Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and electric guitar. She was the first great recording star of gospel music, and was among the first gospel musicians to appeal to rhythm and blues and rock and roll audiences, later being referred to as "the original soul sister" and "the Godmother of rock and roll". She influenced early rock-and-roll musicians including Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and also later guitarists, such as Eric Clapton.
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You Know?". In the late 1960s she hosted her own talk show, Della, which ran for 197 episodes. From 1975 she also starred in films, playing opposite Redd Foxx in Harlem Nights (1989), Martin Lawrence in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Elliott Gould in Expecting Mary (2010). Reese achieved continued success in the religious television drama Touched by an Angel (1994–2003), in which she played the leading role of Tess.
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" is a gospel song. The lyrics were written by Thomas A. Dorsey, who also adapted the melody.
His Hand in Mine is the fifth studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on November 23, 1960 by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, catalog number LPM/LSP 2328. It was the first of three gospel albums that Presley would issue during his lifetime. Recording sessions took place on October 30 and 31, 1960, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. It peaked at #13 on the Top Pop Albums chart. It was certified Gold on April 9, 1969 and Platinum on March 27, 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Laura Lee is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women's experience.
What Do You Know About Love? is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released in December 1959 by Jubilee Records and contained a total of 12 tracks. The songs on the album focused on stories about love and mixed two new tracks with ten standards conducted by Reg Owens. The album was given reviews by music magazines and websites following its release. One single was included as well: "I'm Nobody's Baby".
The Story of the Blues is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released by Jubilee Records in 1959 and was the third studio album in her career. The album contained 11 tracks that told the story of blues music in chronological order and featured mostly blues standards. It was given a positive response by authors and music publications.
Della is an album by singer and actress Della Reese, her first for RCA Victor, after she left Jubilee Records in 1959. The album, produced by Hugo & Luigi, was one of her most successful. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1961.
Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs is the fourth studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in June 1966 by RCA Victor and contained 12 tracks. It was also her first collection of gospel songs. The project included covers of popular gospel selections including "Father Along" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". The disc reached the top 20 of Billboard country albums chart in 1966.
Come Along and Walk with Me is seventeenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith, released in October 1971 by RCA Victor. The album was Smith’s third collection of gospel songs. The disc included original songs and covers of songs first cut by other artists. Among the song included on the project were three by gospel performer Dottie Rambo. Following its release, Billboard gave the album a positive review.
I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today / I've Got My Baby on My Mind is the twenty-fourth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in January 1975 and contained 11 tracks. It was also considered to be one of her "most commercially-successful" discs of the decade, according to biographer Barry Mazor. Three singles were included on the project. Both "I've Got My Baby on My Mind" and her cover of "Why Don't You Love Me" reached the top 15 of the American country songs chart. "I Got a Lot of Hurtin' Done Today" would chart in the top 30. The album itself reached the American country LP's chart in early 1975. Billboard gave the album a positive review following its release.
Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel is the twenty-fifth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in May 1975 via Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The project was a tribute to Hank Williams and was considered the first tribute gospel album of his material. Smith had found over half of the album's material through previously-unreleased recordings. The album would make a brief chart appearance on the American Country LP's survey in 1975.
Marie Knight was an American gospel and R&B singer.
Donna Lubertha Hightower was an American R&B, soul and jazz singer and songwriter, who recorded and released albums for the Decca and Capitol labels. Later in her career she was based in Europe, where she had a hit in 1972 with "This World Today is a Mess."
As a recording artist, Della Reese has made 22 studio albums, seven live albums, two video albums, eight compilation albums and one other charted song. Of her singles, 52 were released with Reese serving as the lead artist, while two were released with Reese serving as a collaborative artist. Two additional singles were issued as promotional singles. Reese's first recording was the 1954 single "Yes Indeed". Her first studio album appeared in 1956 on Jubilee Records called Melancholy Baby. In 1957, Reese had her first chart single with the top 20 US and Australian song "And That Reminds Me". The Jubilee label issued three more studio efforts by Reese: Amen! (1958), The Story of the Blues (1959) and What Do You Know About Love? (1959).
Sons of Song were an American gospel male voice trio. The trio comprised Calvin Newton, Don Butler, and Bob Robinson. Their greatest success came with the 1960 album Wasted Years, named after the title song Wasted Years. The follow-up album was Unto Him.
"Jesus Met the Woman at the Well" is a traditional gospel song. It relates the story of the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, found in the Gospel of John at 4:4-26.
Now I Have Everything is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in March 1975 on Myrrh Records and contained 12 tracks. It was the twenty third studio collection in Jackson's career and her third disc of gospel recordings. The album spawned one single release as well.
Closer to Jesus is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1977 via Word Records and contained a total of ten tracks. The disc was Jackson's twenty fifth studio collection released in her career and her fifth album to consist entirely of gospel recordings.
Melancholy Baby is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released in 1956 by Jubilee Records and was the debut studio release in Reese's career. The album was a collection of standards performed by Reese in a blues style. The album received a positive response from music publications such as Billboard and Cashbox magazines. It spawned one single which happened to be the collection's title track.
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