One of the interesting eras of gospel music came in the early 1960s when some record exec got the idea of promoting “pop gospel” – “gospel lite,” if you will – and putting groups in nightclubs and concert venues. It was new and novel for about a year and soon faded away. Probably the best-known act during that period were the Morning Star Gospel Singers.
The six-members of the Morning Stars had toured and recorded with various other gospel artists – they were young and handsome and full of energy and actually did pretty well for a while. Their best-known release is the LP ... and the Morning Stars Sang for Warner Bros. – one of the few gospel artists to ever record for Warners.
... and the Morning Stars Sang is, indeed, pop gospel – up-tempo and energetic and definitely light on the evangelical lyrics. All but two of the songs are the remade spirituals – like this very ‘60s-ish cover version of “Let Jesus Lead You,” complete with that great bouncy ‘60s-era Farfisa organ sound!
MUSIC: “Let Jesus Lead You” from the Morning Stars Gospel Singers’ - and the Morning Stars Sang LP, Side 1, Track 1.
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.