“I’m Happy in the Service of the Lord”/”My Life is in His Hands”The Memphis Gospel Singers (aka Spirit of Memphis Quartet)DeLuxe 32211949[“Happy…” also available on Rounder CD: Bless my Bones: Memphis Gospel Radio – the Fifties] Record collectors: be on the lookout for this wonderful 78 rpm disc when perusing stacks of shellac at your local used vinyl store, antique shop, record show, or in record auctions. The Spirit of Memphis Quartet’s second disc, a scorching double-sider from 1949 that lists the group as The Memphis Gospel Singers, pre-dates its more popular King and Peacock sessions and demonstrated the quartet’s ...

From the Detroit Free Press, February 18, 2005: Gospel radio DJ and historian Deborah Smith Pollard names the 10 most significant gospel songs or albums to come out of Detroit, which is considered one of the world’s great gospel-producing cities: The Voices of Tabernacle, “The Love of God” (1960)“This is a song that makes the Rev. James Cleveland an acclaimed national soloist. It allows the country to hear the disciplined Detroit chorale sound. The Voices of Tabernacle were unbelievable.” Mattie Moss Clark and the Southwest Michigan Choir of the Church of God in Christ, “Climbing Up the Mountain” (1965)“This is ...

Check out GospelFlava’s brief history of Preacher Donald Gay and the Gay Sisters, complete with some great vintage photographs and a discography: Preacher Gay and the Gay Sisters

From the New York Times, February 15, 2005: Gospel’s Got the BluesBy ROBERT DARDEN Waco, Tex. AT the Grammy awards on Sunday, viewers saw the marriage of old-time gospel and new: the classic artists Mavis Staples and the Blind Boys of Alabama performed a medley with a young musician, Kanye West, that included Mr. West’s gospel-tinged hip-hop song, “Jesus Walks.” Blessed with a rock-solid foundation, contemporary gospel is thriving. In the past decade, new releases have been selling copies in the millions – a major milestone in a musical genre that emerged in the 1930’s, when the songwriter Thomas Dorsey ...

The Black Gospel Blog wishes to congratulate the following gospel artists on receiving “the hardware” at the most recent Grammy Awards: Traditional Soul Gospel Album: “There Will Be a Light,” Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama. For gentlemen who have been around long enough to have cut loads of 78 rpms, they definitely deserve each and every one of their Grammies. They may soon need an even bigger trophy cabinet to hold them all! Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: “Nothing Without You,” Smokie Norful. We Chicagoans in particular can cheer for one of our own walking away with this ...

Blackberry Records Presents Songs Mama Used to Sing 3Blackberry CD BBD 1646Produced by Melvin Williams and Doug Williams for Turn-Table Productions2004www.blackberryrecords.com Former Caravan Dorothy Norwood says that when troubles get you down and you need some real soul salvation, you turn to the old-time gospel songs. Apparently, the staff and musicians of Blackberry Records are in agreement, as they have released the third installment of Songs Mama Used to Sing. This compilation from some of Blackberry’s top gospel stars is all about “havin’ church.” The quartets vamp like the good old days, singers render the gospel blues like Dorsey and ...

This is from Mack Mason’s excellent “Gospel Trade” monthly e-newsletter: The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) has just announced its line up of special honorees for its upcoming Grammy Awards. Among those slated to receive recognition during the week leading up to the February 13 Television event are Andrae Crouch, Bill & Gloria Gaither, and Miss Caravan – Albertina Walker. The honors will take place at GRAMMY’s Salute to Gospel Music on February 10 at West Angeles COGIC in Los Angeles. These awards are not nominations to be voted upon such as those during the Live Sunday ...

Lynette White may have been born in the Bronx and raised in Southern California, but the Caribbean sun burns brightly in her voice. While the fetching, dreadlocked Lynette — born to Caribbean parents — may be better known for her secular work, her gospel debut CD I Will Lift My Voice blends R&B sultriness and island rhythms with inspirational lyrics to create a distinctive and altogether fresh sound in gospel music. If nothing else, you have to hear this CD to experience one of the only – if not the only – reggae-flavored adaptations of Albert Hay Malotte’s “Lord’s Prayer” ...

From a press release supplied by JL Media Relations: The “20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards” airs in national syndication over broadcast and cable television from January 22 to February 20, 2005. Please check local listings for dates and times. 2005 Stellar Gospel Music WINNERS! Artist of the Year: Tonex & The Peculiar People – Out the Box Song of the Year: Make Me Over – A.C. Williams – (From Tonex’s Out the Box CD) Male Vocalist of the Year: Israel Houghton – Live From Another Level Female Vocalist of the Year: CeCe Winans – Throne Room Group/Duo of the ...

“If I Had a Hammer” – Five Blind Boys of Alabama from House of Blues CD: I Brought Him With Me (1995) Pete Seeger’s and Lee Hayes’s iconic “If I Had a Hammer” receives its best treatment ever at the hands of the Five Blind Boys of Alabama on one of the quartet’s live CDs, I Brought Him With Me. Recorded live at the House of Blues in San Francisco, January 14-16, 1995, the song is the highlight of a project with many outstanding tracks. If, however, you have had the good fortune to see the quartet do “Hammer” live ...