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#973 (10/22/25)
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BY TONY FOURNIER
(DEDICATED TO THE LATE REVEREND PHILLIP BEAUCHAMP) |
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Part Six is an extensive review of Manor Records' spiritual artists and their records.
In the beginning, Regis, the forerunner of Manor, produced only spiritual records, mostly by local black artists. These included The Coleman Brothers, The Silver Echo Quartette, Sister Ernestine Washington, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Skylight Singers, The Willing Four, and Rev. Utah Smith. This article has already featured the first five of these artists.
Manor Records continued to put out many spiritual releases, including all of the Regis artists named above. Manor issued records by The Coleman Brothers, Sister Ernestine Washington, Georgia Peach, also known as Sister Clara Hudmon, The Silver Echoes, The Skylight Singers, The Heavenly Gospel Singers, The Kings Of Harmony Of Alabama, Rev. Utah Smith, The Willing Four, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Summit Gospel Singers, Sister Lillie Mae Littlejohn, The Johnson Brothers, The Matchless Love Gospel Singers, The Holy Mount Singers, The Southern Sons, and The Selah Jubilee Singers.
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If you like rhythm and blues vocal group singing, you should also like the sound of the spiritual songs that Manor Records was issuing in the mid-to-late 1940s. They were generally done in a jubilee quartet style utilizing close harmony singing.
Soloists such as Ernestine B. Washington and Georgia Peach sang with great feeling and intensity. They were great spiritual singers whether alone or backed by a vocal group.
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Above: THE BILLBOARD, May 11, 1946.
HEAVENLY GOSPEL SINGERS
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Above: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, July 21, 1945. NOTE: "Heavenly Gospel Singers" was a popular choice of names. In the mid-1940s, there were The Heavenly Gospel Singers..... of Detroit, MI; of Birmingham, AL; of Macon, GA; of Washington, D.C., of Atlanta, GA; of Jacksonville, FL, of Cleveland, OH; of Highpoint, NC; of Front Royal, VA; and of Montgomery, AL. Also, the Magnetic Heavenly Gospel Singers, who originated from Montgomery, AL.
However, there are clues that the Manor spiritual group is possibly from Alabama and Detroit. The above clipping states "formerly of Birmingham, Ala." All four songs featured below were arranged by "Porter Lewis". The Macon Telegraph, dated February 26, 1948, states "Porter Lewis, bass, originally came from Birmingham, Ala.... and now resides in Detroit, Mich." At that time, Lewis was with The Flying Clouds, a Detroit group.
Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms Website, states "A group using the name [Heavenly Gospel Singers] recorded... for Manor Records in the mid and late 1940s... they were from Alabama, and recorded later as the Stars Of Harmony and the Lincoln Gospel Singers..."
These clues are certainly not conclusive. If anyone can provide more information about the Manor group, please contact me.
At Right: THE BILLBOARD, June 1, 1946.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1021-A, released in May 1946. All four above sides were arranged by Porter Lewis. This record was reissued on Arco 1212 in November 1949. The Manor name was changed to Arco (American Record Company) that year.
The Heavenly Gospel Singers had four records on Manor (1946-1948) plus two more backing Ernestine Washington on Manor (1946-1947). Based on consecutive matrix numbers, the four Washington sides were recorded in the same 1945 session. The above four sides were recorded prior to the Washington session.
Above Right: Label image of Manor 1134-A, released in 1948, but recorded in 1945.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "They Put John On The Island" - Heavenly Gospel Singers - Manor 1021-A - 1946.
2. "Motherless Children" - Heavenly Gospel Singers - Manor 1021-B - 1946.
3. "I'm A Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow" - Heavenly Gospel Singers - Manor 1134-A - 1948.
4. "Open Up The Pearly Gates" - Heavenly Gospel Singers - Manor 1134-B - 1948.ALL FOUR SONGS played in sequence.
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Above: Heavenly Gospel Singers of Detroit. This may or may not be the same "Heavenly Gospel Singers" group on Manor Records. In this photo: Roosevelt Fennoy (Lead), Bob Beatty (Tenor), Henderson Massey (Baritone), and William Bobo (Bass).
KINGS OF HARMONY OF ALABAMA
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Above Left: CHICAGO DEFENDER, January 11, 1947.
NOTE: Manor Records was located in Newark, New Jersey.Above Right: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, June 15, 1946.
At Direct Right: TAMPA BAY TIMES, December 28, 1947.
NOTE: The Macon News, dated July 13, 1947, called this group "one of America's greatest quartettes... These boys are styled as the Kings Of Harmony of America. They are spirit filled and can sing your soul happy..." Gospel groups are considered "quartets" if they sing four-part harmony, no matter the number of members.Kings of Harmony:
As found in the above "Heavenly Gospel Singers" section, it can be difficult to determine a specific recording group when they share a common name. Note that the pictures of the group's members in the above two newspaper clippings do not compare well. Is it possible that Irving Berman, president and owner of Manor Records, took poetic license with their name? A Manor advertisement from December 7, 1946, states "Kings of Harmony of Alabama... a spiritual quintet that needs no introduction.""Kings Of Harmony" was another popular name in the 1940s. There were Kings Of Harmony of Birmingham, AL; of Cleveland, OH; of New York City; of Newark, NJ; of Baton Rouge, LA; and Gary, IN. Original Kings Of Harmony of Los Angeles; Four Kings Of Harmony of Pittsburgh, PA; Five Kings Of Harmony of Jacksonville, FL; of Duresville, GA; and of Lizella, GA. Also, Mighty Kings Of Harmony of Louisville, KY.
