In the early 1970s, the dynamic husband and wife team of Tony and Gwen Curtis founded TCS Records in their hometown of Philadelphia. As you’ll hear, Gwen had a stunning gospel voice and was a fine instrumentalist, too. The couple released more than a dozen LPs and 45s – and all are worth checking out.
Alas, the Gwen and Tony never found much success in the gospel music world, despite stellar songs and production. Perhaps, they were just too far ahead of their time. Their “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him” was the first gospel song I can remember with a disco beat. And “No Never” was as funky as anything on the R&B charts. But they really shined when they let Gwen tear up a slow and emotional gospel blues number like this one, “Learning to Lean.”
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
