For nearly 60 years, the Rev. Johnny “The Hurricane” Jones presided over Second Mount Olive Baptist Church in Atlanta. Born in poverty in rural Alabama, Jones rose to become a beloved figure in Atlanta as a singer, archivist, DJ, musician – and a legendarily powerful preacher.
His services mixed sermons and impromptu gospel chants, stomps and songs, like this one from the live album by the same name, “I Came to Preach a Sermon.”
When Jones died on the evening of November 8, 2015, at the age of 79, he was – as always -- in his beloved church that morning and he preached from his very first sermon ... 60 years earlier.
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
