Inez Andrews
Inez Andrews passed away on December 19, 2012 in her South chicago home, at the age of 83. Born in Birmingham, AL, Andrews sang with Albertina Walker and the Caravans, as well as with Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes and was renown
Date: 12/20/2012
Inez Andrews
Jessy Dixon
Gospel legend Jessy Dixon passed away at his Chicago home on Sept 26, 2011, at the age of 73. Dixon, born in Texax, came to prominence in Chicago, first as a session keyboardist for Chess Records, then later in front of the Chicago Community Choir, an of
Date: 09/26/2011
Delois Barrett Campbell
Delois Barrett Campbell died August 2, 2011 in Chicago of complications from pneumonia. She was 85 and had been battling arthritis, cardiac problems and other ailments for years. Barrett Campbell began her career as a lead singer in the Roberta Martin S
Date: 09/10/2011
Delois Barrett Campbell died August 2, 2011 in Chicago of complications from pneumonia. She was 85 and had been battling arthritis, cardiac problems and other ailments for years. Barrett Campbell began her career as a lead singer in the Roberta Martin Singers before forming a group with her sisters Billie and Rodessa. The Barrett Sisters recorded a number of albums for the Savoy, Nashboro/Creed and I AM record labels. They were featured in the critically acclaimed documentary Say Amen Somebody alongside Thomas Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Willie Mae Ford Smith, the O'Neal Twins and Zella Jackson Price. For over 50 years, Delois and her sisters traveled across the United States and abroad as gospel music ambassadors.
Albertina Walker
Albertina Walker passed away on October 8th, 2010 at the age of 81, after an illness. Known as The Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker grew up in the South side of Chicago, and began her gospel music career in her early 20s, joining notable gospel groups in
Date: 10/21/2010
Albertina Walker passed away on October 8, 2010 at the age of 81, after an illness. Known as The Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker grew up in the South side of Chicago, and began her gospel music career in her early 20s, joining notable gospel groups including The Pete Williams Singers, The Willie Webb Singers, and The Robert Anderson Singers before forming The Caravans in 1951. In the 1970s, she established herself as a solo artist, garnering a Grammy in 1995. Walker was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. She was active up until the time of her passing, and seldom missed an opportunity to attend functions.
Little Lucy Smith Collier
Little Lucy Smith Collier on September 18th, 2010. Collier came from deeply religious roots as her grandmother, the Elder Lucy Smith, founded Chicago's All Nations Pentecostal Church. Elder Smith was one of the nation’s most prominent black ministers a
Date: 10/21/2010
Little Lucy Smith Collier on September 18th, 2010. Collier came from deeply religious roots as her grandmother, the Elder Lucy Smith, founded Chicago's All Nations Pentecostal Church. Elder Smith was one of the nation’s most prominent black ministers and the church’s Sunday night Broadcast was heard across the United States in the 40s. Collier became a member of the Roberta Martin Singers during the Golden Age of Gospel, serving as pianist and organist for the group. Collier’s adeptness on the organ would earn her an instrumental LP on the Savoy label, Little Lucy Smith at the Organ in 1962. In the 90s, Collier joined fellow Martin Singers Eugene Smith, Delois Barrett Campbell, Robert Anderson as well as Donald “Preacher” Gay, Mildred and Geraldine Gay, Vernon Oliver Price and others on The Soul of Chicago, produced by Anthony Heilbut for Spirit Feel/Shenachie Records.
