On Sunday, June 5, the Inspirational Souls ascended the stairs to the day stage at Chicago's famed Gospel Festival, and demonstrated that classic quartet singing is alive and well in the 21st Century. The quartet was founded in 1962 and today includes Johnny Woolfalk (Holy Disciples, Woolfalk Singers), Johnnie Townsel, [...]
Gospel music has been performed in a variety of secular venues ever since Mahalia Jackson stepped foot for the first time in Carnegie Hall. Since then, gospel has been received in sports stadiums, concert halls, dance clubs, nightclubs, theme parks, restaurants, festivals...and now skating rinks! Roller skating -- once a [...]
Going to Church with Bishop Keith C. SmithMeek Records MR40252005www.meekrecords.comIf you don't already know that Bishop Keith C. Smith pastors a church in South Carolina or recorded this CD in Memphis, never mind: the music itself will clue you in. The listener can hear the deep, balmy Southern gospel groove, [...]
“Because He Lives” Krista Alston from Golgotha CD Keep On Keepin’ On2005 www.kristaalston.comChicagoan Krista Alston’s superbly produced debut CD Keep On Keepin’ On combines her Aretha-inspired vocals with bouncy, infectious beats and simple, singable songs. However, what captured my attention was her performance of Gloria Gaither’s “Because He Lives.” Accompanying [...]
“Jesus Can Work It Out (Remix)” Dr. Charles G. Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (aka “The Warriors”)From the ICEE Inspirational CD The Remix, due out this summerIn 1960, during the Kennedy Administration, Chicago’s Dr. Charles G. Hayes established the quintessential gospel choir now known as the Cosmopolitian [...]
“The World is Full of Sin”Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippifrom Checker LP 10003 1960-61This is another song brought to my attention, thanks to Brother Jason Rosenberg.The early years of the 1960s were truly magical for black music. Motown was emerging as one of Detroit’s greatest exports, second only to [...]
“Jesus Coming Back” – DeWayne Harvey and Unrestrained Praise [from the Aleho International Records CD Tell It]Unrestrained praise, indeed!I had the good fortune to hear DeWayne Harvey’s Florida-based ensemble perform live for the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild April meeting. Among the repertory of songs the group performed from its [...]
This comes to TBGB courtesy of our friend, Elder Mack C. Mason.Annually on the first Friday in the month of May, Pastor Maceo Woods andChicago's Christian Tabernacle Church gathers for an always beautifulservice, "This Is Your Life". The annual program sponsored by The Moving Forward Group, one of thechurch auxiliaries [...]
This message comes to TBGB from Eric LeBlanc, who found the obituary in the Augusta Chronicle on 5/1/2005. James "Big Red" Anderson was an original member of the Swanee Quintet of Augusta, Georgia and recorded with the quartet for more than fifty years.James "Big Red" AndersonJONESBORO, Ga. - Entered into [...]
This notice comes to TBGB courtesy of Elder Mack C. Mason and his always-informative Gospel Trade E-Zine:The life and times of the late Pastor C. L. Franklin (father of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin) is examined in a new book "Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the [...]
