When Al Bell stepped in to save the iconic Stax Record label following a disastrous business deal with Atlantic Records in 1974, one of his innovations was to create a new gospel line for Stax – the Gospel Truth. Bell envisioned top Memphis musicians supporting major gospel artists – and setting them to the new soul funk sound for Stax ... think Isaac Hayes or the Staples.
The Gospel Truth label only lasted about 10 years, but did, indeed, produce some tasty, memorable LPs by the likes of Rance Allen, Maceo Woods and others, including the Howard Lemon Singers. Howard and his sisters had been around for a while, recording for Savoy and HOB before joining Bell at Gospel Truth. Howard was a masterful pianist, composer and arranger and his work is always worth searching out.
One of his earliest recordings for HOB is particularly interesting. Before Al Bell introduced them to soul or funk, Howard and his ever-evolving group of singers were combining jazz and Broadway-styled show tunes into gospel, including this 45 from 1959, “He’s a Mighty God.”
MUSIC: “He’s a Mighty God,” 45, the Howard Lemon Singers
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.