The Chicago-based Faithful Wonders were a talented gospel group in the 1960s that bounced around various gospel labels before recording a wonderful 45 for Checker Records in 1968 – a double-sided beauty with “Ol’ John (Behold Thy Mother)” and the old spiritual “You’ve Got to Move.” Backed by the killer Checker house band, the Wonders tear into both songs, sounding like a rougher version of the Temptations, or think of the Contours of “Do You Love Me?” fame.
Alas, the Faithful Wonders disappear in the 1970s, but “Ol’ John (Behold Thy Mother)” has been re-released on multiple anthologies featuring late-‘60s gospel and R&B... and a new generation of fans have discovered their soulful talents.
MUSIC: (2615) the Faithful Wonders, “Ol’ John (Behold Thy Mother),” 45 (April 12, 2026) 2:45 minutes
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.