“God Has Smiled on Me”
Joe Russell
Chance Records 2009
www.joerussellmusic.com
Joe Russell, former member of the Miami vocal group the Debonairs, was surrounded by all types of music growing up, but decided to embrace gospel music later in life. On the classic “God Has Smiled on Me,” Russell toys with the rhythm as he delivers the vocals in a James Cleveland-esque conversational style, while female background vocalists croon behind him.
Russell’s warm and friendly delivery is also reminiscent of Lou Rawls, right down to a tossed-off gospel chuckle during “God Has Smiled on Me.” It’s a vocal comparison the singer says he heard frequently during his pop music days. The similarity is supremely evident on songs from his full-length debut CD, I Give Him All the Praise, especially “He Will Be Right There” and the title track.
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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