Gospel Music

Before he became the “Father of Gospel Music,” Thomas A. Dorsey was an accomplished blues pianist and vocalist. His solo work; collaborations with Tampa Red, Jane Lucas, and others; and accompaniment of blues diva Ma Rainey were captured on disc by a variety of labels, including Richmond, Indiana’s famed Gennett [...]

The Black Gospel Collector's Forum reported that Barney Parks, an original member of the Dixie Hummingbirds and organizer of the Sensational Nightingales, passed away Saturday, February 24 in Durham, North Carolina.Parks is in the back, second from right, in this 1942 photo of the Dixie Hummingbirds published in the Philadelphia [...]

Anthony Heilbut reported to TBGB that gospel artist and composer Calvin White died two weeks ago in New York. White was approximately 70 years old.The name of Calvin White is not well known in gospel circles anymore but that's a shame, considering his contributions to gospel music. As Heilbut reports, [...]

Hello, everyone -- this is your monthly reminder that Gospel Memories hits the airwaves live this Sunday, March 4 from 3:00 to 7:30 a.m. Central Time US on Chicago's 88.7 WLUW.You can listen live wherever you are at www.wluw.org. Request line is 773/508-WLUWHighlights of the March 4 Broadcast:-- In Loving [...]

Bishop Joseph W. Walker III Presents Judah GenerationLight Records 2006Junior (or youth) gospel choirs have been around since the early 1930s, when Theodore Frye organized the very first junior gospel chorus at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Chicago’s south side. As if Professor Frye didn’t provide the group with enough star [...]

From a Malaco press release, sent by D.A. Johnson:GOSPEL QUARTET LEGEND 'SLIM' OF SUPREME ANGELS PASSES AWAYJackson, MS. February 25, 2007 - Sunday, February 25, 2007, gospel music lost one of its own, Howard Hunt, aka 'Slim' of Slim and the Supreme Angels. Elder Hunt was the Pastor at the [...]

If you were among those who applauded Chicago's Jennifer Hudson after her Oscar-winning, show-stopping performance of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" in the musical Dreamgirls, you were applauding a 100 percent gospel performance with secular lyrics. Yesterday, Hudson's singing at the 79th Annual Academy Awards ceremony once again [...]

Henry Harrison of Down Home Gospel Productions informed me that Howard "Slim" Hunt, leader of the Supreme Angels, passed away Sunday, February 25.As more information becomes available, TBGB will pass it along.Meanwhile, a marvelous mini-autobiography of Hunt is available at http://www.malaco.com/Catalog/Gospel/Slim-The-Supreme-Angels/list.php.

“Just For Who You Are”Earnest PughFrom the release Earnest Pugh Live – A Worshipper’s PerspectiveCrystal Rose Records 2006On the relaxed “Just For Who You Are,” Memphis native Earnest Pugh sings at slow simmer until the recording’s latter moments, when he and the live audience together build the song’s intensity to [...]

CD ReviewStellar Awards Hits 2007Various ArtistsLight Records 2007While the WOW Gospel two-CD series has served as gospel’s de facto greatest hits compilation since its inception in 1997, Light Records’ Stellar Awards Hits 2007 is a shorter but equally enjoyable swatch of the past year’s gospel music highlights.Don’t expect to hear [...]