Golden Gate Quartet

Last updated

Golden Gate Quartet
The Golden Gate Quartet (1964).jpg
The Golden Gate Quartet (1964)
Background information
Also known asGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet
Origin Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Genres Spirituals, Gospel
Years active1934–present
Members Paul Brembly
Frank Davis
Thierry François
Timothy Riley
Past members Willie Johnson
Henry Owens
Robert Ford
A. C. Griffin
William Langford
Orlandus Wilson
Clyde Riddick
Cliff Givens
Alton Bradley
Orville Brooks
Eugene Mumford
Franck Todd
Caleb Ginyard
Calvin Williams
Clyde Wright
Richard Phillips
Charles Alexander West
Anthony L. Gordon

The Golden Gate Quartet (a.k.a. The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet) is an American vocal group. It was formed in 1934 and, with changes in membership, remains active.

Contents

Origins and early career

The group was founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Singers in 1934, by four students at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. [1] According to the group's website, [2] the original members were Willie Johnson (baritone; d. 1980), William Langford (tenor; d. 1970), Henry Owens (second tenor; d. 1970) and Orlandus Wilson (bass; 1917–1998); other sources state that Langford and Wilson replaced earlier members Robert "Peg" Ford and A.C. "Eddie" Griffin in 1935. [3] [4] [5]

From 1935, the group sang in churches and on local radio, gaining a regular spot on radio station WIS in Columbia, South Carolina in 1936. [2] [6] They began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz like scat singing. They developed a broad repertoire of styles – from Owens' mournful, understated approach in songs such as "Anyhow" or "Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name", to the group's highly syncopated arrangements in "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego". Like The Mills Brothers in popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as "Golden Gate Gospel Train". Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group. Wilson's bass served as the anchor for the group and Owens harmonized with Langford and Johnson.[ citation needed ]

In 1937 they moved to station WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, and soon afterwards won a contract with Bluebird Records. After their first recording session on August 14, 1937, in which they recorded 14 songs in two hours, [2] they were contracted to record 12 tracks per year. In 1938, they were recruited by John Hammond to appear at the first From Spirituals To Swing concert held at Carnegie Hall in New York City, after which their popularity grew. An example of their output during this popular period includes a 1938 recording of 'John the Revelator' being inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2005. They stayed in New York and were signed up for a residency at the Cafe Society nightclub. As well as performing and recording gospel songs they also recorded some secular songs for RCA Records, who were intending to bill them as "The Four Chocolate Bars", but the recordings were not released. In 1939, William Langford left the group to form a new group, the Southern Sons; he was replaced by Clyde Riddick (1913–1999). [6]

The 1940s and 1950s

In 1940 the group signed a new contract with Columbia Records' subsidiary Okeh label, and shortened their name to the Golden Gate Quartet. [6] They soon had a nationwide radio program and the opportunity to sing at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration in 1941, becoming the first black musical group to sing at Constitution Hall and later performing several times at the White House. [2] They continued to be popular during World War Two, making several appearances in Hollywood films and singing secular music, including some unique popular front songs such as "Stalin Wasn't Stallin'" that mixed humor with political commentary. The Quartet appeared in films such as Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), Hit Parade of 1943 (1943), Hollywood Canteen (1944), and the Danny Kaye film A Song Is Born (1948). In the latter film, they performed the songs "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" and part of "A Song Is Born" with Louis Armstrong and Virginia Mayo.

Johnson was called into the US Navy in 1943, followed by Wilson in 1944; they were temporarily replaced by Cliff Givens – who later left to join firstly The Ink Spots and then Billy Ward and His Dominoes – and Alton Bradley. [2] The group moved first to the main Columbia record label and then, in 1948, to Mercury Records. Johnson left in 1948 to join The Jubalaires, and was replaced by Orville Brooks (1919–1997).

The quartet lost their pre-eminent position in gospel music after the war, when they faced competition from the newer hard gospel quartets. They continued in their old style, offering sharper political commentary in songs such as "God's Gonna Cut You Down", but losing much of their audience to quartets such as the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Soul Stirrers. Henry Owens left in 1950 to become a preacher and solo artist. Alton Bradley returned to replace him, but then left in 1952 when he was replaced by Eugene Mumford (1925–1977), previously of The Larks.

