From The Hollywood Reporter — January 19, 2006. TBGB NOTE: Wilson Pickett’s gospel career, which has been glossed over in much of the reporting on his death today, included a short stint with an early iteration of the Violinaires; Pickett can be heard with the quartet on its 1957 Gotham single, “Sign of the Judgement”/My Work Will Be Done.” In addition, Pickett assumed lead duties on the Spiritual Five’s “Christ’s Blood”/”Call Him Up” for Peacock in 1963. By Chris Morris Singer Wilson Pickett, the soul titan whose gutsy ’60s hits earned him the nickname “the Wicked Pickett,” died Thursday of ...

From The Belle Report: January 17, 2006 Legendary Caravans To Be Inducted Into The Hall of FameAt 14th Annual American Gospel Quartet ConventionJanuary 21, 2006 at the East Birmingham Church of God in Christ (COGIC) by Bil Carpenter On Saturday, January 21, 2006, the 14th Annual American Gospel Quartet Convention (AGQC) will induct the legendary Caravans into the organization’s Hall of Fame. The female group was second only to the Clara Ward Singers in popularity in the 1950s. During that period, they enjoyed massive gospel hits such as “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” “Walk Around Heaven All Day,” “Sweeping Through the ...

Read about and hear the excellent story Michele Norris of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” did on the legacy of Chicago’s Pilgrim Baptist Church, which fell victim to a devastating fire last week. Featured guest on the January 12, 2006 NPR segment is Robert Darden, author of the gospel music history, People Get Ready : http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5152069

“Born Blessed”Jimmy Hicks and the Voices of IntegrityFrom the CD Born BlessedWorldwide Music, Inc. 2006 This traditional gospel track has swagger! The lead vocalists strut vocally around a choir whose flamboyant, broad-brush strokes of sound are what happens when you combine the enthusiasm of a downhome church chorus with the dramatic flair of the African American spiritual choirs of the Thirties and Forties. “Born Blessed” is a Broadway Big Production Number in a choir robe. Outstanding!

TBGB: Contributions to help Pilgrim Baptist Church rebuild can be sent to: Pilgrim Baptist Church, c/o Amalgamated Bank, 1 W. Monroe, Chicago 60603 Upbeat congregation vows to rebuild January 8, 2006From the Chicago Sun-Times BY DAVE NEWBART Staff Reporter Advertisement A congregation that just lost its 115-year-old landmark building could be grim at the first official church function to follow. Not members of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Bronzeville. Less than 24 hours after a spectacular fire gutted their historic building — the birthplace of gospel music — many congregants were upbeat about the future of the church. “We’re going to ...

The story below comes from ABC News, January 6, 2006. TBGB adds that the funeral of Thomas A. Dorsey’s wife Nettie and infant son Thomas Jr. was held at Pilgrim in 1932. Months later, Dorsey would write the now-standard gospel hymn, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” as a response to his devastating loss. This song rings in my ears as I see photos of this terrible fire. And to suspect that some of Dorsey’s artifacts were destroyed in the blaze is almost too much to bear. If there was ever a need for a permanent site for gospel music’s most ...

The story below comes from the New York Times: January 7, 2006. TBGB adds that Rawls’ earliest foray into pop music came not too long after Sam Cooke’s, in 1958 with the Pilgrim Travelers, when the gospel quartet recorded as The Travelers for Andex Records. Rawls’ unmistakable cry-tinged voice leads the Travelers’ beautiful doo-wop ballad, “Why.” Lou Rawls, Singer of Pop and Gospel, Dies at 72 By BEN RATLIFF Lou Rawls, the smooth-voiced, enduring singing star whose career traced a line from gospel to jazz and pop, died early yesterday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was ...

“Be There”The Williams BrothersFrom the CD Greatest Hits PlusBlackberry 2005www.blackberryrecords.com The Williams Brothers are among a handful of traditional gospel artists whose releases continue to make the singles chart, and “Be There” demonstrates that the quartet is still quite capable of cranking out hits. “Be There” is a Plus title from the quartet’s Greatest Hits Plus project, released in 2005. The song’s easy-going groove is pure comfort food for the ears and fits in well with the CD’s overall retrospective tone. The song’s lyrics portray a protective love between God and His creation that if not heard in context could ...

The Vessel – Serita Campbell3G Records 2005 Serita Campbell’s nickname “Versityle” fits her well. The Vessel, the fourth and latest CD from Serita Campbell, a Milwaukee-based singer, songwriter, producer, and now president of her own label, 3G Records, is all about musical versatility. Imagine Mary J. Blige or Lauryn Hill singing for the Lord, and you have a good sense of The Vessel. The project is an even-handed mix of hip hop accoutrements: heavy beats, raps, and even some Snoop Dogg slang while Campbell spits lyrics with an intensity that is fresh and never overbearing. While “Rollin’ with Christ” is ...

“The Conqueror”Leanne Faine & FavorSerenity Entertainment 2005From the Upcoming CD The Conquerorwww.leannefaine.com On “The Conqueror,” singing dynamo Leanne “Holy Ghost Power” Faine strikes again with another up-tempo traditional-sounding gospel shouter. The track is reminiscent of Faine’s energetic workouts with the Thompson Community Choir, but this time her backing ensemble is Favor, a group of men and women who respond to her calls with an almost athletic prowess. If you are listening to “The Conqueror” while operating a motor vehicle, be sure to watch your speed limit, as you will surely have quickened your pace when this one comes on the ...