“He’ll Do It Again”Wright Family SingersHigher Praise Records (release date: April 15, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich On “He’ll Do It Again,” the Wright Family Singers come as close as anyone currently to the deep groove Muscle Shoals-era sound of the Staple Singers. The female trio even evokes the low [...]
Robert M. Marovich Ray Kroc was 52 when he opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in 1955. Col. Harland Sanders was in his 60s when his “Finger Lickin’ Good” Kentucky Fried Chicken became a national sensation. Duncan Hines didn’t license his name for cake mixes until age 73. And Johnny Ray [...]
Various Artists Malaco 50th Celebration Malaco Music Group (release date: February 25, 2022) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich The nearly two-hour Malaco 50th Celebration two CD set (and companion DVD) is one of the best releases thus far this year. Recorded live on July 12, 2018, at the record company’s [...]
“He Lives” Corey Weaver Independent (release date: March 8, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Corey Weaver, a young man from Oklahoma City with an old soul and a sky-high tenor, takes listeners to church on “He Lives.” It’s his finest single to date. Weaver and his background vocalists engage in [...]
Johnny Ray Daniels Whatever You Need Bible & Tire (release date: May 6, 2022) https://fatpossum.com/collections/bible-tire-recording-co By Robert M. Marovich Like the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Jimmy Carter and the Savettes’ Goldwire McLendon, Johnny Ray Daniels didn’t record his first solo album after until after his Social Security checks started arriving. [...]
“Some Day We’ll Meet” Bill Moss Jr. & the B.M. & E. State Choir ft. Carolyn Jacobs From the Salathiel Records album His Majesty (album release: 2020) http://www.salathielrecords.com/ By Robert M. Marovich The B. M. & E. State Choir punctuates “Some Day We’ll Meet,” a gleeful evocation of the great [...]
“It Was You” Keith Wonderboy Johnson Blacksmoke Music Worldwide (release date: January 28, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich “It Was You” is a slow, soulful testimony by quartet maven Keith Wonderboy Johnson. Backed by a quartet and musicians who deliver a deep ‘70s southern soul groove, Johnson expresses his relief [...]
“It Shall Pass” Dr. James Mable Jr. From the Uncle G Records album The Journey 2.0 (release date: September 18, 2020) www.JamesMableJr.com By Robert M. Marovich “I’m about to take you all the back to Navasota, Texas,” Dr. James Mable Jr. declares, referencing his hometown, as he leads the background [...]
“Thank You” Sonny Brown Independent (release date: January 3, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich If Sonny Brown’s “Thank You” has a traditional gospel quartet vibe, it’s because Brown has spent part of his career in the quartet field, notably with the Fantastic Violinaires and the Swanee Quintet. In exhalations of [...]
JGM founder and historian Bob Marovich talks about his new book, Peace Be Still: How James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir Created a Gospel Classic, during a Q&A hosted by the publisher, University of Illinois Press. The book is available for pre-order and will be released officially on December 14, [...]
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