this trio. They remain close friends today.

Later, Jack would form his own part-time quartet, the SongMasters. This group dissolved when all members, except bachelor Jack, began to have children.

In 1962, Jack joined Ed Hill's "Prophets Quartet."  Jack will now say the glamorous life on the road took even more weight off his already lean body. The guys drove themselves and would wake each other up every few hours to change drivers.  Road life proved to be very rough in those days.  Jack says the money was so good he had to live with Ed and Sharon to survive.

Jack refers to himself as gospel's best "fill in" artist.  He has stepped in to fill the shoes of many of southern gospel's best.  When an illness took Les Beasley away from the Florida Boys in 1963, Jack moved to Pensacola, Florida to fill in.  Upon Les's return, Jack toured briefly with the Speers.  The old gospel man, J.G. Whitfield, had already decided to form a new group, to be called the Dixie Echoes.  Jack stayed in Florida as the original lead for the Dixie Echoes.  Those were happy days, singing, working at a local radio station and enjoying the seashore. Jack didn't think life could get much better until...

Hovie Lister called Jack in November, 1963, to say that Jake Hess was leaving the sensational Statesmen to form his own group, the Imperials.  Jack moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to sing lead for one of the groups he had idolized as a young boy.  Jack remained with The Statesmen Quartet for six years traveling with Doy Ott, Rosie Rozell, the Big Chief and Hovie.

In 1969, Jack left the road and again returned to Gadsden, Alabama, to spend more time with family. Little did he know that Rosie would leave the Statesmen shortly thereafter with other thoughts in mind. When Rosie & Betty Rozell called Jack to inform him that they were forming the "Searchers," he couldn't really say no - they had already purchased the suits in his size.  The Searchers lasted about a year, but the friendship has endured.  When Jack had triple by-pass surgery in 1993, Rosie and Betty were at the hospital daily to render moral support and be with wife, Gail, through the ordeal.  When Rosie died in 1994, Jack was honored to sing for Betty at his funeral.

Jack spent eighteen years in choir work, in addition to local radio, television, affiliations with part-time groups and filling in with various professional groups from time to time.  He also worked for Jerry Falwell Ministries for several years.

In the early 80's, Jack would find himself replacing Jake Hess once again.  When poor health took Jake off the road, Jack returned to the road full time with the Masters V.  Later, when J.D. Sumner re-formed the Stamps Quartet, Jack Toney provided the lead.  Widely received, the Stamps Quartet, with lead vocals by Jack Toney, were nominated by the Country Music Academy as Gospel group of the year.  Jack traveled with the Stamps about three years, before once again, deciding to "retire" from the road.

Jack and Gail Toney were married on November 14, 1984.  Since that time they have written over 500 gospel songs.  Gail is not a singer.  She simply began songwriting as a hobby to be a part of the music Jack so loves and together they discovered new inspiration.  Many of their songs have been recorded by various southern gospel groups in recent years and more are dedicated to groups with future releases.  In 1992, the song "Some Dawning," recorded by The Kevin Spencer Family, remained in the "top-10" of the Singing News Top 80 for several weeks.  The Kingsmen's recording of "I Will Rise Up From My Grave," went #1 in 1995, and gained Jack a nomination for song of the year. Palmetto State's latest recording project entitled "Born to Royalty," takes it's title from the Toney song contained on the project. 

Jack has traveled with Hovie Lister and the "new" Statesmen since 1992.  Their latest release was penned by Jack & Gail Toney and is titled, "Grace Marches On."

In 1998, Jack was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame along with other members of the Statesmen Quartet and, also, as a member of the Stamps Quartet.  Look for Jack Toney as a recognized artist and songwriter at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Jack and Gail reside in Boaz, Alabama with their little Maltese, JeeGee.  Jack has a daughter, Cheri, and granddaughters Lauren and Alexandra.  You may remember Cheri as the little girl on Sam Goodman's knee in the old Singing Jubilee video. Cheri, husband Steve Bonar, and daughters reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

Although he refers to himself as retired, Jack still performs at some Statesmen engagements and is a regular member of the Gaither homecoming family for videos and concerts.  Jack has a small studio at home and when not on the road, that's where he spends his time. In October, 1996, Jack joined some other members of the "homecoming" family for a musical tour in Ireland and Scotland. For a "retired" person, Jack finds himself busier than ever and he likes it that way.
.