An (Original) Kings Of Harmony recorded for Savoy Records' subsidiary label, King Soloman. Savoy was located in Newark, New Jersey. Was this the "of Newark, NJ" group in the above clipping? If so, they are not the Manor group. And, yes, there also were non-spiritual groups named "Kings Of Harmony".
Newspaper clippings seem to show that the Kings Of Harmony of Newark and of New York City were the same group. Also, that the Kings Of Harmony of New York City and of Alabama were also the same group. Anyone with pertinent factual information about these groups and the Manor group, please contact me.
However, we do know that the Kings of Harmony that recorded for Manor consisted of Carey Bradley, lead; Eugene "Pop" Strong, second lead; Marion Thompson, tenor; Walter Latimore, baritone; and Bill Morgan, bass. Also, that their only records were the three released on the Manor label.
Author Anthony Heilbut, New World Records, writes: "...The [Manor] group was formed in the thirties by Sunday-school students of the Starlight Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama... Their lead singer, Carey Bradley, migrated in the late thirties to Chicago... He rejoined his group in the forties... operating out of Cleveland..." So there is a tie-in to Alabama.
Directly Above: TAMPA BAY TIMES, January 11, 1948.
NOTE: The blurb that goes with this photo states... "...the Kings' concert New Year's Eve was so well liked that a special effort was made to have the group give a second perfromance here."
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Above: CLEVELAND CALL AND POST, November 11, 1944. OK, now we seem to have the answer. This "Kings Of Harmony" was from Cleveland. Their picture here matches closely to the Kings Of Harmony of Newark, NJ (picture at start of this section). The above clipping states "they have just returned from New York City where they have been recording for the Regis Company [Manor Records].
Irving Berman, Manor Records, apparently did take liberties in naming them "Of Alabama", which is where they originated, but were not the current famous Kings Of Harmony of Alabama.
The Selah Jubilee Singers also recorded for Manor Records. They are included in their own section further below.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1007-B, released in 1945. This is the first of three records by this "Kings Of Harmony" group, all on the Manor label (1946-1948). Both sides were arranged by Walter Latimore and Carey Bradley, members of the group. Above Right: Label image of Manor 1043-A, released in December 1946. The matrix numbers for both sides show an earlier recording date than Manor 1007. Both sides were arranged by Carey Bradley.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
(NOTE: Audio for Manor 1043 is not available at this time.)
1. "Lord Give Me Wings" - Kings Of Harmony Of Alabama - Manor 1007-B - 1945.
2. "Precious Lord" - Kings Of Harmony Of Alabama - Manor 1007-A - 1945.
3. "I Love The Name Jesus" - Kings Of Harmony Of Alabama - Manor 1043-A - 1946.
4. "Have A Little Talk With Jesus" - Kings Of Harmony Of Alabama - Manor 1043-B - 1946.BOTH AVAILABLE SONGS played in sequence.
THE WILLING FOUR
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Above: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, November 4, 1944. [The Willing Four]
NOTE: They were from Baltimore. At this time, the group also had a guitar player, not shown in the above picture.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1069-B, released in 1947. This record had been released on Regis 115 A/B in 1944. The "Regis" label name had been replaced by "Manor" in 1946. The arranger for both sides is "Johnson", probably Rev. Joseph Johnson, their manager at the time. Above Right: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, June 2, 1945. [The Willing Four]
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "You Got To Move" - The Willing Four - Manor 1069-B - 1947.
2. "Naaman" - The Willing Four - Manor 1069-A - 1947.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
EXTRA RECORD — THE TRUMPETEERS
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Photo of The Trumpeteers, who were led by the tenor voice of Joe Johnson. Other members included Raleigh Tunrage (tenor), Joseph Armstrong (baritone), and James Keels (bass).
Tunrage and Keels had been members of The Willing Four. Johnson, who formed The Trumpeteers, had been with The Willing Four and the Golden Gate quartet.
In the 1950's, they became The CBS Trumpeteers reflecting their radio show on the CBS Network.
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THE COLEMAN BROTHERS (ENCORE) (One Regis and three other Manor records by The Coleman Brothers are included in the Manor Records - Part One article.)
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Above: CHARLESTOWN COURIER (Charleston, Indiana), January 8, 1948:
"MERRY MUSIC MEN—Newest singing combine on WLW is the Coleman Brothers who joined the station in late November. They are heard on the "Circle Arrow Show," aired Sundays at 10:30 a.m., EST. Reading from left to right: Lander, Russell, Eldridge, and Wallace Coleman. Seated at the piano is Millard Thomas, accompanist.MORNING CALL (Allentown, Pennsylvania), August 9, 1948:
The Coleman Brothers colored quartet, direct from the Mutual Radio Network's Circle Arrow shows, made a solid hit with the audience Saturday night. These four talented young men sang a well-balanced program, with something especially pleasing to all ages. Their numbers included their own special arrangements.One of America's most talented colored musicians, Millard G. Thomas, played accompaniment for the quartet. Thomas does the Coleman Brothers' arranging. Many of their Decca recordings are among the "best-sellers".
