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 Tribute Born on June 4, 1934, Dr. Charles Fold played a significant role in the explosion of the traditional Gospel choir sound beginning in the 1970’s, together with Rev. James Cleveland. Cleveland with his unparalleled gift for capturing the attention of the masses with his songs and  riveting delivery, and Fold, able to deliver those songs in powerful style with his Charles Fold Singers, are the ones who turned “Jesus Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” and “Lord, Let Me Be An Instrument” among others, into smash hits.Dr. Fold began as a musician with Detroit’s famous Meditation Singers (under the leadership of the peerless Ernestine Rundless and Della Reese) in the female group’s heyday in the 1950’s. In the 1960s, working with the Gospel Messengers of Cincinnati, he put out material on era’s two powerhouse Gospel labels, Savoy and Peacock. In the mid 1970’s, he and his Charles Fold Singers appeared as guests with the legendary Isaac Douglas on the By The Grace of God LP on Creed Records. Then he began his work with Cleveland, beginning with the Savoy album, Rev. James Cleveland Presents The Charles Fold Singers, Jesus Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me, a live-recorded 2-LP set from 1975 that featured the title cut, Cleveland’s Gospel cover of the Gladys Knight and the Pip’s “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”. Cleveland introduced countless choirs and artists for the Savoy label by appearing on their records, propelling many into musical careers of their own by putting, in essence, his stamp of approval on their initial offering. With Dr. Charles Fold, however, the collaboration was not simply a limited time offer, for he worked together with the Cincinnati-based choir on the follow-up album, Vol. 2, Touch Me from 1976, and also a Vol. 3, Is There Any Hope For Tomorrow, released in 1978. This began a set of nine LPs in which Fold and Cleveland collaborated, with the highlight, from an awards standpoint, being the Grammy-winning from 1979, Lord, Let Me Be An Instrument LP. Fold also garnered an additional four Grammy nominations in the course of his musical ministry.  Also stemming from this partnership was the emergence of Dr. Fold as a key figure in the Gospel Music Workshop America, the organization founded and spearheaded by Cleveland. Until the time of his 2006 home going, Dr. Fold was a fixture at the meetings, and was involved at the upper levels, holding the position of President of National Chapter Representatives, Executive Committee upon his homegoing in 2006. In 1990, Fold delivered He'll Step Right In, with The Cincinnati Chapter of GMWA, on Savoy.In subsequent years, Dr. Charles Fold and The Charles Fold Singers went on to give the world such albums as Well Done, I'll be With You Always, and their One More Day project, released in 1997 on the Majestic label. Dr. Fold was also very much involved in his local church, Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist, in Cincinnati, where he served as Minister of Music, and continued to foster the development of Gospel music in all who showed an interest. It’s always difficult to do justice to someone who has contributed as much as Dr. Fold. Minister Jeffrey LaValley, renowned Gospel music songwriter, arranger and instrumentalist, put it to GOSPELflava.com this way: “Dr. Fold was a musical innovator, and The Charles Fold Singers were one of the most vibrant and exhilarating groups in Gospel music. Songs like "Jesus Is The Best Thing", "Well Done", and "I Won't Turn Back" literally swept the country and impacted gospel listeners around the world. His contributions are immeasurable. Their drive was incomparable, and their performances catapulted their audience into Sunday morning church wherever and whenever they sang.”  Of course, the measure of a man is more than simply a list of accomplishments. GOSPELflava.com can testify that every encounter we had with him was met with graciousness and a willingness to listen, understand and endeavour to help out in any way. By no means are we the only ones to have that experience. Minister LaValley speaks for thousands:“I had the privilege of working with Dr. Charles Fold on five projects, but more importantly, I had the honor of calling Dr. Fold my friend. Dr. Fold had a great love for people. He was uniquely talented, and the appreciation he had for the gifts instilled in him was evident every time he sang or played. His love for gospel music was undeniable, and his contributions to gospel music will never be forgotten. I thank God for allowing Dr Fold to not only inspire me to aspire to do my best, but also for all the encouragement and the friendship we shared. As He now joins the ranks of those who have gone on, to receive his reward, we bow in submission to the perfect will of God.” Partial Discography Charles Fold and the Gospel Messengers of Cinncinati, OH I'm Going to Make It Gospel 
Rev. James Cleveland Presents The Charles Fold SingersJesus Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me Savoy 1975 Rev. James Cleveland Presents The Charles Fold Singers Vol. 2, Touch Me Savoy 1976 
Rev. James Cleveland Presents The Charles Fold SingersVol. 3, Is There Any Hope For Tomorrow Savoy 1978 Charles Fold & The Charles Fold Singers You Don’t Know How Good God’s Been to Me Savoy 
Charles Fold & The Charles Fold SingersTomorrow Savoy Charles Fold & The Charles Fold Singers This Too Will Pass Savoy Charles Fold & The Charles Fold Singers Thank You Lord, For One More Day Savoy 
Charles Fold & The Charles Fold SingersYes Muscle Shoals Sound Gospel 1989 Charles Fold & The Cincinnati Chapter of the GMWA He’ll Step Right In Savoy 1990 Charles Fold & The Charles Fold Singers Well Done Savoy 1991 
Charles Fold & The Charles Fold SingersI’ll Be With You Always Savoy 1993 Charles Fold & The Charles Fold Singers Live In Cincinnatti Savoy 1996 
Charles Fold & The Charles Fold SingersOne More Day Majestic 1997 Email This To A Friend
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