“Lead Me to That Rock”
Canaanites
Gotham 607
1949
[Also available on Pewburner CD reissue PB597]
“Lead Me to That Rock” is included on this list of gospel essentials not for its exceptional compositional quality – it’s a pretty standard 1940s a cappella quartet number – but because it features as lead vocalist the incomparable tenor Joe Van Loan.
Van Loan is best remembered for his membership in the 1950s Ravens vocal group, filling the resident falsetto seat created by Maithe Marshall, and particularly for his needle-jumping high note at the end of the Ravens’ 1956 “A Simple Prayer” (Argo). Like most every vocal stylist in RnB, however, Van Loan also sang gospel. This Canaanites recording is a rare chance to hear Van Loan skip lightly through the musical stratosphere in praise of the Lord.
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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