Category: Passings

Musician Ivan Powell, Sr. passes on [Arrangements Added]

Arrangements graphic



By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Ivan Powell, Sr. passed away today (January 18), at the age of 50. Remembrances flooded social media as the news circulated this afternoon.

 
A chance meeting with John P. Kee at the Stellar Awards in the early 90s resulted in Powell accepting the position of music director with the New Life Community Choir a few years later. He is the featured singer with Kee on “Stand.”  Powell is also noted for his work with Karen Clark Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Ron Winans, nephew Doobie Powell, and many more. 


Our prayers of comfort are with the Powell family, friends, colleagues, and protégés.

From Labor to Reward: Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy [Arrangements Added]

Joe Ligon
Photo from Joe Ligon Facebook profile

GMF joins thousands of others in mourning the passing of quartet legend Joe Ligon today (December 11). Jamaal Moore, a friend of GMF, first informed us of the news. We extend our condolences and prayers to Ligon’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF WILLIE JOE LIGON
 
We are heartbroken to share the news that the World’s Greatest Male Gospel Singer – Willie Joe Ligon, Founder and Lead Singer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning group – The Mighty Clouds of Joy of Los Angeles, California passed away today, Sunday, December 11, 2016.
 
Joe was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Cousin, Uncle, Mentor, and Friend to so many who loved him dearly. Joe will always be remembered as one of the top-selling and most awarded Gospel Artist of All Time because of his recordings and music that continues to bless millions all around the World.
 
As much as Joe cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of goodwill from people around the world and from all walks of life.
 
While we mourn the loss of a very good and amazingly humble man, we also celebrate his remarkable life as one of the most successful artists in Gospel Music History and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits as he did with The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
 
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Joe, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service to mankind, accomplishment by being your best and doing your best and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a stormy day think of Joe and get comfort in knowing that he is no longer in the storm that was too long.
 
Additional information about the final arrangements will be released to the General Public pending Mr. Ligon’s Family’s approval.
 
We kindly ask everyone to please respect the Family’s privacy during this time of bereavement.
 
Thank you!
 
Best regards,
 
Pastor Isaac Lindsey
Manager 
Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy 
www.JoeLigon.org or www.TheMightyCloudsofJoy.org


Update (12/16/16 at 10:30 PM ET) – Arrangements regarding the Celebration of Life services for Joe Ligon have been issued in the official statement below.  Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. will deliver the eulogy.

 

GMF remembers Roxboro area singer Frances Torain of the Torain Family Singers

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Frances Torain

GMF joins the local gospel community in mourning the passing of Frances Torain, a founder and lead singer of the Torain Family Singers of Roxboro, NC.  Torain made her transition Tuesday, November 1, 2016, after recent years of health challenges.  She was 78 years old.

The Torain Family Singers recently celebrated their 47th anniversary.  Over the years, they have canvassed the NC/VA area singing God’s praises, including their uptempo arrangements of audience favorites “99 1/2 Won’t Do” and “The Train.”

Frances’s singing style was non-showy, rustic, and churchy.  A highlight of her musical performances was her ability to deliver a rollicking traditional number in an abbreviated fashion, leaving congregations clapping, tapping, and craving more as she and the group returned to their seats to enjoy the remainder of the service.  She and the Torain Family Singers would sometimes pack as many as three tunes into seven minutes–a task that is seldom accomplished nowadays at gospel musicals.

GMF lifts the Torain Family and friends in prayer during this difficult time.  Arrangements, per Cunningham and Nelson Funeral Home, are as follows:

Visitation
Monday, November 7, 2016
1-5 PM
Cunningham and Nelson Funeral Home
87 Brookland Church Road, Hwy 158 East
Roxboro, NC 27573
&
6-8 PM
Christian Apostolic Holiness Church
5445 McGhee’s Mill Road
Semora, NC 27343

Funeral Service
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
2 PM (body will lie in state for one hour prior)
Christian Apostolic Holiness Church
5445 McGhee’s Mill Road
Semora, NC 27343


Services announced for Lecresia Campbell

The passing of songstress Lecresia Campbell (September 29) left the gospel music industry in mourning.  Campbell—whose notable songs include “Perfect Praise (How Excellent)” with Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago, “Stand Still,” “Magnify,” and “Safety”—was recovering from a stroke and was scheduled to be released from Emory Rehabilitation when a pulmonary embolism led to her demise.

Remembrances have flooded social media and include condolences from fans and ministry colleagues across the country.  Our prayers are with Campbell’s family, friends, and fans.  Celebration of Life services appear on the flyer below.

Arrangements flyer for Lecresia Campbell

Ruth Cooper (1928-2016) of The Cooper Four

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ruth Cooper of The Cooper Four has died.

Ruth Cooper, a lead singer of The Cooper Four, passed away August 12, 2016.  She was 88.

Ruth and three of her siblings—twin brother Reuben (d. January 12, 2016), sister Maria (d. 1996), and brother Walter—started singing in 1935, at their log cabin in Hillsborough, NC.  By 1954, The Cooper Four were singing live every week on WSRC, Durham’s first all-Black radio station.  They continued to harmonize every Sunday morning on the radio for well over fifty years.

