List of Wings Over Jordan Choir personnel

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The following is a list of personnel—conductors, singers, soloists and board members—involved with the a capella African-American spiritual–centered Wings Over Jordan Choir from its 1935 founding as the Gethesame Baptist Choir in Cleveland, Ohio, until 1978.[a]

Conductors[edit]

Conductors and directors for the Wings Over Jordan Choir include:[1]

  • James E. Tate (1935–38), director of the Gethesame Baptist Choir through their radio debut on WGAR radio and national pickup by CBS[2][3]
  • Worth Kramer (1938–41), program director of WGAR, arranged and published much of the choir's repertoire, directed their 1941 Columbia Masterworks album[4]
  • Willette Firmbanks Thompson (1935–41), pianist, assistant director under both Tate and Kramer, believed to be the first female director of a nationally known choir[5][6]
  • Frederick D. Hall (1941–42), interim conductor, professor at Alabama State College[7]
  • Gladys Olga Jones (1942), New Orleans native and Dillard University graduate who trained under Fredrick D. Hall[7][8]
  • Joseph S. Powe (1942–43), conductor until leaving to join the United States Navy[9]
  • Hattye Easley (1943–46), who also was a soloist; conducted the choir during their 1945–46 USO tour in Europe[10]
  • Maurice Goldman (1944–45), shared duties with Hattye Easley and the choir's second white director after Worth Kramer[11]
  • James Lewis Elkins (1946–47),[12] led the choir through the initial part of their postwar tour and recognized by the New York Philharmonic as a guest conductor[13]
  • Charles E. King (1946–47),[14] later a director of the "Wings Over Hollywood" choir[15] and the Cleveland-based "Kingdom Choir"[16]
  • Gilbert F. Allen (1947–49), final conductor for the choir's CBS program, directed their RCA Victor records including "Amen"[17]
  • Frank Everett (1949–78),[a] conductor for the choir's "second generation" that continued performing after Rev. Settle's 1995 retirement and 1967 death[19]
  • Kenneth Brown Billups (1950–57), conductor for the Legend Singers of St. Louis, which was designated as a satellite unit of Wings by Rev. Settle[20]
  • Clarence H. Brooks (1950–64), conductor for the East Coast satellite unit of Wings[21]

Singers and soloists[edit]

The following is a list of verified singers and soloists involved with Wings Over Jordan. Because of the total number of singers that were ultimately associated with the choir, either in their original incarnation or the varied satellite units that bore the "Wings Over Jordan Choir" name after 1950,[b] a definitive list is almost impossible to compile.[22]

Original roster[edit]

Former members have estimated that the choir originally had a roster of between 40 and 50 members in the summer of 1937, consisting of mostly unmarried men and women, with an age range between 17 and 30.[23] Two 1957 Call and Post articles that covered a 20th anniversary reunion for the original members of Wings Over Jordan Choir listed the following singers:[24][25]

  • Mabel Allen
  • Bertha Austin
  • Louis Lucas Baker
  • Rufus Baker
  • Paul Breckenridge[26]
  • Robert Bullock
  • Ruth Wyatt Burke
  • Ralph Caldwell
  • Mary R. Carpenter
  • Alice Carroll
  • Clyde Spearman
  • Elizabeth Settle Carter
  • Jesse Chaney
  • Ezekiel Samuel Dearon[15]
  • Hazel Lee Johnson
  • Helen Springs Dixon
  • Ben Dortch
  • Persie Ford
  • Gladys Hauser-Bates Goodloe
  • Grace Spearman Goodman
  • George H. Grant[c]
  • Alice Harper
  • Norman Harris
  • Neil Harrison
  • Cynthia Hayes
  • Marvin Hayes
  • Leroy Johnson
  • William Johnson
  • Lucille Jones
  • Julia Kelly
  • William Kelly
  • Walter Malloy
  • David Martin
  • Lois Waterford Parker
  • Fred Parks
  • Rev. Henry Payden[28]
  • Rev. Earl Preston, Jr.[29]
  • Gwendolyn Settle Rates[30]
  • Rev. Montgomery Rates[31]
  • Lewis Richardson
  • Evelyn Freeman Roberts
  • Thomas Roberts[32]
  • Anne Mae W. Ross
  • Glenn Thomas "Buddy" Settle[33]
  • Imedla Herring Shaw
  • Gene Shell
  • Mildred Caslin Simmons
  • Martha Spearman[34]
  • Helen Springs
  • Olive Thompson
  • Williette Firmbanks Thompson
  • Hazel Morris Warner
  • Cleva Webster[d]

1942 partial roster[edit]

The following 11 singers were identified in an October 27, 1942, concert review in The Pantagraph out of a roster of 20:[36]