(NOTE: The Coleman Brothers were from Newark, New Jersey, which was also the location of Manor Records. They had five records on the Manor label (1945-1947). Three of these were included in an album format, one of which was also issued as a single.
The Coleman Brothers owned and operated a hotel in Newark (Hotel Coleman) and later formed their own label (Coleman Records).)
MORNING CALL (Allentown, Pennsylvania), April 2, 1947:
COLEMAN BROTHERS PRESENT CONCERT
A capacity crowd attended a pre-Easter musical by The Coleman Brothers, well-known radio artists, in a series of diversified selections, some appropriate to the Lenten season and others which they had recorded with Decca Records.The boys, with their arranger and pianist, Millard Thomas, were well-received by the audience as was demonstrated in their thunderous applause. The brothers, Russell, Eldride, Wallace, and Leander, can be heard in a broadcast every Sunday.
The Coleman Brothers, in their inimitable style of song, included these renditions among many others: "Wasn't That A Wide River?", "Seek And Ye Shall Find", To The End Of My Dreams", "Gospel Train", and the melodious "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", the last being a recent Decca recording by the group.
(NOTE: Not sure that the 1944 Decca release of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" is actually "recent". The song is included further down in this section. However, their final record for Manor, released in April 1947, is "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"/"Noah".)
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1055-A, released in March 1946. Both sides arranged by Melvin Coleman. The flip-side, "New What A Time", was first released on Regis 105 A in 1943 and is covered in the "Manor Records - Part One" article. The audio is included again here for completeness. The song is about the evils of Adoph Hitler and World War Two.
Per Disco-File, the members on this record are Everette, Lander, Russell, and Wallace Coleman and A.J. Eldridge.
Above Right: CHICAGO DEFENDER, August 16, 1947:
COLEMAN BROTHERS IN MUSICAL PROGRAM
The Coleman Brothers, CBS recording artists and America's most famous gospel singers, will be presented at Wendell Phillips high school.... Sunday, Aug. 17, 3 p.m., in a program of semi-classics, spirituals, and gospel songs.Four of the ten musical brothers will appear in the concert: Lander and Russell, first and second tenors; Eldridge, bass; Wallace, baritone.
Well known for their renditions of "Milky White Way" and "You May Run On". Their latest recordings have been made for Decca, Regis, Manor, and Coleman recording companies.
In the course of twenty years, the Colemans have given over 5,000 concerts in schools, churches, Cafe Society, Carnegie Hall, and Conservatory of Music in Boston.
NBC has televised them. They were chosen by CBS to give sacred music during the funeral procession of the late Franklin D. Roosevelt.
At Direct Right: WASHINGTON AFRO-AMERICAN, January 25, 1947.
[Picture of Melvin Coleman]LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "When The Saints Go Marching In" - The Coleman Brothers - Manor 1055-A - 1947.
2. "New What A Time" - The Coleman Brothers - Manor 1055-B - 1947.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
EXTRA RECORDS — COLEMAN BROTHERS
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Above: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, April 22, 1944.
NOTE: Picture is the Coleman Brothers, (Top L-R) Wallace, Danny Owens, Melvin, (Bottom L-R) Russell, Everette, and Lander. These are the members who recorded for Manor Records, but without Danny Owens, who later joined The Sentimentalists/Four Tunes on the Manor label.
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Above Left: Label image of Decca 8662 A, recorded on March 21, 1944 and released in November 1944. This is the first of four records that the Coleman Brothers had on the Decca label (1944-1947). The group members on the first three of these are Lander, Everette, Russell, Wallace, and Melvin Coleman. Both BMI.com and ASCAP.com list 298 composers who claim to have written "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", but none are named "Pace". It might be Charles Henry Pace, who lived in Chicago and then Pittsburgh. He was one of the first black gospel music composers in the United States. He wrote songs from the 1920s to the 1950s, with much of his work done from 1943 to 1947.
Above Right: Label image of Decca 8673 A, recorded on September 20, 1945 and released in January 1946. The flip side of this record, "Raise A Rukus Tonight", features the group imitating instruments, à la the Mills Brothers, in the break near the end of the song.
BMI.com has only one entry for "Get Away, Mr. Satan, Get Away" and it agrees with the composers listed on the above label.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" - Coleman Brothers - Decca 8662 A - 1944.
2. "Low Down The Chariot" - Coleman Brothers - Decca 8662 B - 1944.
3. "Get Away, Mr. Satan, Get Away" - Coleman Brothers - Decca 8673 A - 1946.
4. "Raise A Rukus Tonight" - Coleman Brothers - Decca 8673 B - 1946.ALL FOUR SONGS played in sequence.
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Above: 1949 photo of the Coleman Brothers, (Top L-R) Lander Coleman, Harold Clark, (Bottom L-R) "Curley" Bowen, A.J. Eldridge, and Russell Coleman. Clark is possibly Harold "Ham" Clark, one time piano accompanist for The Harmonaires. THE EUGENE GUARD (Oregon), December 21, 1949:
BENEFIT CONCERT PRESENTS RETURN
....the (Coleman Brothers) quartet opened the program with a special arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer". Other numbers in the first group were "Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho", "Little David", and "Snow Ball".The quartet sang in its second group, "Dry Bones", "His Eyes Are On The Sparrow", "Danny Boy", and "Bye And Bye". Closing numbers were "Old MacDonald", "Round The Bend Of The Road", "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "Old Man River", and "Silent Night".
