We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace

As many of you know, The Reverend James Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, THE driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs. He is known as the King of Gospel music. He was the first gospel musician to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1984. The soloist on this song is Carolyn Brown.

 

 

  1. We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace James Cleveland & The Salem Inspirational Choir 4:25

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Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church where Thomas A. Dorsey was minister of music and Roberta Martin was pianist for the choir. He strained his vocal cords as a teenager while part of a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger.  From the 1970s until 1990, Cleveland would bring together a number of artists to back him on appearances and records. He also continued to appear and record with some of the most notable gospel choirs of the time. For his pioneering accomplishments and contributions, he is regarded by many to be one of the greatest gospel singers that ever lived.

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