The Fisk Jubilee Singers played an important role in preserving Negro spirituals in the latter half of the 19th century... and they were among the first groups to record the spirituals as well. Other historically Black colleges soon followed, most notably Hampton Institute – later Hampton University. The Hampton Institute Quartet released a series of 78s for the Musicraft label and later the Library of Congress between 1939 and 1948.
One their very first releases was a 78 with the arranged spirituals “I Want to be Ready” and “Ol’ Time Religion” in 1939, both of which are still sung in churches even today. As is usually the case in these oldest recordings, the Hampton’s classical training is still obvious, especially in the beloved camp meeting singalong, “Ol’ Time Religion. This incredibly rare disk is one of hundreds generously loaned to the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program and Black Gospel Archives at Baylor University by gospel historian Robert Marovich. Thanks, Bob!
MUSIC: (2540) Hampton Institute Quartet, “Ol’ Time Religion,” 45 (Oct. 5, 2025) 2:05 minutes
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.