SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Majestic Male Choir of Atlanta, Georgia

The Rev. Lawrence Roberts produced hundreds of albums for the great Savoy label – maybe more, not even he knows. He’d do as many as three in one epic 24-hour recording session. Sometime in 1967, he was at the helm of a session for the Majestic Male Choir of Atlanta, Georgia, a rare all-male group from Greater Harvest Church of Deliverance in Atlanta.

The album, Ask Him to Guide You, got the full Savoy treatment – including a weirdly wonderful cover painting by the enigmatic artist, HARVEY.

The Majestic Male Choir, directed by Eugene Harris, recorded three albums for Savoy between 1966 and 1967 and then disappeared. But their LPs are worth searching out – the choir had a host of outstanding lead singers and Roberts’ production made sure the male voices come through clear and strong – as is the case for this up tempo gospel stomper, “Saved by the Power.”

MUSIC: (2344) The Majestic Male Choir of Atlanta, Georgia, Ask Him to Guide You LP, Side 1, Track 2 (October 29, 2023)

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.

RECENT EPISODES OF SHOUT! BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC MOMENTS

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Drinkard Singers

The Drinkard Singers were one of the first families of gospel music, and whose members included Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Mighty Inspirations

The Mighty Inspirations of Nashville mix the sounds of the Winans with soulful R&B on “Miracle Man.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Highway QCs

The Spence Taylor-led Highway QCs transform the old classic “I’ll Fly Away” into a Temptations styled psychedelic soul romp!

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sammy Lewis

The Rev. “Singing” Sammy Lewis was dubbed the Crown Prince of Gospel for recordings like “Jesus Paid It” for Vee-Jay Records.

Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments - Rev. W.M. Anderson and the Jordan River Singers

The obscure Rev. W.M. Anderson and the Jordan River Singers deliver a spirited rendition of the old gospel classic, “Jesus on the Mainline.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Columbus Mann

Columbus Mann and the Gospel Outreach Choir of the Pentecostal COGIC of Inkster, Michigan, Jesus Never Fails LP features the blistering seven-minute vamp, “Blind Old Satan.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sterling Glass and the Metropolitan Singers of Waterbury

Sterling Glass and the Metropolitan Singers are best known for their dramatic, 5 ½ minute version of the old spiritual, “Mary, Don’t You Weep.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Golden Trumpets

Check out the Golden Trumpets’ array of superb soloists on this winsome mid-tempo jubilee number, “Jesus My Doctor.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Capitolaires of Dayton, Ohio

This version of “Jesus Made it Possible” by The Capitolaires of Dayton, Ohio, tells you all you need to know about this powerful quartet.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - DeLois Barrett Campbell

The legendary DeLois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters were at their peak on this live version of “I’ll Fly Away.”