The Golden Gates revived their career in 1955, however, when they toured Europe for the first time, where they became widely popular. The group moved to Paris in 1959 and has continued touring, primarily in Europe, since then. During his stint in the US Army, in Germany, Elvis Presley, who was a huge admirer of their work since his early childhood, visited them backstage at Le Casino in Paris, and stayed to watch their entire show, staying also with them at the hotel Prince de Galles. Presley recorded a version of their popular "Swing Down Chariot" that appeared on his His Hand in Mine gospel album. During this time there were further personnel changes: Orville Brooks left and was replaced by Franck Todd and later in turn by Caleb Ginyard (1910–1978), and Eugene Mumford was replaced by Clyde Wright (born May 1, 1928, Charlotte, North Carolina). [2] [7]

Since the 1950s, the group has been primarily based in Europe. They toured widely in the late 1950s, including US State Department-sponsored tours around the world. In 1959, the group started a two-year residency at the Casino de Paris. [2]

Later activities

The group made their first tour of Africa in 1962, and during the early 1960s gradually expanded their accompanying band to incorporate guitar, piano, bass and drums. Through the 1960s they toured widely in Europe, with a long-established line-up of Orlandus Wilson, Clyde Riddick, Caleb Ginyard, and Clyde Wright. In 1971, Ginyard and Wright left, and were replaced by Paul Brembly (the great-nephew of Orlandus Wilson) and Calvin Williams. [6] Wright returned to the group in 1985 to replace Williams, who returned to the US. [2]

Bill "Willie" Johnson worked with Eugene Mumford and Cliff Givens in his own version of The Golden Gate Quartet in the late '70s out of the Los Angeles area, most notably appearing on Ry Cooder's "Jazz" album, and appearing with Cooder in his 1978 "Soundstage" performance, with Givens, Pico Payne, and Jimmy Adams (though Johnson didn't use the group name in these particular appearances). [8] [9]

The group undertook a 60th anniversary world tour in 1994. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995, and Wilson, the last surviving member of the original group, until his death in 1998. Riddick was replaced by Frank Davis. Wright was replaced by Charles West (Nephew to Wilson) of Portsmouth, VA. The position of bass singer has in recent years been filled by Thierry Fred François, Richard Phillips, and, since 2005, by Anthony Gordon. [2]

Recognition

In his 1978 album Guigui  [ fr ], musician Michel Jonasz used excerpts from their recording of "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" to mix into the song "Golden Gate".

The Golden Gate Quartet was inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.

A sample of the group's recording of "Jezebel" would serve as the basis for the Recoil song of the same name, appearing on their 2000 album Liquid .

In his 2011 album So Beautiful or So What , musician Paul Simon used excerpts from their 1938 recording of "Golden Gate Gospel Train" to mix into the song "Love & Blessings". In addition, the group's music was also featured in the video game Battlefield: Bad Company .

Members after 1934

[10]

Golden Gate Quartet

Current members

Past members

Discography

Selected singles

78RPM singles (1937–1952)

