By early 2026, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program/Black Gospel Music Archives at Baylor University had digitized more than 60,000 rare, out-of-print and classic gospel music songs – mostly from gospel’s “Golden Age” from 1945 to 1970. It’s the largest collection of gospel vinyl in the world.
And while it is always great to hear the familiar voices of gospel, the collection also has thousands of unknown artists – including the Silver Bells of Macon, Georgia. The Bells recorded for several small gospel labels in the 1960s and we don’t know much about them. But their 45 “No Friend Like Jesus” is a masterclass in a cappella doo-wop- styled gospel!
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
