The popular Williams Brothers’ “Family Reunion This Christmas” is a great example of a contemporary gospel spin on things.
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The Williams Brothers are really brothers and under the watchful eye of their father, Leon “Pops” Williams, an old gospel quartet singer himself, they began singing together in 1960. By 1971, they were signed by Song Bird Records and in the ensuing decades recorded for Nashboro, Savoy, New Birth, Myrrh and ultimately Malaco.
Along the way, the Williams – who have always been at the forefront of the more contemporary gospel sound – have had a number of hits, including “Jesus Will Fix It,” “Jesus Will Never Say No,” “I Won’t Let Go of My Faith” and others.
In late1978, the brothers – then with Savoy Records – released a well-received contemporary gospel Christmas LP, The Williams Brothers Celebrate “This Christmas,” which features a number of original compositions, as well as re-imagined versions of various Christmas carols and classics. My favorite cut is this one, “Family Reunion This Christmas.”
MUSIC: “Family Reunion This Christmas,” from The Williams Brothers Celebrate “This Christmas” LP, Side 1, Track 1
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.
BLURB: The popular Williams Brothers’ “Family Reunion This Christmas” is a great example of a contemporary gospel spin on things.