SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sammy Lewis

At age 6, Sammy Lewis was singing gospel on the Chicago radio station WSBC. Roberta Martin gave him the nickname of “Singing” Sammy. And he was later dubbed “The Crown Prince of Gospel” and toured extensively with Mahalia Jackson.

If you’ve never heard of Lewis, it’s probably because his career was interrupted twice by military service, both in World War II and Korea. Still, the smooth-voiced tenor released several fine LPs for Vee-Jay, Checker, Chess, Jewel and several smaller labels. He eventually became a minister with New Hope Missionary Baptist in Chicago until his death in 1995. Released in 1955, this is the Rev. “Singing” Sammy Lewis” and his version of “Jesus Paid It.”

MUSIC: (2434) The Rev. “Singing” Sammy Lewis, “Jesus Paid It,” 78 (August 25, 2024)

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.

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