Label / Catalog #DateTitlePerformerMatrix #Reference #
Montgomery 8548August 3, 1937Born Ten Thousand Years AgoGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11936BB7205
Montgomery 8544August 3, 1937Gabriel Blows His HornGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11932BB7126
Bluebird 7278August 4, 1937Bedside of a NeighborGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11933MW7441
Montgomery 7441August 4, 1937Bedside of a NeighborGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11933BB7278*
Bluebird 7154August 4, 1937Behold the Bridegroom ComethGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011937=1MW7440
Montgomery 7440August 4, 1937Behold the Bridegroom ComethGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011937=1BB7154
Bluebird 7264August 4, 1937BonnetGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011941=1MW8549
Montgomery 8549August 4, 1937BonnetGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011941=1BB7264
Bluebird 7205August 4, 1937Born Ten Thousand Years AgoGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11936MW8548
Bluebird 7126August 4, 1937Gabriel Blows His HornGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011932=1MW8544
Bluebird 7340August 4, 1937Go Where I Send TheeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011938=1MW8550
Montgomery 8550August 4, 1937Go Where I Send TheeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011938=1BB7340
RCA 20-2134August 4, 1937Go Where I Send TheeGolden Gate Quartet--
Bluebird 7126August 4, 1937Golden Gate Gospel TrainGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011931=1MW7493
Montgomery 7493August 4, 1937Golden Gate Gospel TrainGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011931=1BB7126
Bluebird 7278August 4, 1937I've Found a Wonderful SaviorGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011944=1MW7441
Montgomery 7441August 4, 1937I've Found a Wonderful SaviorGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011944=1BB7278+
RCA 20-2134August 4, 1937JobGolden Gate Quartet--
Victor 27323August 4, 1937JobGolden Gate Quartet11940-
Bluebird 7154August 4, 1937JonahGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011934=1MW7440
Montgomery 7440August 4, 1937JonahGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011934=1BB7154
RCA 20-2073August 4, 1937JonahGolden Gate Quartet--
Victor 27322August 4, 1937JonahGolden Gate Quartet11934-
Bluebird 7264August 4, 1937Massa's in the Cold, Cold GroundGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011942=1MW8549
Montgomery 8549August 4, 1937Massa's in the Cold, Cold GroundGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011942=1BB7264
Bluebird 7376August 4, 1937Stand in the Test in JudgementGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011943=1MW8551
Montgomery 8551August 4, 1937Stand in the Test in JudgementGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011943=1BB7376
Bluebird 7376August 4, 1937Story of JobGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11940MW8551
Montgomery 8551August 4, 1937Story of JobGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet11940BB7376
Bluebird 7205August 4, 1937The Preacher and the BearGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011935=1MW8548
Montgomery 8548August 4, 1937The Preacher and the BearGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011935=1BB7205
Victor 27322August 4, 1937The Preacher and the BearGolden Gate Quartet11935-
Bluebird 7340August 4, 1937Won't There Be One Happy TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011939=1MW8550
Montgomery 8550August 4, 1937Won't There Be One Happy TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet011939=1BB7340
Bluebird 7415January 24, 1938Carolina in the MorningGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018622=1MW8545
Montgomery 8545January 24, 1938Carolina in the MorningGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018622=1BB7415
Montgomery 8545January 24, 1938Dipsy DoodleGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018628=1BB7415
Bluebird 7513January 24, 1938I Was BraveGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18633MW7495*
Montgomery 7495January 24, 1938I Was BraveGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18633BB7513*
Bluebird 7631January 24, 1938John the RevelatorGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018625=1MW7912
Montgomery 7912January 24, 1938John the RevelatorGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018625=1BB7631+
Victor 27324January 24, 1938John the RevelatorGolden Gate Quartet18625-
Bluebird 7617January 24, 1938Lead Me on and OnGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018630=1MW7494
Montgomery 7494January 24, 1938Lead Me on and OnGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018630=1BB7617*
Bluebird 7463January 24, 1938Motherless ChildGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018623=2MW7496
Montgomery 7496January 24, 1938Motherless ChildGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018623=2BB7463*
Montgomery 8547January 24, 1938Ol' Man RiverGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018635=1BB8190+
Bluebird 7564January 24, 1938Pure ReligionGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018627=2MW7493
Montgomery 7493January 24, 1938Pure ReligionGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018627=2BB7564*
Bluebird 7564January 24, 1938Remember MeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18626MW8547
Montgomery 8547January 24, 1938Remember MeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18626BB7564
Victor 27324January 24, 1938SamsonGolden Gate Quartet18632-
Bluebird 7513January 24, 1938Samson & DelilahGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18632MW7495+
Montgomery 7495January 24, 1938Samson & DelilahGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18632BB7513+
Bluebird 7676January 24, 1938Swanee RiverGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18629MW8546