Members of the singing group were Lander Coleman, second tenor; Wallace Coleman, baritone; Eldridge Coleman, bass; Clarence Palling, first tenor; and Harold Clark, accompanist-arranger....
At Direct Left: ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, January 27, 1950.
Above Left: Label image of Coleman CR-5964, released in January 1948. This is the second of seven records that the Coleman Brothers had on their own Coleman label (1947-1949). The group members on all the Coleman releases are Lander, Everette, Russell, and Wallace Coleman, and A.J. Eldridge.
Above Right: Label image of Coleman 6004 A, released in March 1949. There is no composer or arranger shown on either side's label.
THE CASH BOX, August 19, 1950:
REGAL RECORDS PACT THE COLEMAN BROTHERS
LINDEN, N.J.—Regal Records, this city, has inked the Coleman Brothers to a long-term contract. Signing was announced by diskery exec Fred Mendelsohn here this week. Group, which comes to the diskery under the guidance of Howard Biggs, will reportedly be given an intensive promotional push. Biggs, who stated that the unit was "the most versatile I've heard in a long time," has been instrumental in the success of the Ravens vocal group on the National label.The Colemans are slated to cut sides both as featured artists and as vocal background for other artists in the Regal stable. Their premier wax, "Goodnight, Irene" with the Paul Gayten ork, has already made a dent on some r.&b. territorial charts, and threatens to break out big any day now.
(NOTE: Regal was located in Linden, New Jersey, about ten miles from Newark. As the Coleman Brothers and The Colemans, they had three records on Regal (1950). These were all non-spiritual songs, none done as a "background" group. One of these records is included in the Manor Records - Part One article.)
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "You May Run On" - Coleman Brothers - Coleman CR-5964 - 1948.
2. "Yes We All Shall Meet In Heaven" - The Coleman Brothers - Coleman 6004 A - 1949.
3. "Forgive Me Lord" - The Coleman Brothers - Coleman 6004 B - 1949.ALL THREE SONGS played in sequence.
SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS
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(Continued....) Under the name Sons Of Heaven, they recorded five records for the Cross label in 1948. This group was Therman Ruth, Allen Bunn, Junius Parker, and Jimmy Gorham. In February 1949, they recorded four sides as The Selah Jubilee Singers for Atlantic, but none were used.
Also in 1949, using the name The Cleartones, they had one record on the Signature label. This time the members were Therman Ruth, Allen Bunn, Junius Parker, Jimmy Gorham, and Melvin Colden.
They had two records on Regal as The Jubilators released in 1950-1951. Again the members were Therman Ruth, Allen Bunn, Junius Parker, Jimmy Gorham, and Melvin Colden.
They transformed into a secular group, The Four Barons, recording for Savoy's subsidiary label, Regent, in October 1950. They consisted of Therman Ruth, Allen Bunn, Raymond Barnes, David McNeil, Hadie Rowe Jr., and Eugene Mumford. Yes, that is six members.
With the same line-up, they had two records recorded in October 1950 and released on Jubilee as the Selah Singers that same month.
In early 1951, they recorded as The Selah Singers resulting in one release on Savoy's Gospel label.
They recorded for Apollo in December 1950, with one release as The Southern Harmonaires and another as The Five Larks, a secular group. This was the same line-up as for The Four Barons.
They continued recording for Apollo, but as The Larks until July 1952, with members Therman Ruth, Allen Bunn, Raymond Barnes, David McNeil, and Eugene Mumford.
(NOTE: Group member line-ups used for this section are per Disco-File.)
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 8008-A , released in 1946. Above Right: Label image of Manor 8009-B, released in 1946.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "When Was Jesus Born" - Selah Jubilee Singers - Manor 8008-A - 1946.
2. "Walk Together With My Jesus" - Selah Jubilee Singers - Manor 8009-B -1946.
3. "I Don't Know Why I Have to Cry Sometime" - Selah Jubilee Singers - Manor 8009-A -1946.ALL THREE SONGS played in sequence.
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Above: AFRO-AMERICAN (Washington, D.C.), November 10, 1945:
BROADWAY STARS SHINE ON NAVY DAY COFFEE HOUR
Broadway stars turned out in mass to welcome the Navy at the Sunday Coffee Hour of the Harlem Defense Recreation Center.Above picture shows: Gordon Heath (1), star of "Deep Are The Roots"; Muriel Gaines (2), terrific bombshell of the same production; Dick Campbell (3), m.c. and USO-Camp Shows director; Muriel Rahn (4), star of "Carmen Jones"; Tuffy and Jackie (5-6), comedy team. In the background are The Selah Jubilee Quartet and Herbie Cowen's Orchestra.
EXTRA RECORD — SELAH JUBILEE QUARTET
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Above Left: Label image of Continental C-6011-A, released in 1945. The song, "There'll Be A Jubilee", is about the joy and happiness anticipated when World War 2 is finally ended. Both sides were arranged by Thermon Ruth. The Selahs also recorded for Continental using the name "Ruth Of Angelus Quartet".