Bishop Kenneth Moales
Bishop Kenneth Herbert Moales, Sr., founding pastor of the Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love (now the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit), Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of Jesus Christ, Chaplain for the Joint College of African American Pentecosta
Date: 10/08/2010
Walter Hawkins
passed away on July 11, 2010 at the age of 61 in his home in Ripon, California, after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Hawkins is one of the most beloved figures in contemporary Gospel Music. In a career that spans over thirty years, he has aut
Date: 07/11/2010
passed away on July 11, 2010 at the age of 61 in his home in Ripon, California, after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Hawkins is one of the most beloved figures in contemporary Gospel Music. In a career that spans over thirty years, he has authored of one of the the most prolific catalogs of recordings and published songs. Over the years we have enjoyed “Jesus Christ Is The Way”, “Changed”, “Going Up Yonder”, “Is There Any Way”, “Thank You Lord” and really just too many to even try and name. The wealth of his pen and prose were gifts to us all and he leaves generations of artists and songwriters who are greater at their craft because of him. Walter Hawkins has been instrumental by both direct and indirect influence in the careers of many of today's gospel artists including Tramaine Hawkins, John P. Kee, Daryl Coley, Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin and countless others.
Geraldine Gay Hambric
Geraldine Gay Hambric died on April 6th, 2010 in Chicago after an illness. As the last surviving member of the Famous Gay Sisters (Geraldine, Evelyn and Mildred Gay hit the charts in the 1950s and 1960s with hits including "God Will Take Care of You
Date: 04/08/2010
Geraldine Gay Hambric
Pastor Shawn M. Brown
Pastor Shawn M. Brown passed away on January 31, 2010. Shawn Brown was one of the original co-directors of the choir Youthful Praise, together with JJ Hairston. An avid and gifted songwriter, he penned “Awesome God” and several other hits. More recentl
Date: 02/01/2010
Pastor Shawn Brown passed away on January 31, 2010. Shawn Brown was one of the original co-directors of the choir Youthful Praise, together with JJ Hairston. An avid and gifted songwriter, he penned “Awesome God” for the choir, as well as "Grateful" for Hezekiah Walker & LFCC. More recently, he launched his own group, Shawn Brown & Key of David, releasing an album in 2008 on the JP Music Group.
Bishop Norman Wagner
Bishop Norman Wagner, former presiding prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), passed away on January 30, 2010. Wagner was one of the Kingdom's most distinct voices as a world renowned teacher, preacher, and pastor of Calvary Ministries
Date: 01/31/2010
Bishop Norman Wagner, former presiding prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), passed away on January 30, 2010. Wagner was one of the Kingdom's most distinct voices as a world renowned teacher, preacher, and pastor of Calvary Ministries International in Youngstown, Ohio. Wagner along with his Mount Calvary Concert Choir released two albums on Word Records in the early 1990s, producing the hits "Best For Last" featuring Pastor Marvin Winans and "Worthy Is The Lamb".
Juan James (aka Enock)
Juan James (aka Enock) passed away on October 27, 2009 from a presumed heart attack, at the age of 35. Enock was one of the founding members of The Cross Movement, and was featured on the group's first three albums, Heaven's Mentality, House of Represent
Date: 01/31/2010
Juan James (aka Enock) passed away on October 27, 2009 from a presumed heart attack, at the age of 35. Enock was one of the founding members of The Cross Movement, and was featured on the group's first three albums, Heaven's Mentality, House of Representatives and Human Emergency. He released his first solo effort AWEthentic in 2003 and appeared on the solo project from Tonic (The Dash) earlier in 2009.
E.B. Williams
Recording artist E.B. Williams (and mother of gospel aritst Ton3x), passed away on December 28, 2009. Williams was a national evangelist, recording artist, and assistant pastor of Truth Apostolic Community Church in San Diego, CA. Williams released her so
Date: 01/31/2010
Recording artist E.B. Williams (and mother of gospel aritst Ton3x), passed away on December 28, 2009. Williams was a national evangelist, recording artist, and assistant pastor of Truth Apostolic Community Church in San Diego, CA. Williams released her solo album, Simply Because, in January 2000 and was featured on several projects with her son Ton3x, including appearances on the compilation MSS Dynasty: The Hostile Takeover, The Bapost.o.g.i.c Mixtape, and The Naked Truth Mixtape.
