Chicago May Finally Get Gospel Music Museum

by Bob Marovich, The Black Gospel Blog.

Click below for a story from Chicago’s WLS TV (ABC) on the progress of Rev. Stanley Keeble’s efforts to get a gospel music museum up and running in its rightful birthplace: Chicago.

Gospel Music Museum

There is a correction to the story. Rev. Keeble (photo above, right) explained at a special luncheon he hosted this afternoon that it was mistakenly reported the museum received $1,000,000 in funding but should have read that he is seeking $1,000,000. As one attendee responded, “Well, then, let’s do what we can to make it true!”

The new site for the museum is the pastorage adjacent to the historic Metropolitan Community Church at 41st and King Drive, now the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church. Rev. Keeble has persisted with this project for years despite many setbacks, and has to be the happiest man alive to see the museum find space for its collection.

Interestingly, one of the most famous pre-gospel choirs, Prof. J. Wesley Jones and the Metropolitan Prize-Winning and Radio Choir, hailed from the church now providing quarter to the museum. In fact, one of gospel’s pioneers, Magnolia N. Lewis Butts, was the group’s featured soloist and went on to direct what is “technically” the city’s first gospel choir: the W.D. Cook Gospel Chorus.

This afternoon’s event at Captain Hard Times on Chicago’s South Side was attended by some of Chicago’s gospel legends, including reigning Queen of Gospel, Dr. Albertina Walker; Doris Sykes and Donald Smith from the Maceo Woods Singers and Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir; organist and songwriter Kenneth Woods, Jr.; Shirley Wahls of the Argo Singers; Bertha Melson of the Lux Singers; Eddie Robinson, pianist to Mahalia Jackson; Bro. Nash Shaffer; Pam Morris; Pastor DeAndre Patterson; singer-songwriter Calvin Bridges; Rhodessa and Billie of the Barrett Sisters; Betty Lester; and many more.

During the festivities, the Barrett Sisters (sans DeLois), Doris Sykes, Calvin Bridges and Bertha Melson separately rendered traditional gospel songs, with Bro. Shaffer on the electric piano.