The Selahs on this record were most likely Therman Ruth (lead), William Langford (tenor), Theodore Harris (baritone), and Jimmy Gorham (bass).
Above Right: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, October 6, 1945. [Selah Jubilee Singers]
NOTE: This picture would have been about the time they were recording for the Continental label.LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "There'll Be A Jubilee" - Selah Jubilee Quartet - Continental C-6011-A - 1945.
2. "You Go And I'll Go With You" - Selah Jubilee Quartet - Continental C-6011-B - 1945.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
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Above: NEWS AND OBSERVER (Raleigh, North Carolina), January 30, 1949:
Raleigh's Selah Singers, pictured above with Showman Horace Heidt, will appear as contestants on the Horace Height program tonight at 7 0'clock over WPTF in a broadcast originating from Charlotte which will be carried on a coast-to-coast network.The Selah Singers, who have been in Raleigh for two years after the war, won top prize on Heidt's show here Friday night at Memorial Auditorium and a place in tonight's contest.
The local group, directed by Thurman Ruth, will compete against other talent recently discovered in North Carolina and Virginia. Other members of the group are: Junius Parker, Melvin Colden, James Gorham, and Allen Bunn.
EXTRA RECORD — THE LARKS
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Above Left: Label image of Apollo 1180, recorded on January 18, 1951 and released in April 1951. This is their first record as "The Larks". Eugene Mumford is composer and lead singer for both sides. Above Right: The Larks, who were (Top L-R) Allen Bunn (baritone), Gene Mumford (tenor), Raymond Barnes (tenor), (Bottom L-R) David McNeil (bass), and Thermon Ruth (tenor). This group had thirteen records released on Apollo from 1951 to 1953. One of these is by "Bobby Smith And The Larks" (1951). Smith, the bandleader, does not sing on either side. And two of them are backing Mahalia Jackson (one side each, 1952-1953).
CHICAGO DEFENDER, April 14, 1951:
MUMFORD OF "THE LARKS" TELLS STORY IN SONG....
NEW YORK—The Larks, the nation's newest singing sensation, have clicked with their first record, a plaintive ditty called "Hopefully Yours" backed by a lamentful original "When I leave These Prison Walls".Signed last month to an exclusive recording contract with Apollo, the Larks are currently touring upstate New York and Canada, where reports indicate that the quintette is fast becoming America's most popular vocal group. They hail originally from North Carolina appearing for years on local radio programs and concerts as the Southern Harmonaires.
Eugene Mumford, lead tenor and feature soloist for the quintette, narrowly escaped execution or life imprisonment when he was falsely accused of attempted rape, house breaking, and assault in Durham, North Carolina. Mumford, who had been arrested by M.P.'s as an innocent bystander was later turned over to civilian police in July 1945.
When authorities were satisfied that Mumford was innocent of the narcotics charges for which the M.P.'s had arrested him, he was released. But just as he was leaving police headquarters, a white woman in the company of two detectives, pointed her finger at Mumford and declared "He's the one."
This was on July 16, 1945. Freed on bail posted by his father, Eugene was tried a year later. After two and a half days of legal wrangling and despite Eugene's insistence of his innocence and an alibi from a local druggist, he was found guilty and sentenced to prison. There was an appeal. And again, Eugene was sent back to prison.
He was resigned to his fate. Justice had closed her eyes.
Eugene spent almost two and a half years on prison gangs that make and maintain North Carolina's roadways. He "ditched" and "scrubbed"... he toted water and painted center lines... he sweated and waited... he broke his leg... he died the thousand deaths of an innocent in prison... but he never fully despaired for he sang and hoped.
While he lived thus, the South [sic North?] Carolina Bureau of Investigation, at the insistence of Eugene's faithful father, dug up the real facts in the case... and the real facts proved him innocent. In June 1949, Eugene received a full pardon from the governor of North Carolina.
Odd that a few months before, in the darkness of his cell, he had just written that lamentful blues which is well on its way to being a hit. A blues with a touch of anticipation... "When I Leave These Prison Walls".
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "When I Leave These Prison Walls" - The Larks - Apollo 1180 - 1951.
2. "Hopefully Yours" - The Larks - Apollo 1180 - 1951.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
Click HERE for an article about THE LARKS by Marv Goldberg.
(Will open in a separate window)
APOLLO RECORDS CLIPPING — APRIL 1951. (Above image is courtesy of Galen Gart.)
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Above: AFRO-AMERICAN (Washington, D.C.), April 21, 1951:
THE LARKS ARE A HAPPY GROUP AFTER JUSTICE
New York's Mayor Vincent Impelleteri poses with the Larks, who recently donated their services at a benifit for the United Jewish Appeal Fund. At left is Lou Fromme, manager of the Larks. To the mayor's right is Gene Mumford, lead tenor, whose pardon by the Governor of North Carolina, after his erroneous sentence for attempted rape, is almost unprecidented in the history of Southern Justice.
GEORGIA PEACH (ENCORE) (Another Manor record by Georgia Peach, backed by The Skylight Singers, is included in the Manor Records - Part One article.)
