Tag: Passings

Dottie Peoples and family mourn passing of matriarch, Althea Milton

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF offers sincere condolences to Dottie Peoples and family in the passing of her mother, Althea Milton, who transitioned January 21, 2016.  She was 85 years old.

Many remember Mother Milton’s appearance on her daughter’s album, God Can & God Will. She was featured with Dottie on “Oh What A Time.”

Arrangements are entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Riverdale Chapel and Wright and Young Funeral Home of Miami.

Reuben (Bill) Cooper, original member of the Cooper Four, makes transition

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Reuben (Bill) Cooper, original member of the Cooper Four, passed yesterday (January 12), after an extended period of declining health.  He was 87 years old.


The Cooper Four’s brand of folksy traditional gospel, minimal musical accompaniment (often only guitar), and notably deep voices made the sibling foursome–Bill along with Walter, Maria (d. 1996), and Bill’s twin sister Ruth–a regional favorite at the peak of their popularity. 


The group began singing in their rural Hillsborough, NC home in 1935.  In 1954, they began singing live weekly on Durham’s first all-Black radio station, WSRC.  As of 2011, the group could still be heard live each week on WRJD radio in Durham.


The Cooper Four’s early 1960s vinyl single, featuring “This May Be My Last Time” and “Stay in the Field Until the War is Ended” still receives occasional airplay.


GMF extends condolences to Bill’s wife Ella, daughter Rubena, grandchildren, siblings, and host of family members and friends.  He will be remembered fondly.

Rest in peace, Otis Clay

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Otis Clay.  Remembrances flooded social media in the hours following the soulful multi-genre singer’s unexpected passing on Friday evening, January 8.

His cover of Thomas Dorsey’s “When the Gates Swing Open” became the definitive version for me as well as many traditional gospel music lovers.


Read Howard Reich’s article on Clay’s career and legacy here: Chicago Tribune | Chicago soul legend Otis Clay dead at 73

Julius Caesar, brother of Pastor Shirley Caesar, passes on

By Libra Boyd 
Gospel Music Fever


GMF offers its deepest condolences to Pastor Shirley Caesar and family in the transition of her brother, Julius Caesar, who died December 27, one day shy of his 90th birthday.


The homegoing service will take place Sunday, January 3, at 2:30 PM (with visitation one hour prior) at Raleigh’s Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church.

In addition to Pastor Caesar, he is survived by two sons, one daughter, one brother, and six grandchildren.

Photo Credit | B. Jackson Caesar via Facebook

R.I.P. Robert Holland of Doc McKenzie & the Hi-Lites

Robert Holland has died

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Robert Holland, longtime member of Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites, has died after battling health issues for several years.

Holland said in a recent interview that he’s been a member of the Hi-Lites for 19 years. During his tenure, fans have enjoyed hearing him deliver the songs “Love One Another,” “Down the Road,” “Born by the River,” and “One Touch.” Despite his physical ailments, he continued to sing with the group as long as his health permitted.

At one time or another, Holland also had tenures with the Fantastic Goldenaires, Bill Pinkney and the Original Drifters, and Robert Holland and the Chosen Brothers.

Holland’s voice, which drew comparisons to Sam Cooke, will certainly be both remembered and missed. Our condolences are extended to his family, friends, fans, and Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites.

Update (12/7/15): Homegoing arrangements have been posted by the funeral home as follows:

Friday, December 11, 2015
Visitation and Viewing
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Musical Celebration of Life
6:30 – 8:30 PM

Red Budd Holy Church
637 Cleveland St.
Rocky Mount, NC

Saturday, December 12, 2015
Funeral Service
12 PM
L.N. Forbes Tabernacle
1800 Lane St. Ext.
Wilson, NC

Interment
Homestead Memorial Gardens
Greenville, NC

Eddie Williams, pianist for the Caravans, passes on

Eddie Williams of the Caravans

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF is sad to learn of the passing of Eddie Williams, songwriter and pianist with the Caravans from 1957 to 1962 (with a hiatus in 1960).  Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music reported the news yesterday (Nov. 30), and information will be added there as it becomes available.

Eddie Williams was the writer of one of the Caravans’ best known songs, “Lord Keep Me Day by Day.” 

