Its members sing in the tradition of jubilee quartets, though they have also added instrumental accompaniment.
The group helped launch the careers of several secular stars, including Lou Rawls, Johnnie Taylor and Sam Cooke.
's were founded in 1945 in Chicago by a group of male teenagers who attended Highway Baptist Church, including Sam Cooke, Creadell Copeland, Marvin Jones, Charles Jones, Jake Richard, and Lee Richard.
Cooke sang with the group through 1951, when he joined The Soul Stirrers; and Lou Rawls participated through 1953.
Spencer Taylor, who joined the group in 1956, became the HQC's leader and has remained so for over 60 years.