Montgomery 8546January 24, 1938Swanee RiverGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18629BB7676+
Bluebird 7676January 24, 1938Sweet AdelineGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18631MW8546
Montgomery 8546January 24, 1938Sweet AdelineGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18631BB7676*
Bluebird 7617January 24, 1938Take Your Burden to the LordGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018634=1MW7494*
Montgomery 7494January 24, 1938Take Your Burdens to GodGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet18634BB7617+
Bluebird 7415January 24, 1938The Dipsy DoodleGolden Gate Jubilee QuartetBS018628-1MW8545
Bluebird 7463January 24, 1938Travelin' ShoesGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018624=1MW7496
RCA 20-2073January 24, 1938Travelin' ShoesGolden Gate Quartet--
Montgomery 7496January 24, 1938Traveling ShoesGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet018624=1BB7463+
Bluebird 7848August 10, 1938God Almighty SaidGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23464MW7594
Montgomery 7594August 10, 1938God Almighty SaidGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23464BB7848+
Bluebird 7835August 10, 1938Let That Liar AloneGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23465MW7595+
Montgomery 7595August 10, 1938Let That Liar AloneGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23465BB7835
Bluebird 7804August 10, 1938My Lord Is WaitingGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23460MW7596
Montgomery 7596AAugust 10, 1938MY LORD IS WritingGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23460BB7804A
Bluebird 7804August 10, 1938Rock My SoulGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23461MW7596*
Montgomery 7596BAugust 10, 1938Rock My SoulGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23461BB7804B
Bluebird 7835August 10, 1938To the RockGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23466MW7595
Montgomery 7595August 10, 1938To the RockGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23466BB7835
Bluebird 7897August 10, 1938When the Saints Go Marching InGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23467MW7864
Montgomery 7864August 10, 1938When the Saints Go Marching InGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23467BB7897*
Bluebird 7897August 10, 1938When They Ring the Golden BellsGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23459MW7864
Montgomery 7864August 10, 1938When They Ring the Golden BellsGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet23459BB7897+
Bluebird 8019November 15, 1938Cheer the Weary TravelerGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028962=1MW7867*
Montgomery 7867November 15, 1938Cheer the Weary TravelerGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028962=1BB8019*
Bluebird 7962BNovember 15, 1938I Heard Zion MoanGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028963!MW7865
Bluebird 7994November 15, 1938Lord Am I Born to Die ?Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet028965!MW7866+
Montgomery 7866November 15, 1938Lord Am I Born to Die ?Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet028965!BB7994*
Bluebird 7962ANovember 15, 1938NoahGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028964!MW7865
Bluebird 8019November 15, 1938Packing Up, Getting Ready to GoGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028967=1MW7867+
Montgomery 7867November 15, 1938Packing Up, Getting Ready to GoGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet028967=1BB8019+
Bluebird 7994November 15, 1938 What Are They Doing in Heaven Today? Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet028966!MW7866*
Montgomery 7866November 15, 1938What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet028966!BB7994*
Bluebird 10154February 2, 1939Change PartnnersGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet031982=2-
Bluebird 8123February 2, 1939Dese Bones Gonna Rise AginGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet031976=1MW7869+
Montgomery 7869February 2, 1939Dese Bones Gonna Rise AginGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet031976=1BB8123*
Bluebird 8087February 2, 1939Everything Moves by the Grace of GodGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31977MW7868
Montgomery 7868February 2, 1939Everything Moves by the Grace of GodGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31977BB8087+
Bluebird 8123February 2, 1939Lis'n to De LambsGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31975MW7869*
Montgomery 7869February 2, 1939Lis'n to De LambsGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31975BB8123+
Victor 27323February 2, 1939NoahGolden Gate Quartet31980-
Bluebird 8160February 2, 1939Noah and the ArkGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31980MW8543
Montgomery 8543February 2, 1939Noah and the ArkGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31980BB8160
Bluebird 10154February 2, 1939Ol' Man MoseGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31981-
Bluebird 8190February 2, 1939Precious LordGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet031979=1MW8544
Montgomery 8544February 2, 1939Precious LordGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31979BB8190
Bluebird 8160February 2, 1939This World Is in Bad ConditionGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31978-
Montgomery 8543February 2, 1939This World Is in Bad ConditionGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31978BB8160
Bluebird 8087February 2, 1939Troubles of the WorldGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31974MW7868
Montgomery 7868February 2, 1939Troubles of the WorldGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31974BB8087+
Bluebird 8286October 6, 1939AloneGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42901MW8774+
Montgomery 8774October 6, 1939AloneGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42901BB8286
