Art and Culture

Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Motherless Child"

KWBU | By Robert Darden

Published February 17, 2019 at 8:35 AM CST

During Lou Rawls' stay with the Pilgrim Travelers, he recorded a number of classic gospel songs, including beautiful, jazzy renditions of the classic spirituals. One of the best is this version of "Motherless Child."

Lou Rawls was a star in gospel before having hits in popular music.

1907_pilgrim_travelers_-_motherless_child.mp3

"Motherless Child" by The Soul-Stirring Sounds of the Pilgrim Travelers, feat. Lou Rawls LP, Side 2, Track 4.

Art and Culture

Robert Darden

Robert F. Darden is the author of two dozen books, most recently: Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume II: Black Sacred Music from Sit-In to Resurrection City (Penn State University Press, 2016); Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume I: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement(Penn State University Press, 2014); Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor(Abingdon Press, 2008), Reluctant Prophets and Clueless Disciples: Understanding the Bible by Telling Its Stories(Abingdon Press, 2006); and People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music(Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2004).

See stories by Robert Darden