Gunderson and Michael Whalen left. Among their replacements were singer/songwriter Michael McGinnis and pop/folk singer Ede Mae Kellogg. In July 1966, Ann White left and was replaced by Kim Carnes. Other new members were folksinger Mark Holly, former Fairmount singer Dave Ellingson, tenor Terry Williams and Texas-born singer Kenny Rogers. In 1967, Williams and Settle left to form a folk/rock group for which they recruited Rogers and another group member, Thelma Camacho, debuting as the First Edition on the Ledbetter's stage. In 1969, the band became Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. The turnover may have had an effect on the group's sound, which had become quite different from that of the The Andy Williams Show period when the group worked with musical director George Wyle on choral arrangements for Williams and his guest stars. 1970–1995 The New Christy Minstrels continued to perform across the country under the management of Greif and Garris, and released several more albums. In 1970, they performed during Super Bowl IV at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, where they were introduced as "young Americans who demonstrate—with guitars." In 1972, Greif-Garris Management was faced with a revolt when group members demanded more creative control and equitable treatment. In response, Greif-Garris fired the entire group and started rebuilding from scratch, leading to incorrect media reports that the group had disbanded. In the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, the group's concert activity declined steadily before stopping completely. Present Sparks, who had registered a trademark for the New Christy Minstrels name, again became the leader of the group, which continues to perform. The lineup, as of 2021, consists of Sparks, Becky Jo Benson, Greg O'Haver, Dave Deutschendorf, Dave Rainwater, Julie Theroux, Ed Stockton and Tholow Chan. The New Christy Minstrels are owned and administered by the New Christy Minstrels Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to preserving the group's music. In 2009, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars was dedicated to Sparks and the New Christy Minstrels. References in popular culture In the 2003 comedic mockumentary film A Mighty Wind about a folk-music reunion, the New Main Street Singers were based on the New Christy Minstrels. Alumni (Partial list) 1961 Hal Ayotte, joined 1961 with The Fairmount Singers Becky Jo Benson, joined 1961 Billy Cudmore, joined 1961. Karol Dugan, joined 1961, from The Inn Group Dave Ellingson, joined 1961 with the Fairmount Singers and again