Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments

Evangelist Jessie Mae Renfro was one of the last great traditional gospel voices, as her song “Oh, Have You” so beautifully displays.

The Jordan Jubilee's slow and brooding “No Segregation in Heaven” was a pretty grave statement to make in the early 1970s!

Fort Worth's Galatian Baptist Church tears into the old camp-meeting song, “Down by the Riverside.”

That's the powerful voice of Maggie Bell on the Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Choir's version of “Pray on My Child.”

The otherwise unknown Evening Doves deliver a spirited, rollicking version of the traditional gospel song “No Hiding Place."

The unknown Silver Bells of Macon, Georgia's “No Friend Like the Lord” is a masterclass in a cappella doo-wop styled gospel singing.

The Brooklyn All Stars were New York's best-known gospel group, singing hits like the slow and stately “No Cross, No Crown.”

The Caravans ruled the Gospel Highway in the 1950s and ‘60s with songs like the upbeat “No Coward Soldiers.”

The music of Daddy Grace's United House of Prayer for All People is an ecstatic rave-up, fueled by a dozen honking trombones!

The Williams Family and the legendary Canton Spirituals combine for one of the funkiest Christmas songs of all time, “Down Home in Mississippi".

The Rev. H.B. Crum and His Mighty Golden Keys, “I Can Feel Him” is an exciting example of gospel's transition from traditional doo-wop harmonies to a more soulful sound.

The Rev. Johnny “The Hurricane” Jones preached and sang at Second Mount Olive Baptist Church in Atlanta for nearly 60 years!

The Willie Webb Singers showcased Willie's amazing keyboards, vocals and songwriting.

Mahalia Jackson's majestic, magnificent version of “City Called Heaven” is one of the great powerhouse vocals in gospel music history.

The powerhouse vocals of Christine Clark dominate Evangelist Eddie Williams and the Crusader's arrangement of “Abraham, Martin & John.”

Sister Jessie Mae Renfro excelled at the kind of slow, bluesy gospel surge song, like this one – “He's So Wonderful.”

The Famous Blue Jay Singers novelty release “Clanka Lanka” celebrates one of the most famous phrases in gospel quartet singing history.

The Hampton Institute Quartet's rendition of the beloved cam meeting singalong, “Old Time Religion,” dates back to 1939.

The Congregational Church Choir's scratchy “I Want to be Ready” is a rare and wonderful example of a jubilee song from 1927.

The Exciting Incredibles live up to their name with the deep Southern soul gospel groove of “I Want to Be Loved.”

The Jordan Singers' “I Want to be Free” has the same rollicking beat as some of the best freedom songs by the Staple Singers.

Straight Street Holiness Church's raw recording of “I Want the Lord to Do Something for Me” has a joyful energy all its own.

Chicago's Kelly Brothers sound like they're from Mississippi in the churchy, soulful “(I Was Way Down Yonder) I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray.”

The Rev. James Cleveland leads the Salem Inspirational Choir in a stirring version of his hit song, “I Don't Feel Noways Tired.”

The Back Home Choir specialized in choral arrangements of the old spirituals, including this upbeat rendition of “King Jesus is All.”

The multi-talented Myrna Summers can sing anything – but she's rarely sounded better than on this haunting spiritual, “Stand By Me.”

The Gospel Seekers' “I've Got Jesus” is an old time, foot-stompin', gospel rave up of the highest order!

New Orleans' fiery Jackson Gospel Singers released a fistful of superb gospel songs in the mid-1950s, including “I Can't Walk This Highway.”

Early Motown pioneer Marv Johnson recorded a gospel LP in 1962, which featured this up tempo version of the old COGIC chant/song, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”

Led by the legendary R.H. Harris, the Christland Singers recorded a number of memorable songs, including their version of “I Am Too Close.”

Produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell in Memphis, the Townsend Sisters' “You Can't Hurry God” is a gospel powerhouse!

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

The Harold Smith Majestics could sing anything, from light classic to gospelized Broadway tunes to classic gospel like “The Lord Will Carry You Through.”

Led by Edwin Newberry, the always innovative Newberry Singers sound like no other gospel group on their own composition, “Trouble Will Soon Be Over.”

The incomparable Sarah Vaughan recorded a handful of spirituals during her long career, including this gentle version of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”

The Patterson Singers' “I'm Moving Up” features an irresistibly up tempo closing gospel vamp.

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.”

The legendary Dorothy Love Coates was one of the true stars of gospel music and her powerful “99 ½ Won't Do” was adopted as a freedom song during the civil rights movement.

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.

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

The Blend Wright Trio were a poppy, upbeat gospel group led by the multi-talented Eleanor Wright, who recorded for Savoy in the 1960s.

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

The LP Believe in Me by the Melody Kings features a rousing version of Lee Wallace's gospel rave up, “I Pray.”

The Kindly Shepherds' “Lend Me Your Hand,” produced by Monk Higgins, is much coveted by Northern Soul vinyl collectors.

Willie Banks' titanic sermon song “Things I Can't Change” features one of the most powerful vocal performances in gospel music.

“Leaning on the Lord” is an incredibly infectious gospel rave up by the otherwise unknown Heavenly Stars of Milwaukee.

The St. James A.M.E. Youth Choir dedicates “I Don't Know Why He Loves Me” to their beloved pastor, Bishop John D. Bright Sr.

Prepare to be moved by Gwen Curtis' impassioned vocals on this titanic version of John Stallings' “Learning to Lean.”

The Rev. Oris Mays was one of the true originals of the incomparable gospel music scene in Memphis.

One of the earliest jubilee groups to record, the Selah Jubilee Singers' close-harmony “Judgment's Coming” is one of their best-loved numbers.

The lone known recording by Mary Brown and the United Echoes is a spirit-filled romp titled “The Judgment.”