Bluebird 8328October 6, 1939Everytime That I Feel the SpiritGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042910=1MW8776*
Montgomery 8776October 6, 1939Everytime That I Feel the SpiritGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042910=1BB8328
Bluebird 8328October 6, 1939He Said He Would Calm the OceanGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42902MW8776+
Montgomery 8776October 6, 1939He Said He Would Calm the OceanGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42902BB8328
Bluebird 8362October 6, 1939Hide Me in Thy BosomGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42903MW8778*
Montgomery 8778October 6, 1939Hide Me in Thy BosomGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42903BB8362
Bluebird 8348October 6, 1939I Looked Down the Line and I WonderedGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042905=1MW8777, RCA 20-3159
Montgomery 8777October 6, 1939I Looked Down the Line and I WonderedGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042905=1BB8348
RCA 20-3159October 6, 1939I Looked Down the Road and I WonderedGolden Gate Quartet-Bb 8348
Bluebird 8362October 6, 1939I'm a PilgrimGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042909=1MW8778+
Montgomery 8778October 6, 1939I'm a PilgrimGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42909BB8362
Bluebird 8306October 6, 1939If I Had My WayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42904MW8775+
Montgomery 8775October 6, 1939If I Had My WayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42904BB8306
Bluebird 8620October 6, 1939Jonah in the WhaleGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042916=1MW8781+
Montgomery 8781October 6, 1939Jonah in the WhaleGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042916=1BB8620
Bluebird 8594October 6, 1939Julius CaesarGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042914=1MW8780*
Montgomery 8780October 6, 1939Julius CaesarGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042914=1BB8594*
Bluebird 8579October 6, 1939Stormy WeatherGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042912=1MW8779*
Montgomery 8779October 6, 1939Stormy WeatherGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet42912BB8579+
Bluebird 8594October 6, 1939The Devil With the DevilGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042913=1MW8780
Montgomery 8780October 6, 1939The Devil With the DevilGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042913=1BB8594+
Bluebird 8620October 6, 1939TimberGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042915=1MW8781*
Montgomery 8781October 6, 1939TimberGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042915=1BB8620
Bluebird 8306October 6, 1939Way Down in EgyptlandGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042906=1MW8775*
Montgomery 8775October 6, 1939Way Down in EgyptlandGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042906=1BB8306
Bluebird 8286October 6, 1939What a TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042900=1MW8774*
Montgomery 8774October 6, 1939What a TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042900=1BB8286
Bluebird 8579October 6, 1939Whoa BabeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042911=1MW8779+
Montgomery 8779October 6, 1939Whoa BabeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042911=1BB8579*
Bluebird 8348October 6, 1939You'd Better MindGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042908=1MW8777
Montgomery 8777October 6, 1939You'd Better MindGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet042908=1BB8348
Bluebird 8565December 26, 1939Darling Nellie GrayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet46125MW8783*
Montgomery 8783December 26, 1939Darling Nellie GrayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet46125BB8565
Bluebird 10569December 26, 1939My PrayerGolden Gate Jubilee QuartetBS046127-1-
Bluebird 8565December 26, 1939My Walking StickGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046124=1MW8783+
Montgomery 8783December 26, 1939My Walking StickGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046124=1BB8565
Bluebird 8388December 26, 1939The Valley of TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046129=1MW8782
Montgomery 8782December 26, 1939Valley of TimeGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046129=1BB8388
Bluebird 8388December 26, 1939What Did Jesus SayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046128=1MW8782
Montgomery 8782December 26, 1939What Did Jesus SayGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet046128=1BB8388
Bluebird 10569December 26, 1939What's New?Golden Gate QuartetBS046126-1-
Victor 27268June 15, 1940Alabama BoundGolden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51299-
Victor 27266June 15, 1940Midnight SpecialGolden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51298-
Victor 27268June 15, 1940 Pick a Bale of Cotton Golden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51295-
Victor 27267June 17, 1940Grey GooseGolden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51327-
Victor 27266June 17, 1940Ham and EggsGolden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51333-
Victor 27267June 17, 1940Stew BallGolden Gate Quartet with Huddie Ledbetter 51329-
Okeh 6204April 18, 1941Daniel Saw the StoneGolden Gate Quartet30282=1-
Vocalion/Okeh 16009April 18, 1941I Yi Yi YiGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet30289-
Columbia 37835April 18, 1941JezebelGolden Gate Quartet30283=2oK6204
Okeh 6204April 18, 1941JezebelGolden Gate Quartet30283=2-
Columbia 37477April 18, 1941Time's Windin' UpGolden Gate Quartet30284=130044
Columbia 30044April 18, 1941Time's Winding UpGolden Gate Quartet30284CO37477
Okeh 6238May 25, 1941AnyhowGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet30550Co37477
Columbia 30044May 25, 1941AnyhowGolden Gate Quartet30550CO37477
Columbia 37477May 25, 1941AnyhowGolden Gate Quartet30550=130044
