As we approach Halloween, I thought it would fun to hear a few spooky gospel songs. From 1941, the Gospeleers were one of a number of old time a capella groups, including the Four Great Wonders, the Galilee Singers, the Goodwill Males Singers and others recording for the Decca label. The Gospeleers were a rare mixed quartet of male and female singers and “Devil Gonna Get You” is a great example of an old spiritual interpreted through that close-harmony jubilee sound.
The Gospeleers were part of Decca’s thriving “race records” collection – artists and songs aimed primarily at the country’s emerging African American marketplace. The quartet, alas, only recorded four known tracks for Decca and they’re pretty rare – a good copy of “Devil Gonna Get You” goes for $20 or more on eBay!
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.