In 2014, when the Rev. Morgan Babb passed in Nashville at the age of 85, he left a hole in the gospel music scene in Music City that will probably never be filled. Babb was a singer, composer, arranger, and entrepreneur. He was the leader of several fine groups, most notably the Radio Four Quartet. But he was also a legendary DJ for decades with WMDB radio and the founder of King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church in 1965.
Today, though, Babb is best known as the premiere talent scout for Nashboro Records, signing legendary artists like the Consolers and Edna Gallimon Cooke. The second half of his career saw the release of a number of fine solo records, often recorded live, where a sermon would slowly morph into a beloved gospel song. One of my favorites is his version of Dorothy Love Coates’ hit “Lord, You Been Good to Me” which surprisingly emerges out of passionate altar call!
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
