December 2008
1st
1935: Lou Rawls, formerly of The Chosen Gospel Singers & The Pilgrim Travelers, is born in Chicago, IL.
2nd
2005: Wallace Strickland of The Canton Spirituals died in Jackson, MS.
1902: Homer Smith of the Southernaires is born in Florence, AL.
3rd
1926: Delores Barrett Campbell, of the Barrett Sisters, is born, Chicago, IL.
1922: Bill "Hoss" Allen of WLAC radio in Nashville is born in Gallatin, TN.
1927: Blind Willie Johnson records "Motherless Child."
4th
1991: E.A. Roundless of the Soul Stirrers dies in Detroit, MI.
1916: Lawrence "Shorty" Abrams of the Blind Boys of Mississippi is born in SC.
1927: Washington Phillips records "Denomination Blues."
5th
2005: Rev. C. D. Williams (founder of The Williams Singers of Indianapolis, IN) died in Indianapolis, IN.
1931: Rev. James Cleveland is born, Chicago, IL.
1927: Washington Phillips records "Denomination Blues."
1929: Harvey Watkins Sr. of the Canton Spirituals is born in Canton, MS.
7th
2007: David Harrison of The Bells of Joy of Baltimore died in Baltimore, MD.
9th
1909: Blind Roosevelt Graves of The Parmount Singers is born in Summerland, MS.
2007: Sylvia Siler, promoter, died in Rockwood, TN
10th
1999: "Big" Henry Johnson of the Blind Boys of Mississippi dies in Los Angeles, CA.
1990: Edward O'Neal of the O'Neal Twins dies in Chesterfield, MO.
11th
1964: Sam Cooke dies, Los Angeles, CA.
13th
1934: Rev. Howard "Slim" Hunt of the Supreme Angels is born, Walnut Grove, MS.
1925: Sherman Washington of the Zion Harmonizers is born in Thibodaux, LA.
14th
1954: Maurice Surrell of the Jackson Southernaires is born in Jackson, MS.
1967: Silas Steele of The Spirit of Memphis Quartet dies in Los Angeles, CA.
15th
1955: Thermon Ruth's Apollo Gospel Caravan debuts at the Apollo Theatre.
1976: Pastor Jonathan T. Tucker, Sr. of The Windy City SpiritualaireS is born in Blue Mountain, MS.
19th
2000: Roebuck "Pop" Staples dies in Dolton, IL.
20th
1910: Sephers Babb of The Radio Four is born in KY.
21st
1967: Donald Dillon of the Blind Boys of Alabama is born in Tylertown, MS.
23rd
1923: Bishop Charles Watkins is born.
1938: The Golden Gate Quartet performs at the Spirituals to Swing Concert, New York, NY.
25th
1948: Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head" debuts on R&B charts.
2006: James Brown, the Godfather of Soul and former gospel singer, died in Atlanta, GA.
26th
1938: Ben Chandler of the Pilgrim Jubilees is born in West Point, MS.
1989: Rev. Cecil Franklin, son of Rev. CL Franklin, dies in Detroit, MI.
28th
1914: Roebuck "Pop" Staples is born in Winona, MS.
1916: Wilmer "Little Axe" Broadnax of the Spirit of Memphis is born in Houston, TX.
1926: Louis Gordon of the Pattersonaires is born in MS.
1910: Billy Williams of the Charioteers is born in Waco, TX.
1992: Louis Johnson of the Swan Silvertones dies.
30th
1950: The 5 Blind Boys of Mississippi debut on R&B charts with "Our Father".
1928: Rev. Reuben Willingham of the Swanee Quintet is born in SC.
31st
1998: Orlandus Wilson of the Golden Gate Quartet dies in Neuilly, France
Did You Know??
During the 1920s and 1930s many blind country blues guitarist/shouters recorded gospel music, including Washington Philips, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Joe Taggart, and Rev. Gary Davis.
Thurman Ruth leader of the Selah Jubilee Singers, was the first promoter to bring major gospel artists to the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Special Thanks to: Eric LeBlanc and Ted Holland for the help on these dates.
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