Chiquita Lumzy
Chequita Lumzy Wiggins, lead singer of the female gospel quartet The Lumzy Sisters, passed on October 24, 2009 at age 50. The popular group made numerous appearances on gospel shows such as Singsation and Bobby Jones Gospel. Most notably, the quartet was
Date: 01/31/2010
Chequita Lumzy Wiggins, lead singer of the female gospel quartet The Lumzy Sisters, passed on October 24, 2009 at age 50. The popular group made numerous appearances on gospel shows such as Singsation and Bobby Jones Gospel. Most notably, the quartet was named "Female Quartet of the Year" at the American Gospel Quartet Convention for eight consecutive years. Likewise, Wiggins was named "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the convention during those same eight years. The group released six albums, with their latest project Precious being released in 1995. Wiggins was co-pastor of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Suffolk, VA.
Wayman Tisdale
Bass guitarist and NBA veteran Wayman Tisdale passed on May 15, 2009 at the age of 44, after a two-year battle with bone cancer. Tisdale was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma, spent 12 seasons in the NBA, and was part of the gold medal winning 1984 US
Date: 05/18/2009
Wayman Tisdale
(Harold) Eugene Smith
(Harold) Eugene Smith, one of the original Roberta Martin Singers, passed away on May 9th, 2009 in Chicago, at the age of 88. Smith joined the Roberta Martin Singers (then known as the Martin and Fry Singers) in 1933, and in 1949, began managing the fam
Date: 05/10/2009
(Harold) Eugene Smith, one of the original Roberta Martin Singers, passed away on May 9th, 2009 in Chicago, at the age of 88. Smith joined the Roberta Martin Singers (then known as the Martin and Fry Singers) in 1933, and in 1949, began managing the famous group. Known for his "R&B" vocal stylings, he wrote songs such as "I Know the Lord Will Make a Way". Smith actively participated in reunion concerts up to the 1990's. He was the last surviving original member of the Roberta Martin Singers.
Rev. Timothy Wright
Gospel great and Godfather of Gospel, Rev. Timothy Wright passed away at the age of 61, on April 23, 2009 at the Bronx Veterans Hospital. . The Grammy-nominated Wright fought a courageous battle back to health from critical injuries he sustained in a ca
Date: 05/21/2009
Rev. Timothy Wright
David Winans Sr. (Pop Winans)
After initially suffering a heart attack and stroke in October 2008, David Winans, Sr. (Pop Winans), the patriarch of the musical dynasty, The Winans Family, passed away quietly in Nashville, TN on April 8th, 2009, with wife, Delores Winans at his bedsid
Date: 04/08/2009
After initially suffering a heart attack and stroke in October 2008, David Winans, Sr. (Pop Winans), the patriarch of the musical dynasty, The Winans Family, passed away quietly in Nashville, TN on April 8th, 2009, with wife, Delores Winans at his bedside. Pop Winans, together with Delores (Mom Winans) recorded several albums, as well as some solo projects.
Shirley Joiner
Shirley Joiner, the last living member of BCS and co-founder of the Southeast Inspirational Choir, passed to glory on March 16th, 2009. Joiner, an adept musician , singer/songwriter and choir master first came to prominence as a member of the innovative g
Date: 03/16/2009
Ethel Holloway
Legendary Chicago gospel vocalist Ethel Holloway passed away on January 27, 2009. A long-time member of the famed Jessy Dixon Singers, Holloway came into her own as a lead singer recording with Reverend Milton Brunson's Thompson Community Singers. During
Date: 03/16/2009
Legendary Chicago gospel vocalist Ethel Holloway passed away on January 27, 2009. A long-time member of the famed Jessy Dixon Singers, Holloway came into her own as a lead singer recording with Reverend Milton Brunson's Thompson Community Singers. During the 1980s, she had a string of chart toppers with The Tommies, including "He'll Make it Alright", "He's Keeping Me" and "If You Just Trust Him (He'll Bring You Out)". She recorded her hit, "I'm Yours Lord" with Rev. Clay Evans and the Fellowship Baptist Church Choir, which led to her solo project, I Love The Lord, on Jhun Moon's I AM record label.