  • Emory Barnes
  • John Carpenter[32]
  • Dorothy Clark[37]
  • Cecil Dandy[38]
  • Hattie Easley
  • Gladys Hauser-Bates Goodloe
  • Thomas Hunter
  • Esther Overstreet[39]
  • Joseph S. Powe
  • Clarence Small
  • Alice Thompson

1945 USO tour roster[edit]

Along with Rev. Glenn T. Settle, business manager Mildred Ridley and conductor Hattye Easley, the following singers took part in a ten-month tour in Europe to perform for overseas military personnel on behalf of the USO:[40]

  • Sylvia Avery
  • John Carpenter
  • Rheda Chatman
  • Dorothy Clarke
  • Cecil Dandy
  • Ezekiel Dearon
  • Cynthia Groverly
  • Marvin Hayes
  • Mildred Hunter
  • Myrtle Jones
  • William Peoples
  • Rell Pierce
  • George Rates
  • Kenneth Slaughter
  • Sherman Sneed
  • Eugene Strider
  • Ellison White

1950 roster[edit]

The following singers were listed as members in a 1950 promotional booklet:[41]

  • Sylvia Avery
  • Charles T. Blackburn
  • Ernest C. Bledsoe
  • Robert G. Brown
  • Joseph M. Cabiness
  • Walter T. Clark
  • Orlando Donan
  • Ruth Fomby
  • Eddie Givens, Jr.
  • DuWayne Griffin
  • Helen Hallums
  • Gerald L. Hutton
  • Amie Lee Johnson
  • Samuel R. Johnson
  • Pattie Jean Moore
  • Gussie Mae Southall
  • Olive Thompson

1951 West Coast roster[edit]

The following singers were listed in a September 27, 1951, concert conducted by Frank Everett, who primarily headed the choir's West Coast "satellite unit":[42]

  • Thomas Brown
  • Walter T. Clark
  • Delores Cordell
  • Neil Harrison
  • Lorraine Jeffries
  • Barbara Mills
  • Christine Schooler
  • Travestine Underwood
  • Leslie Wells

1955 East Coast roster[edit]

These singers were listed in an October 3, 1955, concert conducted by Clarence H. Brooks, who headed the East Coast-based group:[43]

  • Clarence H. Brooks
  • Edna Mae Brooks
  • Adell Emerson
  • James Green
  • Billye Mathews
  • Clementine Patrick
  • Alvin Washington
  • Bobbie Williams

Additional singers[edit]

The following are additional members of the choir in any incarnation that have been cited and verified elsewhere:

Board of trustees[edit]