Columbia 30043May 25, 1941Blind BarnabasGolden Gate Quartet30549CO37476
Columbia 37476May 25, 1941Blind BarnabusGolden Gate Quartet3054930043
Columbia 37834May 25, 1941Blind BarnabusGolden Gate QuartetCO30549-
Okeh 6345May 25, 1941Blind BarnabusGolden Gate Quartet30549=2-
Okeh 6529May 25, 1941Didn't It RainGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet30551Co37475
Columbia 30042May 25, 1941Didn't It RainGolden Gate Quartet30551CO37475
Columbia 37475May 25, 1941Didn't It RainGolden Gate Quartet3055130042
Columbia 37476May 25, 1941Sun Didn't ShineGolden Gate Quartet30548-230043
Okeh 6345May 25, 1941The Sun Didn't ShineGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet30548=1Co37476
Columbia 30043May 25, 1941The Sun Didn't ShineGolden Gate Quartet30548-2CO37476
Okeh 6238May 25, 1941Time's Winding UpGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet30284Co37477
Okeh 6529December 3, 1941He Never Said a Humbling WordGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31850-
Columbia 30042December 3, 1941He Never Said a Mumblin' WordGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet31850CO37475
Columbia 37475December 3, 1941He Never Said a Mumblin' WordGolden Gate Quartet3185030042
Columbia 36937December 3, 1941Moses Smote the WatersGolden Gate QuartetCO31851-
Columbia 30160December 3, 1941Toll the Bell EasyGolden Gate Quartet31849-
Okeh 6712March 25, 1942Dip Your Fingers in the WaterGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet32622-
Okeh 6713March 25, 1942Run OnGolden Gate Quartet32620-1-
Okeh 6712March 5, 1943Stalin Wasn't Stallin'Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet33183=1-
Okeh 6713May 19, 1943Comin' in on a Wing and a PrayerGolden Gate Quartet33216-1-
Columbia 36937March 16, 1945Bones, Bones, Bones (Ezekiel in the Valley)Golden Gate QuartetCCO4426=1-
Columbia 37832March 16, 1945I Will Be Home AgainGolden Gate QuartetCCO4425=1-
Okeh 6741March 16, 1945I Will Be Home AgainGolden Gate QuartetCCO4425=1-
Okeh 6741March 16, 1945The General Jumped at DawnGolden Gate QuartetCCO4422=1-
Columbia 37236June 5, 1946Atom and EvilGolden Gate QuartetCO36389=1-
Columbia 37835June 5, 1946God's Gonna' Cut You DownGolden Gate QuartetCO36386-
Columbia 30136June 5, 1946HushGolden Gate QuartetCO36391-
Columbia 37833June 5, 1946Joshua Fit the Battle of JerichoGolden Gate QuartetCO36392-
Columbia 37832June 5, 1946No Restricted SignsGolden Gate QuartetCO36388-
Columbia 37236June 5, 1946ShadrachGolden Gate QuartetCO36390=-
Columbia 37834June 5, 1946Swing Down, ChariotGolden Gate QuartetCO36387-
Columbia 37833June 5, 1946Wade in the WaterGolden Gate QuartetCO36393-
Columbia 37499April 8, 1947High, Low and WideGolden Gate QuartetCO37602-
Columbia 37499April 8, 1947Pray for the Lights to Go OutGolden Gate QuartetCO37601-
Columbia 301281947-10-??AbdullahGolden Gate QuartetCO38278-
Columbia 301281947-10-??Broodle-Oo Broodle-OoGolden Gate Quartet38277!-
Columbia 301361947-10-??Do Unto OthersGolden Gate QuartetCO38276-
Columbia 301491948-10-??She's Gonna Ruin You, BuddyGolden Gate QuartetCO40129-
Columbia 301491948-10-??I'm Just a DreamerGolden Gate QuartetCO40131-
Columbia 301601947-10-??Fare You Well, Fare You WellGolden Gate Quartet38279-
Capitol 10172August 9, 1948A Song was Born, part 1 Louis Armstrong With Jerri Sullivan and the Golden Gate Quartet3426-
Capitol 10172August 9, 1948A Song was Born, part 2 Louis Armstrong With Jerri Sullivan and the Golden Gate Quartet3426-
Mercury 81181948-12-??Mene, Mene TakelGolden Gate Quartet2141-
Mercury 81181948-12-??Talking Jerusalem to DeathGolden Gate Quartet2140-
Mercury 81241949-01-??Jesus Met the Woman at the WellGolden Gate Quartet2164-
Mercury 52421949-01-??Look UpGolden Gate Quartet2162-
Mercury 81241949-01-??Mary, MaryGolden Gate Quartet2165-
Mercury 52421949-01-??Will I Find My Love Today?Golden Gate Quartet2163-
Mercury 81411949-04-??John SawGolden Gate Quartet2763-
Mercury 81411949-04-??Lord I Am Tired and Want to Go HomeGolden Gate Quartet2766-
Mercury 82431949-04-??Lord, I Want to Be a ChristianGolden Gate Quartet2765-
Mercury 82431949-04-??Seven Angels and Seven TrumpetsGolden Gate Quartet2764-
Mercury 81581949-07-??Lord, I Want to Walk With TheeGolden Gate Quartet2863-
Mercury 81551949-07-??Religion Is a FortuneGolden Gate Quartet2859-
Mercury 81551949-07-??SatisfiedGolden Gate Quartet2860-
Mercury 81581949-07-??You Ain't Got FaithGolden Gate Quartet2858-
Columbia 39216November 29, 1950Listen to the LambsGolden Gate QuartetGGQ1-
Columbia 39216November 29, 1950NicodemusGolden Gate QuartetGGQ3-
Okeh 68971952-03-??I Just Telephone UpstairsGolden Gate QuartetCO47724-
Okeh 68971952-03-??Rain Is the Teardrops of AngelsGolden Gate QuartetCO47725-
Mercury 5385-A Man Going...Golden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-3308-Bedside of a NeighborGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-3308-Behold the Bride Groom ComethGolden Gate Quartet--
Mercury 8164-Blessed JesusGolden Gate Quartet2990-
Mercury 5385-Didn't That Man BelieveGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-2921-Gabriel Blows His HornGolden Gate Quartet--
Mercury 8164-Lord Have MercyGolden Gate Quartet2993-
Apollo 1205-Mary Had a BabyGolden Gate Quartet--
Mercury 8162-Ride on MosesGolden Gate Quartet2995=2-
RCA 20-2921-Rock My SoulGolden Gate Quartet--
Apollo 1205-Rudolph the Red Nosed ReindeerGolden Gate Quartet--
Mercury 8162-Same TrainGolden Gate Quartet2994=2-
Apollo 1204-Silent NightGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-2797-Stand in the Test of JudgementGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-2799-Stand in the Test of JudgementGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-3159-The World Is in a Bad ConditionGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-2797-When the Saints Go Marching InGolden Gate Quartet--
RCA 20-2799-When the Saints Go Marching InGolden Gate Quartet--
Apollo 1204-White ChristmasGolden Gate Quartet--

