Tag: Quartets

“He’ll Make It Alright” – The Mighty Golden Wonders

“He’ll Make It Alright”
The Mighty Golden Wonders
From the project, He’ll Make It Alright (2024)
facebook.com/themightygoldenwonders

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Mighty Golden Wonder cd cover art

The Mighty Golden Wonders don’t waste any time getting their message across. In under three minutes, they urge listeners in the title track of their CD to trust God and in due time, “He’ll Make It Alright.”

The recording itself has an organic feel — like being allowed to listen in while the Mighty Golden Wonders take us to church from a garage off a winding dirt road in Mississippi, except that the group’s origins date back 48 years to Warren, OH. This unpolished sound is punctuated by the song’s simple structure and Frankie Yates’ gritty lead along with the background singers’ understated yet harmonic vocals. In a time when much of today’s Black gospel quartet music is cluttered with over-produced arrangements that bands would never replicate in a live set, the musical accompaniment here is stripped down to just bass, lead guitar, a drum kit, and occasional keys. 

“He’ll Make It Alright” evokes nostalgia for the “good old days” of the subgenre, when simplicity and message took center stage. Having celebrated nearly five decades of singing and traveling this year, I feel certain The Mighty Golden Wonders know a thing or two about those days.

“Walk On Walker” – Faithful of Milton, NC

“Walk On Walker”
Faithful (October 2023)
Facebook: Faithful of Milton, NC

Faithful of Milton, NC cover art Walk On Walker

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Milton, North Carolina’s Faithful delivers a compelling message in their single “Walk On Walker,” produced by Antwon Timmons of Perfect Peace Music. Lead vocalist Danny Stewart encourages listeners to rise above negativity and gossip, drawing parallels to the unwarranted criticism faced by Jesus Christ.

While Faithful is rooted in traditional gospel, they could stride confidently down to a blues or soul festival with the music and message of “Walk On Walker” and leave a memorable impression.

“Great Change” – The Hawkins Boys

“Great Change”
The Hawkins Boys (2022)
Available on Apple Music

The Hawkins Boys Great Change art work

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

When hearing “Great Change,” one feature pops out instantly: close harmonies. It’s the sound of The Hawkins Boys, and they deliver not just smooth vocals but an optimistic message.

The message is attributed to the writing talent of brothers Lemuel and Joe Hawkins: “Never lose hope, keep your head up high, wipe the tears from your eyes because just when you thought it was over, God said He ain’t through with your story, just fall down on your knees and pray because there’s a great change coming your way!”

Lyrically, “Great Change” is aligned with the contemporary/gospel soul group’s mission to make music with a purposeful message. The track is produced by industry veterans Melvin Williams and Stan Jones.

“Praise You” – Deyontay & Nu Direction

“Praise You”
Deyontay & Nu Direction (2022)
Available at Apple Music

Deyontay & Nu Direction art work

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Deyontay & Nu Direction, true to their name, take Maurette Brown Clark’s “I Just Want to Praise You” in a new direction, driving the praise and worship song up the quartet highway.

Their rendition of “Praise You,” written by Troy Felder, starts modestly – just a lead guitar, clap track, and harmonious vocals. Keys and auxiliary elements enhance the track as it cruises along. Deyontay & Nu Direction finesse “Praise You” while maintaining the melodic structure of Clark’s version at the “blessings and glory” turn. Once the group approaches the run, the song is a full-on drive.

Deyontay & Nu Direction meld the styles of praise and worship and quartet to present “Praise You” as a tasteful remix.

“Lord, You’ve Been Good to Me” – Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony

“Lord, You’ve Been Good to Me”
Tim Woodson and the Heirs of Harmony (2017)
Peacock Music Group 
https://www.facebook.com/timandtheheirs/

Tim Woodson and the Heirs of Harmony cover artBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Tim Woodson and the Heirs of Harmony pay homage to a pioneering gospel quartet-styled group with the current single, “Lord, “You’ve Been Good to Me.”  The number was popularized over 50 years ago by the legendary Five Blind Boys of Mississippi.

Sticking to the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Woodson pounds this toe-tapper with the same vocal intensity as Henry Johnson, who is heard on the Blind Boys’ version as this Heirs’ remake begins. 

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Woodson and the Heirs have been spreading the good news since 1992.

"The Train" – The Torain Family Singers

“The Train”
Torain Family Singers (October 2017)
www.facebook.com/groups/torainfamily

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

cover art

The Torain Family Singers of Roxboro, NC salute their group’s former lead singer with the spirited single, “The Train,” produced by Demetrius Ledbetter.  As its title suggests, the song incorporates gospel music’s often referenced train metaphor into its rollicking invite for the Heaven-bound ride.

