SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Rev. Oris Mays

One of the great figures of the incomparable gospel music town of Memphis was the Rev. Oris Mays, where he served as pastor of Boston Baptist Church from 1960 until his death in 1996. During the week, he was at the record shop on Beale Street he co-owned with famed gospel DJ, Theo “Bless My Bones” Wade. And for nearly 30 years, he also hosted the first weekly gospel music program on Memphis television.

Mays also recorded dozens of LPs and 45s for several gospel labels. He had several hits, including “Tribute in Prayer (from a Soldier in Vietnam,)” and this funky gospel blues number from his 1979 album Learning to Lean, “Don’t Let the Devil Ride,” covered by everybody from Bro. Joe May to Lucinda Williams.

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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