Selected albums

Related Research Articles

The Soul Stirrers were an American gospel music group, whose career spans over eighty years. The group was a pioneer in the development of the quartet style of gospel, and a major influence on Soul, Doo wop, and the Motown sound, some of the secular music that owed much to gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okeh Records</span> American record label

OKeh Records is an American record label founded by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Corporation, a phonograph supplier established in 1916, which branched out into phonograph records in 1918. The name was spelled "OkeH" from the initials of Otto K. E. Heinemann but later changed to "OKeh". Since 1965, OKeh was a subsidiary of Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music. Today, OKeh is a jazz imprint, distributed by Sony Masterworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ella Mae Morse</span> American singer (1924–1999)

Ella Mae Morse was an American singer of popular music whose 1940s and 1950s recordings mixing jazz, blues, and country styles influenced the development of rock and roll. Her 1942 recording of "Cow-Cow Boogie" with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra gave Capitol Records its first gold record. In 1943, her single "Get On Board, Little Chillun", also with Slack, charted in what would soon become the R&B charts, making her one of the first white singers to do so. Morse stopped recording in 1957 but continued to perform and tour into the 1990s. In 1960 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford Records</span>

Oxford Records was a record label active in the United States of America from roughly 1906 until 1916. The label was produced for Sears by several labels, including Columbia and Albany Indestructible Cylinders for cylinders and Leeds & Catlin, Zon-O-Phone, and Columbia for discs. No recording activity was undertaken by Sears. All discs were single-sided.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dixie Hummingbirds</span> American gospel music group

The Dixie Hummingbirds are an influential American gospel music group, spanning more than 80 years from the jubilee quartet style of the 1920s, through the "hard gospel" quartet style of gospel's golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, to the eclectic pop-tinged songs of today. The Hummingbirds inspired a number of imitators, such as Jackie Wilson and James Brown, who adapted the shouting style and enthusiastic showmanship of hard gospel to secular themes to help create soul music in the 1960s.

Shine is a popular song with lyrics by Cecil Mack and Tin Pan Alley songwriter Lew Brown and music by Ford Dabney. It was published in 1910 by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company and used by Aida Overton Walker in His Honor the Barber, an African-American road show. According to Perry Bradford, himself a songster and publisher, the song was written about an actual man named Shine who was with George Walker when they were badly beaten during the New York City race riot of 1900.