The group’s rootsy traditional singing style, simple guitar accompaniment, and distinctly deep singing voices amassed both a local and regional following in their heyday, including 12 year-old Shirley Caesar, who appeared at one of their anniversary programs.  In the 1960s, WSRC Records released a 45rpm single featuring the quartet and the sides “This May Be My Last Time” and “Stay in the Field Until the War is Ended.”  

GMF extends condolences to Ruth’s brother Walter and to other Cooper family members and friends.

GMF remembers Tunesha Crispell (1972-2016)

Tunesha Crispell has died.

A pair of services was recently held July 17 and July 18 in Charlotte, NC to commemorate the life and celebrate the homegoing of songstress Tunesha Crispell.  Tunesha went to be with the Lord on July 13, 2016, after completing a courageous battle with cancer.  She was 43.

Reporter Timothy Yap remembered her life and music at hallels.com.

GMF has continued to lift Tunesha’s son Melvin Crispell, III, and other members and friends of the Crispell family in prayer during this time of adjustment. 

R.I.P. Wilbert Williams, former member of the Clouds, manager for the Mighty Sanfordaires

Mighty Clouds of Joy

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

The gospel quartet music community mourns the passing of Wilbert Lee Williams (pictured far left), who died May 14, 2016.  He was 57.  

Williams was a former member of the Mighty Clouds of Joy.  He is featured on the group’s albums Power, Live in Charleston, Together as One, and Gospel Legacy.  

Williams was also a lead singer for the Mighty Sanfordaires, whose projects include Fire and Pick Me Up. The Sanfordaires celebrated their 49th singing anniversary this past Sunday, just one day after Williams made his transition.  The event easily turned into a bittersweet tribute to the group’s longtime frontman and manager.

The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, at 3 PM, at Works for Christ Christian Center, 1395 Fire Tower Road, in Sanford, NC.

Leomia Boyd (1950-2016): Singer and Businesswoman

Leomia Boyd has died

GMF notes the transition of Grammy-nominated gospel singer Leomia Boyd.  Boyd passed away Monday, May 9, 2016, at the age of 65.  We extend condolences to all of Leomia’s family and friends.  

The funeral service was held Sunday, May 15, in Aberdeen, MS.

View WTVA’s report of her passing here: Aberdeen Businesswoman. Grammy-nominated singer Leomia Boyd dies

GMF remembers Rufus Poole; benefit musical still set for May 22

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

Homegoing services were held in Durham on Thursday, May 5, 2016, for Rufus Poole, lead singer of the New Stars of Faith.  Poole transitioned April 30.  He was 80 years old.  

Rufus Poole pictured with the New Stars of Faith

I recall one particular occasion almost exactly one year ago when Poole and the New Stars of Faith ministered at New Hope Person Baptist Church in Timberlake.  That evening, I sat on the front pew, no more than four feet from him, as he himself sat in a metal folding chair with his group of singers standing beside him.  With the assistance of oxygen, he sat in that chair tapping his knee and occasionally leaning forward—all while singing under the power of God.  I watched, listened, clapped, and swayed, realizing in that moment that I was witnessing something very special.  Poole did not use vocal acrobatics or any other techniques common to quartet music showmanship.  Simply put, his straightforward, unhurried approach to a gospel song and his manner of delivery were both unique and inimitable.

This Sunday, May 22, Teresa Caviness and Fula Wilds will host the New Stars of Faith benefit musical program at W.A.I.T.T. Outreach Ministries, Inc., 2206 Harvard Avenue in Durham.  Scheduled to sing are The Dowdy Boys of Pittsboro, The Inspirations of Oxford, Shirley McCaden and Company of Henderson, and others.  Poole personally invited many of the groups slated to appear there.  The program starts at 3 PM.

Music industry remembers song stylist Daryl Coley [Arrangements Added]

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Originally posted March 16, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Last updated March 22, 2016 at 10:01 PM



The music industry mourns the passing of gospel vocalist extraordinaire, Daryl Coley, who made his earthly transition Tuesday night, March 15, after several years of health challenges.  He was 60 years old.  You can read more about Coley’s career and passing from the DC Gospel Music Examiner’s Sarah Hearn here.


Many considered Coley’s vocal artistry to be unparalleled.  Erica Campbell, Micah Stampley, Ted Winn, DeWayne Woods, and Anita Wilson are just a handful who name him among their influences.

Homegoing information as released by the family is as follows:

 
Once the news of Coley’s passing was confirmed last week, after the earlier circulation of false reports, industry contemporaries and protégés flooded social media with remembrances.


Please join GMF in continuing to pray for the family of one of the great voices of our time.

An Amazing Artist and Phenomenal Vocalist. You will truly be missed. Love you Darryl Coley! R.I.P.
Posted by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

I was 24 years old and got a call from Daryl Coley. I knew him very well because Daryl was the one who gave my demo to…
Posted by Kirk Franklin on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

A photo posted by Richard Smallwood (@smallrich) on