The Golden Gate Quartet

Pioneer Virginia gospel/pop quartet of the '30s and '40s. Calling their innovative approach to sacred hymns "jubilee" singing, The Golden Gate Quartet, propelled by Willie Johnson and William Langford, enjoyed massive acceptance far outside the church. Their smooth Mills Brothers-influenced harmonies made The Gates naturals for pop crossover success, and they began recording for Victor in 1937. National radio broadcasts and an appearance on John Hammond's 1938 "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall made them coast-to-coast favorites. By 1941 The Gates were recording for Columbia minus Langford, and movie appearances were frequent: Star Spangled Rhythm, Hollywood Canteen, and Hit Parade of 1943, to name a few. Some experiments with R&B material didn't pan out during the late '40s, and Johnson defected to The Jubilaires in 1948. The group emigrated to France in 1959; led by veteran bass singer Orlando Wilson.

Discography

Good Book

I Soon Will Be Done With the Troubles of this World Shadrack Ezekiel Saw the Wheel Swing Low Sweet Chariot Rock My Soul The End of My Journey Gospel Train Go Down Moses Joshua Fir the Battle of Jericho Sometimes I Feel LIke A Motherless Child Didn't it Rain Hush Hush Oh Happy Day (a cappella) Down By the Riverside Was in the Water Swing Down Chariot Nobody Knows the Toruble I've Seen Oh Happy Day

When the four young black men first began harmonizing together in Norfolk, VA in 1934, they could hardly have imagined being invited four years later to New York to perform in the now legendary "From Spirituals to Swing" concerts at Carnegie Hall. About that time they cut their first recorded sides, laying down an amazing 14 tracks in 2 hours. Nearly 70 years later, the group is still spreading the Gospel and delighting audiences with their upbeat, rhythmic hits. "Good Book" is essentially a "best of" studio CD, containing 18 tunes. "I Soon Will Be Done With The Troubles Of This World," "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Rock My Soul," "Gospel Train"ìwe've heard them before, but they're new and fresh here. "Oh Happy Day," "Down By The Riverside," "Swing Down Chariot"ìthe GGQ invites us aboard the Gospel train, and it's a great ride!

Listen to Ezekiel Saw the Wheel and Down By the Riverside Real Audio.

Rock My Soul (Living Era)

Golden Gate Gospel Train Gabriel Blows His Horn The Preacher And the Bear Go Where I Send Thee The Story Of Job Stand In The Test In Judgement Travellin' Shoes Take Your Burdens To God To The Rock When They Ring Them Golden Bells My Lord Is Writing All The Time Rock My Soul Saints Go Marching Home Noah Ol' Man Mose I Looked Down The Road And I Wondered I'm A Pilgrim Everytime I Feel The Spirit My Walking Stick Pick A Bale Of Cotton He Never Said A Mumbling Word The Sun Didn't Shine On Cavalry Mountain Anyhow God's Gonna Cut Him Down Swing Down Chariot No Restricted Signs Up In Heaven Shadrach Meshach Abednego Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho Atom And Evil

"The Gates" were originally called the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet when they were formed in the midst of the Depression, 1934, in Norfolk, VA. "Jubilee" was a type of Gospel music popularized by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in the 1870s, With some personnel changes due to economic issues like one of the singers refusing to leave his successful barbershop, the group began adding elements of jazz and finding immense popularity on local radio, and even appeared on NBC's "Magic Key Hour." RCA traveled to Charlotte to record them on the Bluebird label in 1937. 6 sides from that first session are here, including "Golden Gate Gospel Train" and several of their unique Bible tales. The group toured extensively, recording in New York, and Hollywood featured them in "Star Spangled Rhythm," "Hit Parade of 1943," "Hollywood Canteen" and "Bring on the Girls." Columbia recorded their hit "Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego " and recorded their songs on controversial subjects, "No Restricted Signs Up In Heaven" and "Atom and Evil." Still singing and inducted into the Vocal Hall of Fame at the end of the 20th century, the group had an amazing ride on the Gospel Train, beautifully chronicled on these 29 cuts, every one of them a winner!

Rock My Soul

Gospel Train Jonah in the Whale Go Where I Send Thee Sampson Massas In the Cold Cold Ground Preacher and the Bear Noah Our Father Job Rock My Soul Stalin Wasn't Stalin Jezebel Dip Your Fingers in the Water He Never Said A Mumblin Word Didn't it Rain The Sun Didn't Shine Anyhow Blind Barnabas Comin In On A Wing and A Prayer Times Windin Up

When the GGQ burst onto the gospel music scene in the 1930's out of the Tidewater region of Virginia, black churches were quite musically conservative and not given to rhythmic experimentation or nods toward popular music. Thus there was a fair amount of head-shaking when the GGQ emerged as the leader of a very fine pack of Gospel groups during a very difficult and trying time in American history. Appearing on a North Carolina radio station led to a move north, then to a Bluebird recording contract. The strong beat and counterpoint in those first recordings are looked upon as a turning point in Gospel music, a rebirth of the spiritual. "Rock My Soul" has 20 marvelous tunes, recorded from 1937 to 1943, all of them upbeat, rhythmic, harmonic hits. Listen to "Golden Gate Gospel Train," "Jonah In The Whale," "Go Where I Send Thee" and the vocal "horns" on "Massa's In The Cold Cold Ground," the title tuneãthis is amazing stuff. Humorous songs like "Preacher and the Bear" and "Jonah In the Whale" have as much novelty pop in them as Gospel. "Stalin Wasn't Stallin" (about the defeat of Hitler by the Russians) and "Comin' In On A Wing and a Prayer" feed nicely on the "God is on our side" sentiment of WWII. Not at all maudlin or dire like some Gospel groups, the GGQ are cheerful, joyous and celebratory in their music, and we think they are one of the best, and most interesting, of all time!

Listen to Gospel Train in Real Audio.

Complete Recordings Vol 4: 1939 - 1953

My Prayer What Did Jesus Say? The Valley Of Time Daniel Saw The Stone Jezebel Time's Winding Up God Told Nicodemus The Sun Didn't Shine Blind Barnabas Anyhow Didn't It Rain Toll The Bell Easy He Never Said A Mumblin' Word Moses Smote The Waters Handwriting On The The Wall Run On Dip Your Fingers In The Water My Time Done Come Stalin Wasn't Stallin' Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer Summer Rain The Gospel Train The Preacher And The Bear

Here, the Golden Gate Quartet provides the listener with a wonderful selection of tracks from pure jubilee performances to popular songs of the day.

Gospel 1937 - 1941

Massa' In The Cold Cold Ground Saints Go Marching In Golden Gate Gospel Train Gabriel Blows His Horn Lead Me On And On Sweet Adeline Preacher And The Bear Noah Take Your Burdens To God Travelin' Shoes Packing Up - Getting Ready To Go Born Ten Thousand Years Ago Jonah In The Whale I Looked Down The Road And Wondered Everytime I Feel The Spirit My Walking Sticks Daniel Saw The Stones Whoa Babe

Nicely sequenced reissue of classics. and a few hiddden gems, from these masters of gospel vocal harmony.

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