(Week of 11/16/02 - 11/22/02)

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SPOTLIGHT ON GOSPEL GROUPS PART EIGHT!

"Golden Gate Gospel Train"
by Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet
on Bluebird B-7126-A
released in 1937
[Plus Seven Additional Selections]

[The above photo provided by Paul Ressler.]

Above: Photo of Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet. (Top L-R) Orlandus Wilson, Willie Johnson, William Langford, (Bottom) Henry Owens. This is the radio and recording group from 1936 to 1940.

The pre-radio/pre-recording members were:

Clyde Riddick, Henry Owens, Willie Johnson, Robert Ford (1934-35)
William Langford, Henry Owens, Willie Johnson, Robert Ford (1935-36)
(Langford leaves circa early 1940 and Riddick returns)

From George Moonoogian: "Although they formed in high school in 1934, they really didn't become popular until 1937 when they sang on "The Magic Key Hour" for NBC, over station WBT in Charlotte, N.C. They recorded 14 sides for Bluebird on 8/4/37 in the ballroom of the Charlotte Hotel. Bluebird was going to name them The Four Chocolate Bars on wax, but thought better of it, and they were billed as The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet!"

For an article about Golden Gate Quartet at American Music Archives, please click HERE.

[The above label images and below audio files provided by George Moonoogian.]

Above: Collage of Bluebird Record Labels, all recorded by Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet at the Charlotte Hotel on 8/4/37, their very first session.

Listen to this week's selections:

A) Click on an option below to listen to Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet using Streaming Windows Media Player.

"Golden Gate Gospel Train" - Bluebird B-7126-A - August 1937
"Gabriel Blows His Horn" - Bluebird B-7126-B - August 1937
"Jonah" - Bluebird B-7154-A - September 1937
"Behold The Bridegroom Cometh" - Bluebird B-7154-B - September 1937
"Bedside Of A Neighbor" - Bluebird B-7278-A - November 1937
"Found A Wonderful Savior" - Bluebird B-7278-B - November 1937
"Go Where I Send Thee" - Bluebird B-7340-A - December 1937
"Won't There Be One Happy Time" - Bluebird B-7340-B - December 1937
"ALL EIGHT SONGS" NOT FUNCTIONAL!

B) Click on an option below to listen to Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet usingDownloading Windows Media Player.

"Golden Gate Gospel Train" - Bluebird B-7126-A - August 1937 (file size=395KB)
"Gabriel Blows His Horn" - Bluebird B-7126-B - August 1937 (file size=363KB)
"Jonah" - Bluebird B-7154-A - September 1937 (file size=471KB)
"Behold The Bridegroom Cometh" - Bluebird B-7154-B - September 1937 (file size=325KB)
"Bedside Of A Neighbor" - Bluebird B-7278-A - November 1937 (file size=433KB)
"Found A Wonderful Savior" - Bluebird B-7278-B - November 1937 (file size=363KB)
"Go Where I Send Thee" - Bluebird B-7340-A - December 1937 (file size=363KB)
"Won't There Be One Happy Time" - Bluebird B-7340-B - December 1937 (file size=336KB)

A special "Thank You!" to Paul Ressler and George Moonoogian for their input to this week's presentation and also for their many previous contributions!

This site is non-commercial. All information displayed is provided to further the general public's knowledge of RnB vocal group harmony.