SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Townsend Sisters

A recent music-fueled trip to Memphis reinforced my belief that it is the most soulful city in America. At the heart of Memphis are its great studios, where all the great artists with Stax, Sun, Hi, and other labels recorded. Willie Mitchell’s work at Hi Records with Al Green is incomparable of course, but Mitchell also recorded O.V. Wright, Ann Peebles, and – in the gospel realm – the Townsend Sisters.

The Rev. A.L. Townsend and his wife Victoria had 14 children, including nine girls. Six of those girls – Shirley, Shelia, Marie, Felecia, Rosetta and Virginia – comprised the Townsend Sisters. Their lone LP for the otherwise unknown Nasha label was recorded in Mitchell’s studio in Memphis and Willie himself handled the production. The result, I Am a Witness, is a stone-cold gospel powerhouse... as their recording of “You Can’t Hurry God” proves from the first notes!

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.

RECENT EPISODES OF SHOUT! BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC MOMENTS

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Christland Singers

Led by the legendary R.H. Harris, the Christland Singers recorded a number of memorable songs, including their version of “I Am Too Close.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Townsend Sisters

Produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell in Memphis, the Townsend Sisters’ “You Can’t Hurry God” is a gospel powerhouse!

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Rosie Wallace and the First Church of Love, Faith, and Deliverance Choir

Few could match the power of Evangelist Rosie Wallace and the First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance Choir of Philadelphia!

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Harold Smith Majestics

The Harold Smith Majestics could sing anything, from light classic to gospelized Broadway tunes to classic gospel like “The Lord Will Carry You Through.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Newberry Singers

Led by Edwin Newberry, the always innovative Newberry Singers sound like no other gospel group on their own composition, “Trouble Will Soon Be Over.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sarah Vaughan

The incomparable Sarah Vaughan recorded a handful of spirituals during her long career, including this gentle version of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Patterson Singers

The Patterson Singers’ “I’m Moving Up” features an irresistibly up tempo closing gospel vamp.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Swanee Quintet

In there more than 70 years together, the Swanee Quintet released a host of great gospel songs, including this one - “The Lord’s on My Side.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Harmonettes

The legendary Dorothy Love Coates was one of the true stars of gospel music and her powerful “99 ½ Won’t Do” was adopted as a freedom song during the civil rights movement.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Rev. Morgan Babb

The Rev. Morgan Babb’s passionate version of “Lord, You’ve Been Good to Me” spontaneously emerges from the altar call during one of his legendary sermons.