Queen City Gospel

The Gospel Music Workshop of America concluded its annual convention in Cincinnati yesterday evening and will be returning to the “Queen City” for next year’s gathering. Although the following is not meant to be a comprehensive survey of Cincinnati’s gospel music heritage, here are some tidbits to whet your appetite:

Queen City Gospel

Cincinnati, the “Queen City,” has been part of the gospel music scene since at least 1933, when Sallie Martin visited Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky to persuade local ministers and churches to organize gospel choirs, purchase Dorsey song sheets and join the new National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.

Since then, the Greater Cincinnati area has produced its share of gospel and quartet talent. Here are just a few examples of the city’s impact on quartets and gospel music:

Quartets:
Silvertone Gospel Singers of Cincinnati – Arguably one of the best-known Golden Age quartets from Cincinnati, and certainly one of its most prolific on record, the Silvertones blended sweet jubilee harmonies with hard lead singing. Their recording career spanned at least four decades, starting in 1947. Also known as the Cincinnatians, the group was at one time comprised of James Avant, Theodore C. Wallace, Artis Conley and Louie King. It is not known whether James Avant is the same person as Jimmy Avant who became a gospel announcer in Dallas and started his own record label, Avant. It wouldn’t be surprising, though, as the first group to record for Avant (in 1956) was the Gospelaires of Dayton, Ohio (see below).

Charles Fold and the Gospel Messengers – One of Cincinnati’s best known gospel sons, the late Charles Fold (left) was a prolific singer and songwriter. He sang and recorded with the Gospel Messengers in the 1960s. Fold later worked with James Cleveland and eventually assumed a position of leadership within the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Fans will remember the Grammy-winning Charles Fold Singers for their classic 1975 performance of “Jesus is the Best Thing that Happened to Me,” with James Cleveland.

Gospelaires of Dayton, Ohio – Although not from Cincinnati but nearby Dayton, Ohio, the Gospelaires must be included when discussing quartets from this region of Ohio. Featuring Bob Washington, Paul Arnold, Robert Lattimore and Charles McLean, the Gospelaires were one of the hardest singing quartets of the 1960s. Those who saw them perform say they could wreck a church or auditorium in no time flat. The group eventually traveled the world singing quartet, including their big hits, “Rest for the Weary” and “Ride This Train.”

Record Labels:
King and Federal Records – Sydney Nathan’s King and Federal imprints had an impressive roster of gospel quartets. King/Federal released the earliest recordings of the Swan Silvertones and the Spirit of Memphis as well as the Wings over Jordan and the CBS Trumpeteers (1940s), the fabulous Four Internes (1950s) and the Patterson Singers and Kelly Brothers (1960s). The King LP recording of the Bibleway Church of God and its effusive pastor, Rev. “Little” Abraham Swanson, produced the perennial radio favorite, “Rev. Abraham Swanson’s Prayer.”

Finch Records – Like King Records, John Marshall Finch’s eponymous label and Cincinnati studio presented many types of music, but unlike King, his releases were mainly private pressings for groups to sell at programs and give to radio announcers in towns they were appearing. Regardless, Finch produced a number of quartet records, all of which are in demand by quartet enthusiasts. Quality-wise, the Mighty Pilgrims’ 1971 Finch recording of “I Tried,” based on “When I’ve Done the Best I Can,” is arguably among the finest quartet recordings ever made.

Other local quartets that recorded for Finch include the Christian-Aires of Cincinnati, Dynamic Golden Stars, Mighty Gospel Travelers, House of God Harmonizers, and the Singing Mastermen.

Finally, we cannot forget two important Cincinnati-based record manufacturing/recording companies: Queen City Album (QCA) and Rite Pressing. Both were essential sources for artists, churches and pastors locally and nationwide to get their music recorded and pressed.