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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Bishop John D. Bright Sr and the Choirs of the St. James A.M.E.

The St. James A.M.E. Youth Choir dedicates “I Don’t Know Why He Loves Me” to their beloved pastor, Bishop John D. Bright Sr.

Legacy to the Church honors Bishop John D. Bright Sr.’s five decades of service to St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church of Atlantic City. The LP spotlights Bright’s final sermon, recorded in June 1972. The great preacher went to his eternal reward less than a month later. “Legacy to the Church” is the title of that sermon, which also comprises the first side of the LP.

Side two features each of St. James’ choirs – Children’s, Youth, Gospel, and Senior. All of it – recorded live in the church – is beautifully and lovingly done. Of particular note is the Youth Choir’s reverent version of Andrae Crouch’s “I Don’t Know Why He Loves Me” ... which serves as a fitting tribute to Bishop Bright.

Bishop John D Bright Sr - I Don't Know Why He Loves Me

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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The legendary guitarist the Rev. Gary Davis recorded 14 stunning gospel tracks in New York City in 1935, including “I Belong to the Band, Hallelujah.”
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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'One of These Mornings' by The Rev. J.R. Lockley and His Original Gospel Clefs
The Rev. J.R. Lockley and His Original Gospel Clefs, featuring big-voiced Ann Moncrief, deliver a killer version of the spiritual, “One of These Mornings.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - 'You’ve Got to Live the Life' by The Echoes of Life
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In 1959, the Abbysinnia Baptist Church Young People’s Choir recorded a cheerfully up tempo version of the old spiritual “You’ve Got to Move” for the famed Gotham Record label.
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Ol" John (Behold Thy Mother) by The Faithful Wonders
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Robert F. Darden is the author of two dozen books, most recently: Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume II: Black Sacred Music from Sit-In to Resurrection City (Penn State University Press, 2016); Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume I: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement(Penn State University Press, 2014); Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor(Abingdon Press, 2008), Reluctant Prophets and Clueless Disciples: Understanding the Bible by Telling Its Stories(Abingdon Press, 2006); and People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music(Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2004).