The Sensational Nightingales more than lived up to their name, especially during June Cheek’s electrifying years with the group. Cheeks ranks up there with Archie Brownlee of the Blind Boys of Mississippi and Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy as one of the greatest gospel soul shouters of all time.
But when Cheeks left to pursue a solo career, the Gales became Jojo Wallace’s quartet. While Wallace was an exceptional tenor and a first-rate composer, what sets him apart from other gospel greats was his distinctive guitar-playing. When he died at age 98 in May 2025, he was one of the last of the Golden Age quartet singers to pass. In honor of Wallace, and the Day of the Dead, here’s the Sensational Nightingales’ “Church, Let’s Get Ready for the Resurrection.”
I’m Robert Darden. “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
