Impresario Don Robey’s many businesses – legal and otherwise – in Houston included an excellent gospel music label, Peacock Records. Peacock also had a smaller subsidiary label, called Song Bird, where Robey and his producers pushed the boundaries of gospel music a little bit.
One of Song Bird’s experiments was with the otherwise unknown Evening Doves, a quartet of fine female singers. They recorded two 45s for the label – then essentially disappeared. But one of those 45s, the spirited “No Hiding Place,” deserves a second listen. The uncredited lead singer wails over a ragged but energetic band and it sounds like the song was recorded live in the studio... and is the better for it!
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.
