Courtesy of Barbara Allen of Middle Passage Productions
From a press release by:
Bernicola Productions, Inc. (312) 320-7988
or contact Victoria Reed, (773) 398-4726
JUBILEE SHOWCASE GOSPEL SINGER, JUNIOUS ‘BUD’ NORFLEET, LEAD SINGER OF THE FAMED GOSPEL SINGERS, THE NORFLEET BROTHERS, DEAD AT 82
Junious Norfleet died on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 while in the care of Integrated Health Services of Chicago at Brentwood in Burbank, Illinois. Mr. Norfleet died of complications after a stroke he suffered in February 2008.
The Norfleet Brothers were best known as the headlining act of Chicago’s “Jubilee Showcase,” a gospel television program that showcased the best talent in gospel music that included The Staple Singers, Willie Dixon and The Soul Stirrers to name a few. Jubilee Showcase aired on WLS-TV CH.7 from 1963 to 1984.
The Norfleet Brothers will be honored on the floor of the House of Representatives when they reconvene on Tuesday, April 1st. The group will receive a special honor of being mentioned as part of the Congressional Record, an honor that will live for all time.
Junious Norfleet (bottom row, far right in photo) was the youngest of fifteen children. The Norfleet Brothers formed the group in 1946. The family hails from Marion, Alabama, a small town not far from Tuscaloosa, but migrated to Chicago in 1948. The group was part of the Chess Records’ hit factory and recorded the gospel hits “None But The Righteous,” “Shadrach,” “He’s Sweet I Know,” and “He Touched Me”. The Norfleet Brothers won many awards and the group was honored with a Stellar Award.
Junious is survived by his wife, Janet Norfleet, Chicago’s first female postmaster.
Visitation and funeral is scheduled as follows:
Monday, March 31, 2008
Begins at 10 a.m.
Cage Memorial Chapel
7651 South Jeffrey Boulevard
Chicago, IL
(773) 721-8900
Burial Immediately following:
Lincoln Cemetery
12300 South Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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My name is Lynette Rucker(White). I just did a google search and found that Bud passed away. I just want to share with people who did not know the family… We use to live on 90TH. and they own a store on the corner of 92nd. Greenwood. My mother would send me there all the time to buy things and of course I would always get my candy… but I remember when we did not have food they would give us credit, when all the others neighbors would speak bad about our family… but as I was a child I watch all of them.. brothers uncles etc… and I noticed one thing about there family was they were true and God fearing people. I am so happy to say that if it was not for HIS WIFE I WOULD BE DEAD NOW…so I thank God for the family, for giving me life when I never knew Him(Jesus). Lynette Rucker
Lynette, what a beautiful testimony to the Norfleet Family. Thank you for posting it here!
Lynette, very nice tribune. I am just finding at today, after more than a decade in NC. I did not get to know Junious but I knew Janet for years, and she spoke lovingly of the whole family, whom I had heard and heard of.
Omg yes would go to the store and get 2 dollars worth of spice ham him and his brother some days they would have music playing nobody knew how famous they are I did toni hilliard stayed on university 91st so rite across the street from that corner store
Yes I stayed on 91st n University 2 dollars worth of spice ham and would sometimes sing him and his brother loved that store best times in that area also pops on University
Wow my great grandmother and great Grandfather Willie and Frances Rucker would always listen to them sing 🎤 my grandma Mary Rucker would talk about their music coming up in that time thank you Norfleet family for GOD blessing you with the anointing to bless others through gift of song and from the Rucker family we love you all