Category: Passings

Bobby Womack succumbs

Soul singer Bobby Womack died Friday, June 27, at age 70.  Womack had roots in gospel music and cited R.H. Harris of the Soul Stirrers as one of his influences.  

Womack and his brothers performed gospel music before gaining the attention of Sam Cooke who eventually signed them to his label (SAR Records) as The Valentinos, where they made the transition to R&B.

Read more about Womack’s life and music in the LA Times.

B.T. Green of the Christian Harmonettes (1938-2014)

It’s hard to imagine that any quartet gospel music lover in North Carolina–or anywhere along the East Coast–would not recognize the name or homespun traditional music of B.T. Green and Christian Harmonettes.  June 1st marked the 44th anniversary of the group, celebrated in Durham. It was a spiritually uplifting occasion, but one person was conspicuously absent: Mr. B.T. Green.  Just a few miles away, Green lay in the hospital, drawing strength from the prayer avalanche of beloved family, friends, and supporters.

Gospel singer and promoter Burmas T. Green completed this life’s journey (June 21), after recent months of health challenges.  He was 75 years old.

Some of his enduring numbers from the Christian Harmonettes’ recordings include “It Takes A Little Rain,” “Love Lifted Me,” “Reap What You Sow,” and “Old Rugged Cross.”

GMF continues to lift the Green family, the Christian Harmonettes, and Green’s host of friends in prayer. 


Update (6/24/14 at 8:59pm) – The following announcement has been shared via B.T. Green and the Christian Harmonettes’ Facebook page: 
Thank you all for your patience in waiting for the final arrangements of B.T.’s homegoing. The service will be held on Friday, June 27, 2014, at Union Baptist Church of Durham, NC. There will be a viewing from 12:00-1:00 pm. The service will begin promptly at 1:00 pm. The church address is 904 N. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27701.
The service is scheduled to stream live at: http://new.livestream.com/MyUBCtv/events/2789071 

Melvin Crispell has died

Melvin Crispell died.

Composer and musician Melvin Crispell passed today (May 29). This wave of heaviness is being felt throughout the gospel community as the news continues to circulate.

Melvin is noted for his work with Hezekiah Walker, James Hall and Worship & Praise, Tye Tribbett, and his own group, Testimony.  His popular compositions include “Jesus is My Help,” “Wonderful is Your Name,” “No Joy, No Strength,” and “Caught Up In The Rapture.”

Our prayers of comfort are with Melvin’s family and friends.

Update (6/4/14):  Over the last two days, there have been multiple updates issued regarding the time for the celebration of life services in South Carolina and New York.  GMF suggests confirming the information you have obtained by contacting Christopher King’s Funeral Home, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.

GMF, Bobby Jones remember Maya Angelou

By Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever

As a writer, educator, musician, and Black woman, I have been and will continue to be inspired by the life and work of Dr. Maya Angelou. Angelou passed this morning (May 28) in her Winston-Salem, NC home, at age 86.
Her breadth of artistic contributions (to dance, music, stage, film, TV, and literature) includes her collaboration with Dr. Bobby Jones and Vanessa Bell Armstrong on “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.”  The hymn is a highlight on Jones’ 1998 CD, Just Churchin’.
Dr. Jones’ comments on the passing of Dr. Angelou were shared today in his emotional Facebook post below.
May an American treasure and truly phenomenal woman rest on peacefully.

Click to enlarge

Clouds’ keyboardist Jason Britt and others die in car crash

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to and prayers for the families and friends of Jason Britt, Dennis Battle, and Kyol Allen-Gailliard.  The trio was killed Friday (May 16) in an early morning car crash in Rocky Mount, NC.

Britt was a keyboardist with the Mighty Clouds of Joy and at Word Tabernacle Church.  Battle was also a musician, serving at Word Tabernacle.  Allen-Gailliard, whose father is the pastor of Word Tabernacle, was the audio engineer at the church, according to WTVD.

Arrangements are entrusted to H.D. Pope Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be posted there as well.

R.I.P. Edna Tatum

Joseph Middleton of The Golden Era Gospel Blog informed GMF of the passing of Edna Tatum.

Edna was a longtime commentator and broadcaster who was also recognized for her narrative collaborations with Rev. James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, and others.

I was introduced to Edna by Bro. Steve Harris in 2012, and I fondly remember her warmth and her encouraging words to me as a newcomer to the GMWA convention.

GMF extends sympathy to her family, friends, and industry colleagues.

Read about Edna’s ministry and homegoing arrangements in the Los Angeles Sentinel. 

Virginia Caesar Reed, sister of Shirley Caesar, passes

Please join GMF in sending prayers up on behalf of Pastor Shirley Caesar and family. Pastor Caesar’s last surviving sister Virginia Caesar Reed has gone to be with the Lord (March 10, according to Scarborough and Hargett Funeral Home, Inc.), after several years of declining health.  She was 89 years old.  GMF thanks Biddy Newborn for passing along the news.

In Pastor Caesar’s autobiography The Lady, The Melody, & The Word, Reed said of her younger sister, “By the time Shirley was born, I had already moved away from home, but I would often bring her over to spend the night with me. No one could have told me that my little sister would one day sing for presidents, governors, and heads of state. I am very proud of her.”

The homegoing celebration has been announced for Sunday, March 16, at 2:00 PM, at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church.  The church is located at 3100 Sanderford Road in Raleigh, NC. 

Father Charles G. Hayes, founder & pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, has died

Service information for Father Hayes

Jordan K. Phillips informed GMF that Dr. Charles G. Hayes, founder and pastor of Chicago’s Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, has died (February 13).  He was 76 years old. 

Dr. Hayes and his famed choir, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, also known as The Mighty Warriors, recorded more than 30 albums over a 50-year period, including the perennial numbers “Jesus Can Work It Out” and “Step Back, Let God Do It.”

Our deepest condolences are extended to Dr. Hayes’ family, friends and fans, and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer.  GMF honors his rich legacy of ministry and music. The Black Gospel Blog’s Bob Marovich details it beautifully here. 

Homegoing arrangements are below.  Click the image to enlarge.  Services will be streamed live.

R.I.P. Sammy Terry of The Spiritual Highlights

Terry (seated) & The Spiritual Highlights

Stevie Macklin shared the news that Sammy Terry, lead singer of Sammy Terry and The Spiritual Highlights, passed away Thursday night, February 6, in Danville, VA, after several years of declining health. He was 73 years-old. GMF extends condolences to his family, friends, and the quartet community. 


Terry was a member of The Flying Clouds of Danville, The Sons of Calvary, and the Gospel Persuaders before organizing The Spiritual Highlights in the mid-1990’s (click the photo to enlarge).  The group went on to record a pair of projects, God is a Good God and He’s My Rock. 


Arrangements are as follows:


Visitation
Monday, February 10, 2014
6 – 7 PM
Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home
707 Wilson St.
Danville, VA 24541


Homegoing Service
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
12 Noon
Bibleway Cathedral
215 Grant St.
Danville, VA 24541

Ruth McLendon, wife of Elder Goldwire McLendon, has died

GMF extends condolences to Elder Goldwire McLendon and family in the passing of his wife Ruth, who transitioned January 25.


Read more about Mother McLendon’s life and music here. 


Those who aren’t already familiar with the McLendons’ tenure with Philadelphia gospel ensemble and Savoy recording group The Savettes, will more than likely remember Elder McLendon earning the runner-up slot on Sunday Best 3, coming in behind Le’Andria Johnson.