Formed in 1939, a version of the Swanee Quintet is still on the road today, still barnstorming across the South, still wrecking churches and auditoriums. The slow-burning success of the Swanees is due to a host of talented singers through the years. The Rev. Reuben Willingham is considered one of the best of gospel's guitarists. And few groups anywhere boasted TWO lead falsetto singers like the Swanees - Johnny Jones and James "Big Red" Anderson.
Between 1953's "Sit Down, Servant" and 1959's classic "New Walk," the Quintet ruled, mostly for the Nashboro label ... while occasional forays to Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall made them a host of fans up north.
The group carefully replaced the original members through the years with singers who understood the Swanee Quintet's brand of classic country gospel ... and they're still touring the Gospel Highway today! Here's a track from 1973, featuring Willingham's raspy shout. "How Much Do I Owe Him?"
Music: "How Much Do I Owe Him" by the Swanee Quintet, 45.
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.