Nathaniel Townsley Sr. was a member of New York City's greatest gospel quartet, the Selah Jubilee Singers. His son, Nat.Jr., was a gifted organist and singer and even toured with the Selah Juniors.
Eventually Junior went solo and released some superb gospel funk albums in the 1970's and '80s, including the exciting I Fell in Love with God for the mainstream ABC label in the early '70s.
Eventually, Nat Jr. moved into ministry himself - but kept singing even as he pastored for and recorded with first the Light Church of Love and Peace in Brooklyn and later the St. Mark Holy Church in New York.
At the too young age of 72, Townsley died in 202 - he had served as Bishop of St. Mark for many years. The tradition continues, though - his son Nathaniel is one of the country's top drummers!
From I Fell in Love with God, here's Nat Townsley's funky re-imagining of the old gospel song, "Old Time Religion."
'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.