The following people were listed as members of the Wings Over Jordan Choir's board of trustees in December 1943:[64]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b The 1978 date of Frank Everett's departure as conductor is attributed to records and notes of the choir kept by historian Samuel Barber.[18] Since no one replaced Everett, it can also be regarded as the year the choir disbanded.
  2. ^ See Wings Over Jordan Choir § New business model.
  3. ^ George H. Grant was an original member of the choir who died on June 9, 1940, from complications related to a stomach ailment.[27]
  4. ^ While Cleva was not noted in the 1957 Call and Post article listing the choir's original members, her obituary and additional interviews have noted her involvement in this period, thus she is included.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Fenner, Chris (August 30, 2021). "Wings Over Jordan bio". Hymnology Archive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Original Cast Returns To Wings Over Jordan". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. February 24, 1938. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  3. ^ "Covering the News Headlines of 1938". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. December 29, 1938. pp. 8-9. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  4. ^ ""Wings Over Jordan" Choir Signs Contract To Record Famed Songs For Columbia". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. April 12, 1941. pp. 1-2. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  5. ^ "Now Directs "Wings Over Jordan" Choir". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. February 17, 1938. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  6. ^ Harrell 2019, p. 2.
  7. ^ a b McGee 2007, p. 62.
  8. ^ Price 1995, pp. 77–78, 107.
  9. ^ Price 1995, p. 79.
  10. ^ Price 1995, pp. 38–39, 79, 81, 287–288, 290, 292.
  11. ^ Price 1995, pp. 38–39, 107–108, 164, 285–286, 290–292, 294.
  12. ^ Price 1995, pp. 41, 307–310.
  13. ^ a b West, Dick (December 12, 1946). "'Wings Over Jordan' Performance Unexcelled". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 2B. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Price 1995, p. 81.
  15. ^ a b "Chorus to Sing Monday". Ventura County Star. Ventura, California. February 14, 1948. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ In re Applications of G.A. Richards, Vol. 1 1948, pp. 124, 382.
  17. ^ "In The Groove". Amarillo Daily News. Amarillo, Texas. December 22, 1948. p. 24. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  18. ^ Price 1995, p. 229.
  19. ^ "Famed Choir Returns April 23". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. April 15, 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Stewart, John T. (January 14, 1950). "An Adventure in Brotherhood: Jordan Choir Brings A New Understanding". St. Louis Star-Times. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Choir Concert Well Received Wednesday Night". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. January 12, 1956. p. 45. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ McGee 2007, p. 58.
  23. ^ Price 1995, p. 21.
  24. ^ Williams, June (April 13, 1957). "'Wings Over Jordan' Group Plans Mammoth Reunion". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  25. ^ "'Wings' Reunion Lures Many Guests". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. May 4, 1957. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  26. ^ "Record of the Week #857: Spotlight on Spiritual". The Vocal Group Harmony Web Site. February 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  27. ^ ""Wings Over Jordan" Tenor Singer Dies Of Stomach Ailment". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. June 15, 1940. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.
  28. ^ "At The Churches". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. November 25, 1951. p. 8-FOUR. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Prestonians to appear at Shiloh". The Evening Independent. Massillon, Ohio. April 1, 1975. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Price 1995, pp. 58, 72–73, 95.
  31. ^ "Obituary for Montgomery Rates (Aged 55)". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. May 28, 1978. p. 10. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b Miller, Malcolm (May 19, 1946). "Music and Drama". The Knoxville Journal. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Price 1995, pp. 51, 104.
  34. ^ "'Wings Over Jordan' Chorus To Sing Here on April 9". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 8, 1941. p. 12. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Cleva Webster Obituary". www.tributearchive.com. September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  36. ^ "Wings Over Jordan Chorus Enthralls 1,000 at Concert". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. October 27, 1942. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Price 1995, pp. 38–39, 290, 292, 371.
  38. ^ "Obituary for Cecil Dandy". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. February 4, 1982. p. 11B. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b "Fine Concert Given Here Last Evening by "Wings Over Jordan" Singers". Freeport Journal-Standard. Freeport, Illinois. January 23, 1942. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Meyer, Sgt. Robert (June 14, 1945). "Negro Choir Gives Italians New Idea Of American Music". The Stars and Stripes Mediterranean. Naples, Italy. p. 5. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.
  41. ^ Price 1995, pp. 248–249.
  42. ^ ""Wings Over Jordan" Gives Superb Performance Thurs". The Sidney Telegraph. Sidney, Nebraska. October 2, 1951. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Audience Estimated at 700 Attends Third Local Concert by Negro Choir". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. October 4, 1955. p. 10. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ a b c "Social Briefs". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. March 24, 1945. p. 7A. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.
  45. ^ "Director of music appointed". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. May 24, 1975. p. 10. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Vivian Bradford In Recital". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. May 13, 1950. p. 10-A. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  47. ^ "Community Players Cast For 'Little Foxes' Announced". Evansville Courier and Press. Evansville, Indiana. April 3, 1950. p. 20. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Obituary for Samuel L. Brooks (Aged 63)". Evansville Press. Evansville, Indiana. July 10, 1983. p. 7-B. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Light, Betsy (July 20, 1986). "TV's 'Hawk' serious artist". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. pp. 1E, 5E. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ a b c "Radio's 'Wings Over Jordan' Pleases in Local Appearance". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. August 13, 1943. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ Ballou, Art (January 31, 1965). "Hub Gospel Singer Quits Grid". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 62. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ Campbell, Genie (June 27, 1975). "Rock takes a back seat to jazz". Elk Grove Herald. Elk Grove Village, Illinois. p. Section 2-1. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "Tenor-Baritone to Sing Jazz In Music Box 'Kiss Me Kate'". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. October 4, 1959. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ Anthony, Lois R. (April 3, 1951). "Your Church and Mine". Latrobe Bulletin. Latrobe, Pennsylvania. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ ""Wings" to Appear June 2 in Madison Square Garden". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. April 27, 1946. pp. 1A, 11A. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  56. ^ Gomes, Ruth (December 1, 1983). "Black music distinctive, impossible to duplicate". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. p. 2B. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Cleveland Singers Acclaimed on Tour". The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. November 23, 1946. p. 19. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ McNeil 2013, p. 430.
  59. ^ "Platters Have Secret Formula for Success". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. January 6, 1957. p. 14-E. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ a b "Jordan Choir Tours Korea". The Evening Standard. Uniontown, Pennsylvania. January 15, 1954. p. 11. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ Grace, Valerie (August 4, 2003). "Lifelong work: Woman still an ambassador of song, goodwill". The Tribune. Coshocton, Ohio. pp. 1, 4. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Gethsemane Church Missionary Dies". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. June 8, 1957. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.
  63. ^ "Choral Group First Recital At Ward". California Eagle. Los Angeles, California. August 7, 1958. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "New Conductor of Famous 'Wings Over Jordan' Choir". Call and Post. Cleveland, Ohio. December 11, 1943. p. 8A. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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