Welcome to Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments. I’m Robert Darden.
Ernestine Rundless – whose husband was in the Soul Stirrers -- formed the Meditation Singers in Detroit in 1947. The group was almost immediately successful, featuring the likes of Della Reese, James Cleveland, Cassietta George and – later – Rundless’s daughter, the great soul singer Laura Lee.
They recorded right into the 1980s with top labels like Battle, Specialty and Checker. And it was with Checker that they released their only Christmas album, A Christmas Dedication, which includes the delightful doo-wop of “Blue Christmas,” featuring Ernestine’s rough and raspy lead vocals.
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.