SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Down by the Riverside" by The Rev. Cecil Harris and His Choir

The Rev. Cecil Harris started preaching in 1962 and by 1967 pastored his own church, Galatian Baptist Church at 4433 Hardeman St. in Fort Worth. Harris comes from the old school of rough and ready gospel preachers – just as apt to sing as preach as he mightily expounds on the scripture.

At some point, Harris and the church decided to self-produce an LP, No Mercy in Hell. Side 2 contains Harris’ complete sermon by that name. However, side 1 features the three songs leading up to the sermon, including a fabulous, full-tilt version of the old camp-meeting song, “Down By the Riverside.”

By the way, Galatian Baptist is still going strong today – now with Cecil’s grandson, the Rev. Mark Harris in the pulpit!

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

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Down by the Riverside" by The Rev. Cecil Harris and His Choir

Fort Worth’s Galatian Baptist Church tears into the old camp-meeting song, “Down by the Riverside.”

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