Upon hearing of his passing, Rev. James Herndon, who became the famed group’s pianist and a primary songwriter after Williams’ departure, spoke with GMF about the caliber of his contributions to the Caravans:

Eddie was one of the most profound writers of gospel music as well as an accomplished musician. He wrote the timeless classic “Lord Keep Me Day By Day,” which as you know is still being sung today. It has never grown old to me. He also wrote “Hallelujah ‘Tis Done,” “I’m Glad I Counted Up the Cost,” and many more. He will live forever through the great music he gave the world.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Williams family in their hour of bereavement.

R.I.P. Elder James Bellamy

Homegoing services were held recently in Rocky Mount, NC for singer, songwriter, and musician Elder James Bellamy, Jr., who passed September 5.  He was 49 years old. 

Elder Bellamy led a talented camp of singers and musicians who ministered as James Bellamy and T.C. (Triumphant in Christ).  Among the group’s recordings are Let Your Spirit Fill This Place EP (1999), All For Him (2002) and Triumphant – Live! (2007), each recorded with Masterpiece Christian Records. 

Elder Bellamy is remembered by his family, many friends, and colleagues as a radical praiser, devout worshipper, and gifted minstrel. 

Homegoing arrangements set for Samuel Barnes, brother of Luther Barnes

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Samuel Barnes, brother of gospel singer and pastor Luther Barnes and son of the late Bishop F.C. Barnes (of “Rough Side of the Mountain” fame) passed August 22.  He was 66 years old.  


GMF extends condolences to the Barnes family.


Arrangements are entrusted to Hunter-Odom Funeral Service and a homegoing service will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, August 29, at Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount, NC.


Read the obituary notice here.

Swanee Quintet’s Percy Griffin dies

The Swanees with Percy Griffin (fourth from left)     Photo Credit | Facebook

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music informed GMF that Percy Griffin, longtime member of The Swanee Quintet, passed on (see RIP Percy Griffin – Member of the Swanee Quintet).

Griffin joined the Augusta, GA group more than 50 years ago and was one of its lead singers.  Down through the years, The Swanees left audiences reeling with songs like “Eternal Life” and “Dr. Jesus.”  The quartet frontman once told The Augusta Chronicle that being a great gospel singer was always his primary aspiration. 

Griffin shared a longstanding friendship with the Godfather of Soul, the late James Brown, and occasionally sang at the soul singer’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaways in Augusta.

Both Griffin and his father were elders in the United House of Prayer for All People, whose founder, Daddy Grace, used to stay in their home, Griffin once shared.

Among Griffin’s last recordings are The Swanee Quintet’s The Legacy Continues Phase II and Malaco’s An Evening with the Legends of Quartet (LIVE).  Griffin does some tag-teaming with his first cousin Willie Rogers of The Soul Stirrers on the latter project.

Please join GMF in keeping Griffin’s family, friends, fans, and the Swanees lifted in prayer.

Read the obituary here.

An earlier version of this story contained an error in the caption. Thanks to Anthony Smith for catching it and alerting GMF.

Rev. James Herndon remembers former Herndon singer Nathan Murphy

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel singer Nathan Murphy, former member of the James Herndon Singers and organizer of the Nathan Murphy Singers, passed Monday, August 17, reported JGM’s Bob Marovich for the Journal of Gospel Music.

Rev. James Herndon, who departed the famous Caravans in the late 1960s and formed the James Herndon Singers, spoke with GMF about Murphy, fondly remembering him as a dedicated member of the group.  He was a blessing on and off stage, helping to coordinate everything from reliable transportation to the singers’ stage attire; the latter task he shared with fellow member Roxie Bibbs.  Murphy was also instrumental in the selection of his aunt, Wilma Strickland, becoming a member of the group.

“Nathan was never one to be out front, but he supported everyone else in leading songs,” Herndon tells GMF.  “He saw the James Herndon Singers as a fulfillment of a lifelong dream.”

Rev. Herndon also recalls Murphy’s commitment to education and self-improvement.  He attended school to become a respiratory therapist and after his eventual departure from the James Herndon Singers, he pursued a law degree.  He also established his own group, the Nathan Murphy Singers, whom Herndon says “were quite popular in the Los Angeles area and [did] some out of state performances.”

“But he never let these accomplishments sway his faith in God.”

GMF sends prayers up for the family, friends, and fans of Nathan Murphy.

Read more at the Journal of Gospel Music: RIP Nathan Murphy: Sang with James Herndon, Had Own Group