From Spirituals to Swing was the title of two concerts presented by John Hammond in Carnegie Hall on 23 December 1938 and 24 December 1939. The concerts included performances by Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson, Helen Humes, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Mitchell's Christian Singers, the Golden Gate Quartet, James P. Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Terry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Ward and his Dominoes</span> American R&B vocal group

Billy Ward and his Dominoes were an American R&B vocal group. One of the most successful R&B groups of the early 1950s, the Dominoes helped launch the singing careers of two notable members, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apollo Records (1944)</span> American record company and label

Apollo Records was a record company and label founded in New York City by Hy Siegel and Ted Gottlieb in 1944. A year later it was sold to Ike and Bess Berman. Apollo was known for blues, doo-wop, gospel, jazz, and rock and roll.

Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding African American Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music. It is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of black gospel music.

The Larks were an American vocal group, active in the early 1950s. They were not the same group as the Los Angeles–based Larks featuring Don Julian, nor the Philadelphia-based group The Four Larks.

"I Will Be Home Again" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Raymond Leveen, and Lou Singer, in 1944.

This is a timeline of music in the United States from 1920 to 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlandus Wilson</span> American singer (1917–1998)

Orlandus Wilson was one of the longest standing members of the Golden Gate Quartet and the group's bass singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dinning Sisters</span> American singing group

The Dinning Sisters were an American sisters singing group, active from the late 1930s to 1955. They made a handful of film appearances and had several hit records at the height of their popularity in the late 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jubalaires</span> American gospel group

The Jubalaires were an American gospel group active between 1935 and 1950. Previously known as the Royal Harmony Singers in 1936, the band was known for song verses delivered in a rhythmic, rhyming style that has been described as an early version of rapping. Their 1946 song "Noah" is often named as the first recorded instance of rap.

Moanin' Low is a popular torch song. The music was written by Ralph Rainger; the lyrics by Howard Dietz. The song was published in 1929 and was introduced that same year in the musical revue The Little Show by Libby Holman becoming a hit and Holman's signature song. A recording by The Charleston Chasers was also popular in 1929.

Discography of Elmo Tanner, an American whistler, singer, bandleader and disc jockey, best known for his whistling on the chart-topping song “Heartaches” with the Ted Weems Orchestra.

"Louise" is a song written by Leo Robin and Richard A. Whiting for the 1929 film Innocents of Paris, where it was performed by Maurice Chevalier. The song was Chevalier's first hit in the United States, and was among the best selling records for 10 weeks in the summer of 1929. Chevalier recorded the song again in 1946 with Henri René's Orchestra for RCA Victor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Du Droppers</span> American doo-wop group

The Du Droppers were an American doo-wop group formed in Harlem, New York, in 1952. Members of the band were experienced gospel singers in ensembles dated to the 1940s, and were one of the oldest groups to record during the era. Among the Du Droppers' most enduring songs are "I Wanna Know" and "I Found Out ", which both reached number three on the Billboard R&B charts in 1953.

References

  1. Sullivan, Steve (October 4, 2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Scarecrow Press. p. 374. ISBN   9780810882966.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Clyde Wright - GOLDEN GATE QUARTET". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  4. James R. Goff (2002). Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel. UNC Press Books. p. 211. ISBN   9780807853467 . Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  5. "Golden Gate Quartet Vol 1 1937 - 1938 - Document Records Vintage Blues and Jazz". Document-records.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Seamus McGarvey, The Golden Gate Quartet, in Juke Blues magazine, no. 71, 2011, pp. 42–45
  7. "Clyde Wright - BIOGRAPHIE". Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  8. "TRB Enterprises Honoring our Pioneers". Toddbaptista.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  9. "Release "Jazz" by Ry Cooder". MusicBrainz.org. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  10. "The Golden Gate Quartet". Cultd.eu. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  11. "The Golden Era Gospel Blog: R.I.P. Calvin Williams of the Golden Gate Quartet, Deep Tones". Goldeneragospel.blogspot.com. November 8, 2010.
  12. Franklin, Benjamin V. (May 30, 2016). An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicians. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN   9781611176223.
  13. "The Golden Gate Quartet - Blind Barnabas - YouTube". YouTube . Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  14. "Frank Todd Obituary – Cochran, GA". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  15. Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. "The Online Discographical Project – BLUEBIRD numerical listings 7500 – 8000". Retrieved February 21, 2011
  16. 1 2 Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. "The Online Discographical Project – Okeh (CBS) 6500 – 6747 (1941–45)". Retrieved February 21, 2011
  17. Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. "The Online Discographical Project – COLUMBIA (Microphone label, USA) 37000 to 37500 Numerical Listing". Retrieved February 21, 2011