Iola Pugh

Gospel singer.

Born: July 22, 1926 Cottonton, Alabama
Died: October 11, 1994 Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Iola Lewis' mother died when she was only three leaving her to the care of her maternal grandmother. Lewis moved several times, first to Columbus, Georgia then Orangeburg, South Carolina where she graduated from Claflin College. She relocated to Miami in 1949. It was there she met future husband Sullivan Pugh at a tent revival. The pair married March 11, 1950. In 1952, along with Pearl Nance-Rayford, they formed The Miami Soul Stirrers borrowing the name of the Chicago group that served as an influence. When Nance-Radford left, the couple went on as the Spiritual Consolaters then The Spiritual Consolers on the advice of a DJ.

Shortening again, they signed to Nashboro as The Consolers and it was by this moniker they achieved their biggest commercial success in a career that spanned forty years and twenty-five albums. Iola's death in 1994 brought the duo to a close. The group was posthumously inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame.