As I pulled up on the parking lot of The Canton United Methodist Church I knew this would be the spot where yet another chapter in quartet history would be written. The cars were beginning to pull in as fans and supporters walked up the ramp to the church doors. I arrived a few hours before the actual recording to listen to the sound check and take in the whole experience. At 7 PM sharp devotion was under way with the reading of the 23 Psalm, a down home rendition of “On The Battlefield”, and a spirit filled prayer. By 7:20 the audience was being treated to a mini-concert from the Canton United Methodist Mass Choir. They showed their skills on songs like “Oh Give Thanks”, and “All of My Life”.
At 7:30 PM the Pilgrim Wonders musicians began plugging into their amps as the Emcee took a moment to get the audience ready for the introduction of the group. Dressed in stylish green suits Calvin April, Johnny Harris, and Lacy Robinson came on stage to a standing ovation. The music was jumpin’ as they went right into one of their famed opening numbers “Lord I'm Coming”. The excitement was in the air, and the audience was ready for a night filled with music from the group and choir.
The group stayed in the familiar territory as Johnny Harris transitioned into the beautiful “Heaven Don’t Come Easy”. The background harmony was tight, and the band was obviously well rehearsed. It was then time for the Canton United Methodist Mass Choir to assist Calvin April on a number. For those that remember the Soul Stirrers of the 1960s you will remember a song they recorded entitled “His Precious Love”. Calvin rearranged this beautiful number with the Choir and the group assisting. This song really helped to usher in the power of the Holy Spirit as the audience really did not want Calvin to stop singing.
Staying in the same spirit filled vain that would continue throughout the recording, the group then sung a beautiful number “God’s Got A Mansion For Me”. This slow to mid-tempo song had a real smooth sound that really forced the audience to listen to the words. As usual, the Legendary Calvin April’s voice was clear and each verse offered a different variation showing his vocal control.
As we moved ever so closely to the half-way point, the musicians put down their instruments as Lacy Robinson took the lead mic to start a beautiful A cappella rendition of “Amazing Grace”. Even I was caught off guard with this song. The harmony was so tight that you really had a hard time believing the song was being sung “Live”. After slowing things down with “Amazing Grace”, the band sprung into a heavy groove with the number “Salvation Is Coming”. Lacy kept the lead mic and really had the place on fire on this one. The music reminded me of the last part in the Pilgrim Jubilees “Barnyard” song when the music is really jumpin’. In fact, the Jubes 1990 video “Live” in Jackson Mississippi came to mind during this song.
After a brief break, the background vocalists took a few sips of water as they prepared themselves for one of my favorites “Save Me Jesus”. As many know, this song really shows the group’s falsetto talents as the entire background seems to reach vocal heights that are unfathomable. Calvin really worked up a frenzy on this number which served to transition right into the hard drivin’ “Crying Days”. Brothers and sisters were shoutin’ all over the house and the entire church was rockin’ as Lacy Robinson walked the aisles and shouted his way through this popular number. They even had a few break downs when nothing but hand clappin’ and the jumpin’ background could be heard.
Calvin April then returned to the lead duties with a soulful slow number “Since I Found Jesus”. The Spirit really moved in on this song as several times the normally calm and collected Calvin April found himself jumping and shouting for joy. Most of the audience was up throughout the song praising God for entering into their lives. With the entire church totally overcome with the Spirit, the group moved into my absolute favorite number “Grateful”. Once again, the Spirit moved as we all found ourselves forgetting about the recording and really praising God. The audience refused to allow the group to stop singing this number and while tapes were being changed Calvin continued to minister in song and spoken word by himself.
It was then time for the group’s most well known number “The Time Is Now”. The audience exploded into applauds and rose to their feet when they heard the song intro. All over the house people were singing along with the Pilgrim Wonders on this number. Once again the Canton United Methodist Mass Choir joined the group as they came in during the “Getting Late In The Evening” run towards the end of the song. Without pausing the group shifted into a short 2 song medley of “Standing Where Jesus Stood” and closed out with Johnny Harris taking the lead on “Got Religion”. Harris really got things moving on this number as if it were the first song of the night. He literally left the stage with the audience beckoning for more.
To a standing ovation the group left the stage with smiles and hands in the air realizing that history had been made. The entire world now awaits the final product from the Pilgrim Wonders of Toledo, Ohio. As a long time supporter it was like going down memory lane listening to old favorites and some new material as well. Below you will find exclusive pictures from the live audio recording session. Their will be an upcoming video recording in the future.
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