Sullivan and Iola Pugh – better known as the Consolers – were the most beloved husband and wife duo during gospel music’s golden age. The Consolers were resolutely traditional gospel, steadfastly country and the greatest purveyors of soulful sermons set in song.
Some of Sullivan’s compositions, including “Waiting for My Child,” “Give Me My Flowers” and “May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me” are superb examples of that deep woods, old-fashioned soulful gospel that enabled them to record and tour from 1952 to the early 1990s. They also recorded a couple of Christmas songs, including the intensely emotional story song, “No Room in the Inn.”
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.