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RECORD JOURNAL (Meriden, Connecticut), November 16, 1948:
NEGRO SINGERS PRESENT CONCERT OF SPIRITUALS
....Georgia Peach, a buxom woman, whose full-throated voice was accorded warm support by the five male singers accompanying her, is known as the "mother of gospel singers". A recording artist for Decca, Signature, and Apollo Records, she will celebrate her 33rd anniversary as a singer on December 22 at the Golden Gate Auditorium in New York.During these 33 years she has travelled the length and breadth of the country as an evangelical singer....
The vibrant tones of Georgia Peach blended harmoniously with the low, base accompaniment furnished by her "Five Brown Babies", as she has nick-named the Five International Singers, an all-male chorus....
(NOTE: In the above blurb's first paragraph, the sequence should be Decca, Manor, Apollo, and Signature. Earlier in her career, she was with OKeh Records.)
At Direct Right: CHICAGO DEFENDER, March 14, 1931.
NOTE: This is a picture, as Clara Hudman, taken from a 1931 OKeh Records advertisement.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1029-A, released in 1946. The "Skylight Singers" name is mispelled on the label. NORTH CAROLINA SHIPBUILDER (Wilmington, North Carolina), November 1, 1943:
....Joe Davis, diminutive Shipwright, is doing all right by himself with his Skylight Singers, a quartette which he advertises as having sung from coast to coast. Joe has had his group sing over local radio station WMFD. He was announcer. Also, the Skylight Singers have made several successful appearances in Wilmington and vicinity....
(A shipwright is a shipbuilder.)NORTH CAROLINA SHIPBUILDER (Wilmington, North Carolina), January 1, 1944: TRY "BIG TIME"
Joe Davis, Shiprights, object of a paragraph in last month's column, has terminated and plans to go to New York, where he and his quartette, the Skylight Singers, will try their hands at getting into the "big time". We wish for them all the luck possible.LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "It's My Desire" - Georgia Peach Acc By Sky Light Singers - Manor 1029-A -1946.
2. "I Got Somewhere To Lay My Head" - Georgia Peach Acc By Sky Light Singers - Manor 1029-B -1946.
3. "Precious Memories" - Georgia Peach-Lois Russell And The Matchless Love Gospel Singers - Manor 1102-A - 1947.
4. "God Don't Never Change" - The Georgia Peach And The Matchless Love Gospel Singers - Manor 1102-B - 1947.ALL FOUR SONGS played in sequence.
Above Right: Label image of Manor 1102-A, released in December 1947.
Arrangement: Clara G. Brock is Georgia Peach; Gooch (Mae or James H.) was one of the Matchless Love Gospel Singers.
Lois Russell, a contralto singer, was a member of the Matchless Love Gospel Singers. However, it is only Georgia Peach singing on "Precious Memories", accompanied by just a piano. There is no singing by Lois Russell or any of the Matchless Love Gospel Singers.
Do you suppose that Manor Records' Irving Berman included Russell's name on the label because of her fame?
The flip-side, "God Don't Never Change", does not show Ms. Russell on the label. The song is arranged by "Brock" (aka Georgia Peach). On this side, the Matchless Love Gospel Singers vocally back up "The Georgia Peach". The only musical instrument is a guitar.
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Above: TAMPA BAY TIMES, April 25, 1948: (THE MATCHLESS LOVE GOSPEL SINGERS)
NOTE: WWPB was a Miami based radio station. This group, at the time of the Manor recordings, consisted of Mae Gooch, Leroy Waldo, James H. Gooch, Lois Russell, and Arthurine Strothers. That same line-up became "The Gospel Stars", led by Mae Gooch, with four records on the DC label in 1948-1949.(The group in the above picture, however, shows three men and two women.)
TAMPA BAY TIMES, April 11, 1948:
The Choirs of Bethel Church present the Matchless Love Gospel Singers of Detroit, Mich., featuring blind pianist Waldo and famous contralto singer, Mrs. Lois Russell, on Monday, April 12 at 8:15 p.m. Adm. 50c and $1.
EXTRA RECORDS — THE GOSPEL STARS
At Direct Left: DURHAM SUN (Durham, North Carolina), October 27, 1949.
NOTE: This is the same group as the Matchless Love Gospel Singers.
This picture shows two men and three women.Above Left: Label image of DC 8056 B, released in 1948.
If the four stars on the label is a rating, I agree with it!Above Right: Label image of DC 8058 A, released in 1949.
The lead singer on all four sides is Mae Gooch.LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "Do Not Pass Me By" - Gospel Stars - DC 8056 B - 1948.
2. "Jesus Gave Me Water" - Gospel Stars - DC 8056 A - 1948.
3. "In That Beautiful Land" - Gospel Stars - DC 8058 A - 1949.
4. "Don't Worry About Me" - Gospel Stars - DC 8058 B - 1949.ALL FOUR SONGS played in sequence.
DC Records was heavy into gospel music, especially in the years 1948-1950. The label, located in Washington, DC, was formed in late 1946 by Lillian Claiborne, with financial backing by Haskell Davis. At Direct Right: TAMPA BAY TIMES, April 9, 1950: [The picture is Mae Gooch]
The Gospel Stars of Detroit will do an Easter engagement at 8:30 p.m. today at the Manhattan Casino. The singing Stars are recording artists and their outstanding soloist is Mae Gooch....***********************************************************************
Mae Gooch and her Gospel Stars had four records on the DC label. The ones featured here are their first two.