Frances Torain, whose rustic, churchy singing style and non-showy stage presence frequently left congregations craving more, long after she and her group took their seats, boarded the train herself in 2016 (see related story).  

This October, the Torain Family Singers released “The Train,” one of Frances’ most recognizable and requested songs with the group.  Thanks to the magic of digital audio recording and a three year-old amateur live performance archive, Frances rejoins her family on this single for the number’s opening call, “Come on, come on, come on,” to which the family responds, “Don’tcha wanna go?”  From that point, Victor Torain moves the song forward with the family in tow, enthusiastically affirming, “Yes, I want to go!”  The family ultimately charges into the bass guitar-driven vamp with a recurring interjection of “ooh-hoo,” but not before eight year-old Makiyh Allen makes his own affirmative assertion (“Oh yeah!”), echoed by his elders. 

To ride, Victor sings, “You’ve got to be holy / you’ve got to live right / no matter what the people say / you’ve got to live right…”

‘Remember Me’—’Live’ In Concert – The New Christianaires

The New Christianaires "Remember Me"—"Live" In Concert cover artThe New Christianaires
“Remember Me”—”Live” In Concert
Carter Classic Records (2014)
www.thenewchristianaires.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Remember Me”—”Live” In Concert is the latest album by The New Christianaires, whose traditional quartet style intermingled with new school arrangements gives the Florida-based group its modern edge.

Recorded live in Louisiana at House of Praise COGIC, “Remember Me”—”Live” In Concert is bursting with spiritual energy, both from the New Christianaires and their lively hand-clapping audience.  There’s no lack of singing talent in this group; all the members are lead singers.  For this project, the lead tasks are shared among Jarmain Hawthorne, Elvis Brumfield, Jr., Clint Walker, George Carter, Sr., and Joe Mitchell.  On several of the album’s 14 tracks, pairs of them tag-team to get the job done.  Their soul-steeped vocals shine brightly on “Lord I Thank You,” “Still Standing,” and “I Feel the Spirit.”  Sonorous drum and bass lines in the cantering tracks (like “When You Think” and “One of These Old Mornings”) and seamless chord progressions in the mildly paced ones (like “Praise Him” and “Trust Me”), enliven the singers’ harmonies.

The project’s title tune, “Remember Me,” encapsulates the group’s overall sound well, but “Trouble Won’t Last” and “Jesus” turn out to be particularly interesting because of Brumfield’s vintage soul vocal texture and delivery.

The New Christianaires were formed in 2010 by Carter, who was an original member of the Legendary Christianaires from Suntag, Mississippi.  In 2014, the group took home the Rhythm of Gospel Award for Quartet Group of the Year.


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“When You Think” – “Jesus” – “Trust Me”

"I Love to Praise Him" – Tim Rogers & The Fellas

“I Love to Praise Him”
Tim Rogers & The Fellas (2014)
www.pastortimothyrogers.com

Tim Rogers & The Fellas - I Love to Praise Him cover art

Tim Rogers & The Fellas hit hard with their remake of Jessy Dixon’s “I Love to Praise Him.” The Arkansas quartet’s current single is downloadable on iTunes.

At the outset, Rogers announces, “Church, I’m ’bout to take you back down to the country, from where I’m from!” From there, he and his group drive the classic into repeated declarations of “hallelujah” and “thank You, Jesus.”

Official Video – “All We Need Is Love” – Totally 4 Him ft. Doug Williams and Stan Jones

Enjoy the official music video “All We Need is Love” from The Bellamy Group’s Totally 4 Him. The tune, available at iTunes, features Doug Williams of the Williams Brothers and hit producer Stan Jones.

"Run and Go Tell It" – Mighty Men of Faith

“Run and Go Tell It”
Mighty Men of Faith
From the CD, Nothing But Grace (2014)
N2L Records
mightymenoffaith.bandcamp.com/

Mighty Men of Faith cover art

They planned to perform only once for a special event at University AME Zion Church, but the one-time plan was axed when the response to their performance opened doors for them to travel throughout northern California. Five years later, they’re known as The Mighty Men of Faith, and they’ve released their sophomore CD entitled Nothing But Grace, which features the urban contemporary single “Run and Go Tell It.”

In contrast to the tempo one might assume belongs to a song with “run” in its title, “Run and Go Tell It” is unhurried. Staccato R&B-esque lead vocals and finger-snap percussion, enhanced by layered harmonies throughout the chorus, accentuate the tune’s simple personal declaration: “I will run and go tell it…what God has done for me.” 


The Palo Alto, CA foursome has been nominated for Rhythm of Gospel Awards in five categories.