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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Rev. C.L. Franklin

The Rev. C.L. Franklin may have been America’s best-known Black preacher, but he was a pretty good singer, too!

The Rev. C.L. Franklin was considered – perhaps – the greatest African American preacher of all time. He was certainly the most influential, recording 100s of LPs, and preaching tens of thousands of sermons. And he was the father of the greatest soul singer of all time, Aretha.

You may not know that C.L. was a pretty fair country singer himself. They say that every Black preacher sings and every Black gospel singer preaches ... and if the spirit was right, C.L. was liable to break out in an old gospel song or hymn at any time.

Here’s a great example. Franklin is half-way through one of his famous sermons when suddenly the old spiritual “When I Can Read My Titles Clear” comes over him, and the congregation, the band and the choir all jump right in. Everybody had to be on their toes when the Rev. C.L. Franklin preached... and sang!

2313 Rev CL Franklin - When I Can Read My Titles Clear.mp3

MUSIC: “When I Can Read My Titles Clear,” Rev. C.L. Franklin from the LP, Hear the Voice: J. Robert Bradley and the Rev. C.L. Franklin LP, Side 2, Track 1

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.