The label for their third record (DC 8059, 1949) shows the Gospel Stars' members as "Mae Gooch, Lois Russell, James Gooch, Arthurine Strothers, and Leroy Waldo, piano." That is the same line-up as the Matchless Love Gospel Singers.
Ballen Record Company was the distributer for DC Records and, as indicated on the above labels, also the manufacturer. Ballen, located in Philadelphia, owned the Gotham, Apex, and 20th Century labels.
EXTRA RECORDS — GEORGIA PEACH AND THE HARMONAIRES
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LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "Here Am I, Do Lord Send Me" - Famous Georgia Peach With The Harmonaires - Apollo 103 - 1946.
2. "Shady Green Pastures" - Famous Georgia Peach With The Harmonaires - Apollo 103 - 1946.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
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Above Left: Label image of Apollo 107, released in May 1946. On the top side, Georgia sings the words "Where The Sun Won't Never Go Down". Per the labels, "Clara G. Brock" (Georgia Peach) composed that song, while "John Myers" arranged the flip-side song. This might be "Johnny Myers", who was a promoter of religious singers and their music in the 1940s, including Georgia Peach in 1946. He also was involved with The Harmonaires.
STANDARD STAR, April 19, 1945:
....Featured on the program will be the Coleman Brothers.... Johnny Myers' Harmonaires of New York City and Georgia Peach, Gospel singer, will also be on the program....CASH BOX REVIEW (3/25/46 ):
GEORGIA PEACH AND THE HARMONAIRES — APOLLO 107
Who Is That Knocking?; Where The Sun Will Never Go Down
In a locale where spirituals get a play. "Who Is That Knocking?" and "Where The Sun Will Never Go Down" would definitely be a drawing card.The Harmonaires are a good vocal group. True to their name, they can't be criticized on their harmony because it can't be improved upon. Georgia Peach is the soloist and does a good job too.
Above Right: CLEVELAND CALL AND POST, December 2, 1944. [Picture is The Harmonaires]
NOTE: This picture is from a newspaper clipping advertising an upcoming gospel show and radio broadcast by "Georgia Peach of New York City and Her Harmonaires (also of New York City and featuring G. Hopkins)." Too bad about the picture being defaced, literally."The public is invited for 3 hours of Gospel Singing." Georgia and Her Harmonaires are assisted by other groups, including the "Heavenly Gospel Singers" (it didn't say which one of many with that name).
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "Where The Sun Will Never Go Down" - Famous Georgia Peach With The Harmonaires - Apollo 107 - 1946.
2. "Who Is That Knocking?" - Famous Georgia Peach With The Harmonaires - Apollo 107 - 1946.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
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REV. UTAH SMITH
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Above: Photo of Rev. Utah Smith, who was actually from New Orleans. Some of the women in this photo do not seem enthusiastic about his chanting. "I Want Two Wings", a song written by Smith, became his trademark. The words sung in the song are actually "I Got Two Wings. Maybe somewhat overconfident?
He was a self-proclaimed "faith healer", holding healing services and proclaiming "miraculous cures".
He is wearing his wings in this photo, but, based on the "Cleveland Call And Post" exposé in July 1949, they are fake wings. The newspaper sent a reporter to a service being held by Smith in Cleveland.
From the resulting newspaper column... "Elder Smith began his work of healing. The worshippers set up a chant, many of them dancing with reckless abandon to the swift tempo of the music. Elder Smith chanted and prayed and annointed the afflicted with a special oil."
The column continues with "During this service I saw no miracles performed, though I stuck to my assignment until the meeting dispersed..." The reporter then interviewed each of the "cured" people, with all of them denying Smith's claims.
From an October 28, 1948 advertisement for a "Big Religious Variety Program" scheduled for Oklahoma City: "Main feature of program will be dramatization of the resurrection of Lazarus by Rev. Utah Smith in which a real man will be raised out of a casket. Rev. Smith will wear his two wings."
At Direct Right: CLEVELAND CALL AND POST, July 30, 1949.
NOTE: Picture is Rev. Utah Smith at the "healing" session in Cleveland.
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Above Left: THE BILLBOARD, January 18, 1947. Above Right: Label image of Manor 1051-B, released in January 1947. Utah Smith is composer and arranger for both sides.
The record had been originally released on Regis 1004 in 1944 and reissued on Arco 1235 in 1950. It was his only two sides released on any of these labels. Smith plays guitar and has a female chorus backing him on this record.
"I Want Two Wings" was redone as "Two Wings" by "Rev. Utah Smith" and released on Checker 785 in 1953.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player): "Two Wings" - Rev. Utah Smith - Checker 785 - 1953.LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "God's Mighty Hand" - Rev. Utah Smith - Manor 1051-B - 1947.
2. "I Want Two Wings" - Rev. Utah Smith - Manor 1051-A - 1947.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
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THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS — SUMMIT GOSPEL SINGERS
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Above: NEW JOURNAL AND GUIDE (Norfolk, VA), May 10, 1947.
NOTE: Picture is The Dixie Hummingbirds.The Dixie Hummingbirds were originally from South Carolina, but moved to Washington, D.C., in 1941. They settled in Philadelphia in 1942.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 1074-A, released in June 1947. This record was first released on Regis 1008 in September 1944. Paul Owens, a member of The Dixie Hummingbirds, arranged both sides. For Manor, they backed Ernestine Washington on one release, but had only this one record by themselves.
