© 2025 KWBU
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

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.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Jackson Gospel Singers
New Orleans’ fiery Jackson Gospel Singers released a fistful of superb gospel songs in the mid-1950s, including “I Can’t Walk This Highway.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Marv Johnson
Early Motown pioneer Marv Johnson recorded a gospel LP in 1962, which featured this up tempo version of the old COGIC chant/song, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Christland Singers
Led by the legendary R.H. Harris, the Christland Singers recorded a number of memorable songs, including their version of “I Am Too Close.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Townsend Sisters
Produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell in Memphis, the Townsend Sisters’ “You Can’t Hurry God” is a gospel powerhouse!
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Rosie Wallace and the First Church of Love, Faith, and Deliverance Choir
Few could match the power of Evangelist Rosie Wallace and the First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance Choir of Philadelphia!
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Harold Smith Majestics
The Harold Smith Majestics could sing anything, from light classic to gospelized Broadway tunes to classic gospel like “The Lord Will Carry You Through.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Newberry Singers
Led by Edwin Newberry, the always innovative Newberry Singers sound like no other gospel group on their own composition, “Trouble Will Soon Be Over.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sarah Vaughan
The incomparable Sarah Vaughan recorded a handful of spirituals during her long career, including this gentle version of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Patterson Singers
The Patterson Singers’ “I’m Moving Up” features an irresistibly up tempo closing gospel vamp.
SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Swanee Quintet
In there more than 70 years together, the Swanee Quintet released a host of great gospel songs, including this one - “The Lord’s on My Side.”

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).