Rev. Claude Jeter
Rev. Claude Jeter, founder of The Swan Silvertones, passed away on January 6th, 2009, in the Bronx, at the age of 94. Born in 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, Jeter reigned as on of Gospel's stars in the 1940s through to the 1960s, his distinctive falsetto f
Date: 01/10/2009
Claude Jeter, founder of The Swan Silvertones, passed away on January 6th, 2009, in the Bronx, at the age of 94. Born in 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, Jeter reigned as on of Gospel's stars in the 1940s through to the 1960s, his distinctive falsetto fronting the Four Harmony Kings, who later were renamed The Swan Silvertones on their move from Kentucky to Nashville in 1942, releasing music on the King Records, Speciality Records and Vee-Jay Records labels. In later years, Jeter moved to a solo career (Shanachie Records in the early 1990s), after becoming a pastor in Harlem, NY in the late 1960s. He influenced artists such as Al Green, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield and Eddie Kendricks, along with a host of Gospel artists of the time. Jeter's improvised lyric on the 1959 hit "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep" was the inspiration for Paul Simon's hit, "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Simon later brought in Jeter to sing on his own projects.
Tommy Ellison
Tommy Ellison of the Tommy Ellison & The Singing Stars passed away on Saturday January 3, 2009, after an illness. Born in Salley, SC, Ellison began by singing background for Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke's, as a part of her group, The Five Singing Stars
Date: 01/05/2009
Tommy Ellison of the Tommy Ellison & The Singing Stars passed away on Saturday January 3, 2009, after an illness. Born in Salley, SC, Ellison began by singing background for Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke's, as a part of her group, The Five Singing Stars. In 1959, Ellison formed his own group, The Five Singing Stars, later renamed to Tommy Ellison and the Five Singing Stars, gaining national reputation in the early 1970s on the Nashboro label, and moving to HOB and AIR Gospel later. He continued singing and ministering until recently.
Olivia McClurkin
After a nine-year battle with cancer, vocalist Olivia McClurkin (sister of Donnie McClurkin, and member of Zomba Gospel's The McClurkin Project) went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 4th, 2008. She leaves behind a grandmother, mother, father, two brothers
Date: 05/18/2009
After a nine-year battle with cancer, vocalist Olivia McClurkin (sister of Donnie McClurkin, and member of Zomba Gospel's The McClurkin Project) went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 4th, 2008. She leaves behind a grandmother, mother, father, two brothers, fours sisters, three daughters and nine grandchildren.
Rosalyn Brunswick McDuffie
Rosalyn Brunswick McDuffie
Date: 08/03/2008
Rosalyn Brunswick McDuffie, one-half of the duo Lyric Sings, passed on July 26, 2008 after a battle with stomach cancer. McDuffie was 39 years old. McDuffie was once a background vocalist for Donnie McClurkin> and released a solo album titled Just Roz in 2001. She formed the Stellar-nominated duo Lyric Sings along with Rhonda McLemore, with the duo's Brand New Day releasing in 2006. McDuffie also served as first lady of Palace of Praise< in Houston, Texas. Her last recorded work is featured as a lead vocalist on the recent release Crossover from Pastor Gregg Patrick & The Bridge Choir.
Margaret Allison
Margaret Allison
Date: 07/31/2008
Margaret "Babe" Allison passed on to Glory on July 30, 2008. As co-founder and lead singer of the Angelic Gospel Singers (as well as a compelling keyboardist and songwriter), Margaret Allison, together with sister Josephine McDowell and also Ella Mae Morris and Lucille Shird became the biggest-selling female Gospel group of all time. Since their establishment in the 1940s, the group recorded for over 60 years on the Gotham and Nashboro labels, with their later projects on the Malaco label, the most recent release, Touch Me Again, issued in early 2008. Allison's hit, "Touch Me Lord Jesus" is a classic. GOSPELflava.com joins with many others in mourning the passing of this gospel great.
Mike Cook (Mighty Clouds of Joy)
Date: 07/21/2008
Michael Cook, a prominent member of the legendary quartet The Mighty Clouds of Joy, passed as the result of a massive heart attack on July 18th, 2008 at age 47. The longtime group member served as one of the group's primary vocalists since 1996.
Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts
Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts
Date: 07/19/2008
Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts, the famed producer and artist associated with Savoy Records, passed away on July 14, 2008 after a heart attack at his home in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He was 72. With the inception of Savoy Records, Roberts became the first African-American producer of a major U.S. recording company. In addition, Savoy became the premiere record label in gospel music, producing artists such as Albertina Walker, Rev. James Cleveland among others. It was the pairing of James Cleveland with Rev. Roberts and the Angelic Choir of First Baptist Church that resulted in the hits "Peace Be Still", "Christ Is The Answer", "I Stood On The Banks of Jordan", "Life Can Be Beautiful", "My God Can Do Anything" and many others. Roberts was a 2-time Grammy award winner and served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Nutley in Nutley, NJ until his retirement in 1995.
Chris Simpson
Chris Simpson passed away to Glory on June 28th, 2008, succumbing to injuries sustained after being hit by a careening car in Dallas on June 21, 2008. Simpson, a former member of Kirk Franklin & the Family (lead vocalist on "Jesus Is The Reason
Date: 06/30/2008
Chris Simpson passed away to Glory on June 28th, 2008, succumbing to injuries sustained after being hit by a careening car in Dallas on June 21, 2008. Simpson, a former member of Kirk Franklin & the Family (lead vocalist on "Jesus Is The Reason for the Season"), and also formerly with John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir and having sung with Montrel Darrett on the J2K project, released a solo project, Conversion, in the year 2000.
Ira Tucker Sr.
Longtime Dixie Hummingbird member Ira Tucker Sr. passed away on June 24, 2008, at the age of 83. Tucker joined the world-famous quartet group in 1938 at the age of 13, and spent the next several decades singing bass wit
Date: 06/24/2008
Longtime <b>Dixie Hummingbird</b> member <b>Ira Tucker</b> passed away on June 24, 2008, at the age of 83. Tucker joined the world-famous quartet group in 1938 at the age of 13, and spent the next several decades singing bass with them, gaining a reputation for his stage presence and ability to imitate other quartet singers. In recent years, he also recorded solo projects.
Dottie Rambo
Legendary Gospel singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo died on May 11, 2008, at the age of 74, after suffering injuries in a bus accident near Mount Vernon, Missouri, on her way to sing at a Mother's Day event. Rambo wrote over 2,500 songs, including the cl
Date: 05/13/2008
Legendary Gospel singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo died on May 11, 2008, at the age of 74, after suffering injuries in a bus accident near Mount Vernon, Missouri, on her way to sing at a Mother's Day event. Rambo wrote over 2,500 songs, including the classics "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" and "I Go To The Rock". Her songs were recorded by many, including Andrae Crouch, CeCe Winans, Jessy Dixon, Albertina Walker and countless others.
Dr Robert E Wooten Sr.
Dr. Robert E. Wooten, Sr. died on March 27, 2008 in Chicago. Famed musician, choir master and founder of the renowned Wooten Choral Ensemble (WCE), Wooten organized the WCE in 1949 at the Beth Eden Baptist Church located in the heart of Chicago's Morgan P
Date: 03/30/2008
Dr. Robert E. Wooten, Sr. died on March 27, 2008 in Chicago. Famed musician, choir master and founder of the renowned Wooten Choral Ensemble (WCE), Wooten organized the WCE in 1949 at the Beth Eden Baptist Church located in the heart of Chicago's Morgan Park community. The WCE was revered and celebrated for its distinctive ability and versatility in their performance of hymns, anthems and black spirituals. They have traveled extensively across the US and abroad and recorded several albums. Dr. Wooten also served as an educator in the Chicago Public Schools for over 30 years, and played with Gospel pioneer Dr. Thomas Dorsey.
