In honor of Black History Month, Our Worship experience will feature influential gospel artist that made a lasting impact in the Genre.
“When you sing these songs, you’re not singing lyrics, you’re singing a story. A story that your ancestors were all a part of. That’s what gospel is,”
Honing his chops as a songwriter and performer with the legendary Caravans, gospel artist Reverend James Cleveland would go on to become what is arguably the most important figure in post-WWII Black gospel. Cleveland was a key figure in integrating contemporary Black styles such as jazz, R&B, and funk into the traditional choir framework. The various choirs that he directed were known for their intense, thundering performances, establishing the musical and emotional yardstick by which all large-scale Black gospel groups would be measured for years to come. Cleveland died in 1991.
Sunday Playlist
- Shine On Me
- May The Lord Bless you real good
- Peace Be Still
- God Is
Tramaine Hawkins is the reigning diva of gospel music. Serving God through her voice since childhood, Hawkins has made it a mission to reach more than just black Christian audiences with her music. In the mid-1980s she made serious progress reaching that goal when her song “Fall Down” reached Number One on Billboard’s dance chart.
Sunday Playlist
- Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins
- Thank you – Walter Hawkins
- God will take care of you – Walter and Edwin ?
- The Potter’s House – Tramaine Walter
Kee has been in the gospel music community for more than 20 years. He is primarily known for mixing traditional gospel with modern contemporary gospel. In the mid 1980’s kee formed the new life community choir who grew in popularity with hits such as “jesus is real” and “Standing in the need of prayer”. Kee is also known as “The Prince of Gospel Music”. In 2007, Kee was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.
Sunday Playlist
- Oh how wondrous
- Jesus Is Real
- I do Worship
Edwin Hawkins, a Grammy Award-winning singer who merged gospel and secular sounds in a career highlighted by the accidental crossover hit “Oh Happy Day” in 1969, died on Monday in Pleasanton, Calif., east of San Francisco. He was 74.
Sunday Playlist
- Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins
- Thank you – Walter Hawkins
- God will take care of you – Walter and Edwin ?
- The Potter’s House – Tramaine Walter
Bishop Walter Hawkins, Born in oakland california, had a career that spanned more than four decades. He was a grammy award winning recording artist, with his powerhouse vocals, but was also a prolific songwriter and producer in the gospel community. His legacy includes over 116 songs on the BILLBOARD chart in which he PRODUCED and collaborated with artists on.
Sunday Playlist
- Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins
- Thank you – Walter Hawkins
- God will take care of you – Walter and Edwin ?
- The Potter’s House – Tramaine Walter
In 1987 Hezekiah Walker released his debut album, “i’ll make it”. This album made him a rising star in the gospel community. In 1992, he released “live in toronto” which proved to be his breakthrough album that topped gospel charts and made him a household name. He is credited for bringing a lot of young people to Gospel music through using modern VERNACULAR and recording techniques traditionally found in hip hop music. He has the ability to draw people to God from all walks of life.
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,