SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Harmonettes

One of the true titans of gospel music was Birmingham’s larger-than-life Dorothy Love Coates. Along with the Original Gospel Harmonettes, Coates wrote and sang a host of hits for the Specialty label in the 1950s and ‘60s, beginning with “I’m Sealed” in 1951 and including “Get Away Jordan,” “You Better Run”, the apocalyptic “The Message,” and the classic, “(You Can’t Hurry God) He’s Right on Time.”

But in the close-knit community of singers in gospel music’s golden age, Dot Coates was more than that – she was the unofficial minister to the other artists. She was also a fiery preacher and her songs often include memorable sermonettes. Coates was a leader in the civil rights movement in Birmingham in the 1960s and on more than one occasion was forced to hide from segregationists and Klansmen. And it was this song -- “99 ½ Won’t Do” – that was adopted by the movement and was sung as a call to action in many civil rights actions and cities.

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.

PREVIOUS EPISODES OF SHOUT! BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC MOMENTS

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Few could match the power of Evangelist Rosie Wallace and the First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance Choir of Philadelphia!

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Newberry Singers

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Sarah Vaughan

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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.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Rev. Morgan Babb

The Rev. Morgan Babb’s passionate version of “Lord, You’ve Been Good to Me” spontaneously emerges from the altar call during one of his legendary sermons.

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - Singing Corinthians

The otherwise unknown Singing Corinthians deliver an impassioned version of the old spiritual, “The Lord Will Provide.”

SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Blend Wright Trio

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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - The Bible Way Church of God

The Bible Way Church of God Choir’s “What Do You Say About Jesus?” features the church’s longtime pastor, Little Abraham Swanson.