Chalmers "Spanky" Alford
Chalmers “Spanky” Alford went home to glory on March 24, 2008. As an in-demand guitarist, Alford played for traditional Gospel quartet artists including The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Gospel Keynotes, The Canton Spirituals and Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, as
Date: 03/28/2008
Chalmers “Spanky” Alford went home to glory on March 24, 2008. As an in-demand guitarist, Alford played for traditional Gospel quartet artists including The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Gospel Keynotes, The Canton Spirituals and Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, as well as host of mainstream artists (including Angie Stone, Bee Gees, Raphael Saadiq, Common and Al Green)
Dillard Crume
Soul Stirrer Dillard Crume passed away on March 21, 2008 after a long illness. Producer, guitarist and lead singer of the legendary Soul Stirrers, Crume passed away after an extended illness. He was a member of several groups over his career, including
Date: 03/28/2008
Soul Stirrer Dillard Crume passed away on March 21, 2008 after a long illness. Producer, guitarist and lead singer of the legendary Soul Stirrers, Crume passed away after an extended illness. He was a member of several groups over his career, including The Crume Brothers, The Blind Boys of Mississippi (guitar and backing vocals), The Highway QC’s, and after a stint in R&B, a lead singer of the Soul Stirrers in 1976. In February 2008, the Soul Stirrers were all reunited at the Malaco recording studio in Jackson, MS to record the upcoming release, "A Soul Stirring Reunion" on Malaco Records.
Junious "Bud" Norfleet
Junious “Bud” Norfleet, the last surviving member of The Norfleet Brothers, passed away in Chicago on March 25, 2008, after a long illness. The Norfleet Brothers, consisting of Arthur, Joseph, Junious, Peter and Nathaniel were organized in 1946 in Newber
Date: 03/28/2008
Junious “Bud” Norfleet, the last surviving member of The Norfleet Brothers, passed away in Chicago on March 25, 2008, after a long illness. The Norfleet Brothers, consisting of Arthur, Joseph, Junious, Peter and Nathaniel were organized in 1946 in Newbern, Alabama. They relocated to Chicago in 1948, added George Taylor (renamed George Norfleet to be an official sixth brother) and were an integral part of Gospel Music's Golden Age during the 1950’s and 60’s. Although only having a few albums to their credit (on Divine Grace, Von-Trice, Rush, Emase and Checker labels), The Norfleet Brothers gained popularity and notoriety through appearances on radio and television and were the anchors of Jubilee Showcase, one of the longest-running programs in Chicago television history, airing for 21 years on WLS-TV, the ABC Network station in Chicago. In the 90s the group made regular appearances on Singsation.
BIll Moss Sr.
Gospel singer Bill Moss passed away on June 25th, 2007. Born in Selma, Alabama but a resident of Detroit for much of his career, he was sister of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and father of contemporary Gospel’s J.Moss and Bill Moss Jr., he and his wife Essie fo
Date: 01/19/2008
Gospel singer Bill Moss passed away on June 25th, 2007. Born in Selma, Alabama but a resident of Detroit for much of his career, he was sister of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and father of contemporary Gospel’s J.Moss and Bill Moss Jr., he and his wife Essie formed The Celestials, and were one of the first to use electric instruments in their recordings. Together with Essie, Bill started the record label Bilesse, which they used to launch their own recordings and also those of others (including solo Essie Moss, The Clark Sisters, The Trumpet-letts, Floyd Henley, young J. Moss) , and as Bill Moss and The Celestials were later signed to Westbound and Jewel, and then in the 1980s to AIR Gospel (as a solo artist and also as Bill Moss and Leviticus). His hit song, “Already Been To The Water” remains a favourite of many. Bill Moss and the Celestials were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Detroit in 2004.
Edgar O'Neal
Edgar O’Neal, the surviving member of the famous O’Neal Twins, went home to glory on Jan 16, 2008 in his hometown of St. Louis, MO, after a brief illness. Edward O’Neal passed away several years previously. The O’Neal Twins recorded over twenty albums on
Date: 01/18/2008
Edgar O'Neal of the O'Neal Twins (passed away Jan 16, 2008)
