Be Ye Steadfast

FLORIDA MASS CHOIR At last night’s rehearsal, after Donnell had finished exhorting the choir to sing out with confidence, he sort of muttered under his breath, “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding…”. Today’s post is inspired by that phrase.  This song is one of my favorites. The Florida Mass Choir has been a recording institution … Read more and listen Be Ye Steadfast

It’s Gonna Rain

REV. MILTON BRUNSON & THE THOMPSON COMMUNITY SINGERS (THE TOMMIES) The late Reverend Milton Brunson organized a mass gospel choir in 1948 at Chicago’s McKinley High School. This choir was called the ‘Thompson Community Singers’ or ‘The Tommies’ after the late Rev. Eugene Thompson of St. Stephen’s Church. They would go on to release numerous … Read more and listen It’s Gonna Rain

I Found Jesus

Luvonia Whittley and The Corinthian Temple COGIC Radio Choir.  Born May 15, 1943, Mother Whittley holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the Chicago Teachers College, a Master’s Degree in Language Arts and Administration from Chicago State University and the Doctorate Degree in Theological Studies from Midwest College and Theological Seminary. Retiring in 2013, Mother … Read more and listen I Found Jesus

Total Praise

Richard Smallwood‘s “Total Praise”…it has become one of the best know contemporary gospel songs and for good reason. It’s amazing. I first heard it by accident listening to a gospel music radio show late one Sunday night. Sitting there in the dark this song came on and by the end I was a weeping mess. … Read more and listen Total Praise

How the Isley Brothers Created ‘Shout’

NEVER under estimate the influence that the CHURCH and GOSPEL MUSIC has had on secular music of all kinds.  Here is a wonderful story of how strong gospel roots led to The Isley Brothers’ song  “Shout”, one of the earliest and best-known party songs.  RLS From The Wall Street JournalFriday, November 6, 2015 By Marc … Read more and listen How the Isley Brothers Created ‘Shout’

I Want To Be Ready

In 1999, this was one of the very first songs Geoffrey Dana Hick taught his travel choir. The choir’s amazing tour of Umbria in Italy was the impetus for the founding of “Joyful Voices of Inspiration”. Although I didn’t know it at the time, many of the songs the early choir learned were James Cleveland … Read more and listen I Want To Be Ready

Essential Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972). Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as “The Queen of Gospel”. She became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as “the … Read more and listen Essential Mahalia Jackson