Legends of Gospel | gospelgold

The Legends of Gospel

The roots of gospel music are not well documented. Early recordings were lost. Stories behind the songs weren't written down. Yet, Black Gospel Music's transcending emotion and spiritual 'anointing' is upheld as the pinnacle of human experience. Explore the "Legends of Gospel" and learn how these wonderful people expressed their love for God through song.

The History of Black Gospel

Arizona Drane

1891-1963

Arizona Dranes was one of the first gospel artists to bring the musical styles of Holiness churches' religious music to the public in her records for Okeh and performances in the 1920s.

Thomas A. Dorsey

1899-1993

Thomas Andrew Dorsey was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as "dorseys."

Sallie Martin

1895-1988

Sallie Martin was a gospel singer nicknamed "the mother of gospel music" for her efforts to popularize the songs of Thomas A. Dorsey and her influence on other artists

Willie Mae

Ford - Smith

1904-1994

Willie Mae Ford, also known as Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, was an American gospel singer

Roberta Martin

1907-1969

Gospel composer, singer, pianist, arranger and choral organizer, helped launch the careers of many other gospel artists through her group, The Roberta Martin Singers

Marie Knight

1925-2009

She started her first recordings in 1946, in duet with Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In 1954, she has her first solo record. She did few non-religious records in mid 60s without any real success.

Edna Gallmon Cooke

1918-1967

Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke was a renowned gospel singer and recording artist from 1949 until her death in 1967

Aretha Franklin

1942-

The daughter of prominent Baptist minister and activist C. L. Franklin, began her singing career singing in her at the age of ten. After several years in the gospel circuit she formed a secular pop music career

Frank Williams

1947-1993

He teamed up with his brother Huey Williams in 1964, as part of The Jackson Southernaires. became the executive producer and director of Gospel promotions at Malaco. Williams formed The Mississippi Mass Choir

Timothy Wright

1947-2009

Grammy-nominated gospel singer and composer known for his up-tempo praise songs and powerful mass choir sound

Clara Ward

1924-1973

Achieved great success, both artistic and commercial, in the 1940s and 1950s as leader of The Famous Ward Singers.

Sam Cooke

1931-1964

Commonly known as the King of Soul for his influence on the modern world of music. He first became known as lead singer with the Highway QC's as a teenager.and later replaced gospel tenor R.H. Harris as lead singer The Soul Stirrers

Clara Ward

1924-1976

started out as a gospel singer, forming her own five-piece group The Carr Singers around 1945 and touring the Cleveland -Detroit area.

Clay Evans

1924-1976

Founder of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago, and a featured soloist on a number of albums with his 250 voice his church choir. Evans also issued an impressive number of solo recordings on labels including Savoy and Jewel.

Marion Williams

1927-1994

Williams' singing helped make The Ward Singers nationally popular when they began recording in 1948, and also inspired Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Little Richard's signature wail.

James Cleveland

1931-1991

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.

Walter Hawkins

1949-2010

Started his career in one of his brother's chorales, Later, he accompanied his brother and founded The Edwin Hawkins Singers. This collaborative effort produced the hit song "Oh Happy Day", which became one of the first gospel songs to cross over onto mainstream music charts

Joe May

1912-1972

"The Thunderbolt of the Middle West", has been described as "arguably the greatest male soloist in the history of gospel music.... [with] a voice of unimaginable range and power, moving from a whisper to a scream without the slightest suggestion of effort"

C.L. Franklin

1915-1984

Franklin was one of the first ministers to place his sermons on records (which continued into the 1970s), Among his most famous sermons were "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest" and "Dry Bones in the Valley." In 2011 "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest" was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.

James Cleveland

1954-1992

Singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, choir director and producer best known for helping to shape the fabric of contemporary gospel music with his elaborate choral arrangements and the merging of musical styles.

Andre Crouch

1942-1991

Crouch was a key figure in the Jesus Music movement of the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, helped bring about contemporary Christian music, and began to bridge the gap between black and white Christian music. His songs have become staples in churches all around the world and recorded by mainstream artists such as Elvis Presley and Paul Simon.

Cleophus Robinson

1932-1998

A well known and traveled preacher and gospel singer. He recorded many albums and received many awards and citations and White House invitation to sing in 1980. His greatest hit was "Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up."

Rosetta Tharpe

1915-1973

Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll accompaniment. Tharpe became the first superstar of gospel music and also became known as "the original soul sister."

Mahalia Jackson

1918-1967

Possessing a powerful contralto voice,[2] she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel".She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States"

James Moore

1956-2000

A gospel artist well known throughout the gospel recording industry for his powerful vocal abilities.

Mattie Moss Clark

1925-1984

Gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a world-renowned gospel vocal group. Clark is credited for creating the three-part harmony (separating vocal parts into soprano, alto and tenor), a technique which is prevalent among gospel choirs today

Tremaine Hawkins

1951-

She first was featured on The Edwin Hawkins Singers Choir's "Oh Happy Day." and she became better known as a featured soloist Love Center Choir.
She scored several hits as a solo artist in the 1970s Songs such as "Changed," "Goin Up Yonder," and "Highway" quickly became staples and fan favorites.

Edwin Hawkins

1918-1967

Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (and the Edwin Hawkins Singers) are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list.

Johnny L Jones

1951-

also known as Hurricane — is a Bobby Bland-type singer, with a great gargly voice and a concentrated wariness that doesn’t break, even as he screams. For 53 years of Sunday mornings at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Atlanta he has been singing, preaching and recording it all. Some of those recordings came out long ago as LPs on the gospel label Jewel;

Leo Daniels

1918-1967

He traveled through out the United States preaching to thousands singing and praying for the masses as he went about his ministry. He is famous for many sermons on albums during the 60's and 70's. "What In Hell Do You Want" proved to be just one of many titles that got the attention of his listeners.