This seems like a beautiful time to throw it way back and sample gospel music miniters decade after decade as we try to highlight what makes them thick or delve a little into their history. I hope that as you enjoy this 4 part series, you will realize that this is no history lesson but an experience of old-time religion.
How Great Thou Art by Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley who was also known as Elvis was an American singer, musician, and actor. He is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”.
Oh Happy Day by Edwin Hawkins Singers
Edwin Reuben Hawkins was an American gospel musician, pianist, choirmaster, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound.he was best known for his arrangement of “Oh Happy Day” which was included on the “Songs of the Century” list.
Old-Time Religion by Harmonizing Four
The Harmonizing Four was an American black gospel quartet organized in 1927 and reached peak popularity during the decades immediately following World War II. The group recorded for Decca Records in 1943 and toured in the postwar years, performing at such high-profile events as the 1944 National Baptist Convention, to an audience of 40,000 the funeral ceremony for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945.
Freedom Highway by Staple Singers
The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group consisting of Roebuck “Pops” Staples (their father) Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis, Yvonne, replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970. They are best known for their 1970s hits “Respect Yourself”, “I’ll Take You There”, “If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me)”, and “Let’s Do It Again”.
In Times Like These by Rev.James Cleaveland
James Edward Cleveland was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel music, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating traditional black gospel, soul, pop, and jazz in arrangements for mass choirs.
Throughout his career, Cleveland appeared on hundreds of recordings and earned 4 Grammy Awards. He was the first gospel musician to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Precious Memories by Rosetta Tharpe
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. She attained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic accompaniment that was a precursor of rock and roll. She was the first great recording star of gospel music and among the first gospel musicians to appeal to rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll audiences, later being referred to as “the original soul sister” and “the Godmother of rock and roll”
Great Camp Meeting by Swan Silverstone
The Swan Silvertones is an American gospel music group that first achieved popularity in the 1940s and 1950s under the leadership of Claude Jeter.
Jeter formed the group in 1938 as the “Four Harmony Kings” while he was working as a coal miner in West Virginia, After moving to Knoxville, Tennessee and obtaining their radio show, the group changed its name to the Silvertone Singers to avoid confusion with another ensemble known as the “Four Kings of Harmony.”
Thank You for One More Day by Dixie Hummingbird
The Chicks (previously known as the Dixie Chicks) are an American country pop band composed of singer Natalie Maines and multi-instrumentalist sisters Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Strayer. The band formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas, and performed bluegrass and country music
I Saw The Light by 5 Blind Boys Of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama also billed as The Five Blind Boys of Alabama and Clarence Fountain and the Blind Boys of Alabama, is an American gospel group. The group was founded in 1939 in Talladega, Alabama and has featured a changing roster of musicians over its history, the majority of whom are or were visually impaired
One Step by Alex Bradford
Alex Bradford also professionally known as Professor Alex Bradford) was a multi-talented gospel composer, singer, arranger and, choir director, who was an influence on artists such as Little Richard, Bob Marley and, Ray Charles, and who helped bring about the modern mass choir movement in Gospel.
Written by:
Anthony Olushola Undiandeye
Anthony Olushola Undiandeye is a passionate and dedicated creative who finds joy in providing solutions to problems. An astute lover of God, and a critic of all things creative content creator, radio host, and social media manager. Shola tells it as he sees it.
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