THE BILLBOARD REVIEW (9/23/44 ):
DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS (REGIS)
I Just Couldn't Keep It To Myself — Book Of The Seven Seas
One of the better of the spiritual-singing quartets along the Eastern shores, the Dixie Hummingbirds stack up with the best of the gospel singing that wax gives. Their virile voices neatly blended, with inherent rhythmic qualities in their voices, the four boys sing the spirituals without instrumental stimulation nor is any needed.Most striking is their song for "Book of the Seven Seas", their preachment in song running the gamut from A to Z. The baritone voice leads the way as the tempo is slowed down for "I Just Couldn't Keep It To Myself".
A familiar figure on the church circuits and in quartet competitions, the race locations will find the Dixie Hummingbirds a strong phono attraction.
Above Middle: THE BILLBOARD, June 21, 1947.
NOTE: The Ernestine Washington Manor 1071 record is included in the Manor Records - Part Two article.LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "Book Of The Seven Seas" - The Dixie Hummingbirds - Manor 1074-A - 1947.
2. "I Just Couldn't Keep It To Myself" - The Dixie Hummingbirds - Manor 1074-B - 1947.
3. "What Will I Do Without The Lord" - Summit Gospel Singers - Manor 1073-B - 1947.
4. "Please Don't Drive Your Children Away" - Summit Gospel Singers - Manor 1073-A - 1947.ALL FOUR SONGS played in sequence.
Above Right: Label image of Manor 1073-B, released in June 1947. The Summit Gospel Singers were from Summit, New Jersey, about twelve miles west of Newark, the home of Manor Records. Both sides were arranged by "Owens". Is that a member of the group or could it be Paul Owens of the Dixie Hummingbirds? Research uncovered very little about this gospel group. This was their only record on Manor and possibly their only record ever.
THE TIMES (Trenton, New Jersey), December 2, 1948:
The Golden Jubilee Singers (Trenton) will compete with the Summit Gospel Singers of Summit, N.J. tonight at 8:30 o'clock....COURIER-NEWS (Bridgewater, New Jersey), October 13, 1949:
The Starlight Quartette and the Cross bearers of Plainfield will meet the Melody Gospel Singers of Newark, Four Gospel Kings of Westfield, and the Gospel Four Quartette of Jersey City tomorrow at 8:30 p.m....NOTE: Irving Berman, president and owner of Manor Records, had many local gospel groups available to record for him.
There were also the Friendly Four of Westfield, Golden Stars Quartette, Celestial Renown Singers, New Hope Trio, Dixie Jubilee Stars of Harmony, Bethelites, Traveling Stars, Gallagher Quartette, Royal Gospel Lights of Pleasantville, Golden Bells Quintette, Silver Stars of Newark, Southern Travelers of Newark, and many more.
The Summit Gospel Singers were the only group from those listed above that had any releases on the Manor label, and that was just the one record. After listening to their two sides, one might wonder why they were the chosen ones.
ERNESTINE B. WASHINGTON (ENCORE) (Other Manor records by Ernestine Washington, backed by The Dixie Hummingbirds and The Southern Sons, are included in the Manor Records - Part Two article.)
At Direct Left: WORLD NEWS (Roanoke, Virginia), January 27, 1947.
Above Left: Label image of Manor 103-A, released in 1947. This record had been issued on Regis 102 in 1943 and then again on Arco 1210 in 1949.
Irving Berman, president and owner of Regis, Manor, and Arco, would reissue six of Ernestine's records on Arco. Actually, overall, most of the records on Arco were reissues.
Above Right: SEDALIA DEMOCRAT (Sedalia, Missouri), November 6, 1946.
NOTE: Ernestine B. Washington, an Arkansas native, was living in New Jersey at the time of her Manor recordings, just ten miles from Newark.
Ernestine had eleven unrepeated records on Regis and Manor. On several of them, she was backed by singing groups, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Heavenly Gospel Singers, and Southern Sons.
Here on the following record, Ernestine does an excellent job with just piano backing on both sides.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "My Record Will Be There" - Ernestine B. Washington - Manor 103-A - 1947.
2. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" - Ernestine B. Washington - Manor 103-B - 1947.BOTH SONGS played in sequence.
SPOTLIGHT: "JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE"
The following are selected portions taken from Google "Artificial Intelligence": The song, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", emerged from 19th century black spirituals. Composer Kenneth Morris published a widely accepted version in 1940 after hearing a porter sing it.
The Selah Jubilee Singers recorded the first known version in 1941. In December 1941, Rosetta Tharpe also recorded the song. Since then, it has been recorded many times by both spiritual and secular artists.
The three selections included here, by Silver Echo Quartette, The Dixie-Aires, and Southern Tones, are all beautiful versions of the song. I rate them, in the as-shown sequence, as "very nice", "excellent", and "awesome".
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Above Left: Picture of the Silver Echo Quartette from Afro-American newspaper dated November 17, 1945. They are (L-R) Joe Floyd, tenor; James Smith, first tenor; William Reeves, bass; and Douglas Ward, guitar and first bass. Joe Floyd is also in the above right picture at left.
More coverage of the Silver Echo Quartette on the Regis and Manor labels is in the Manor Records - Part One article.
Above Right: The Dixie-Aires were a spiritual and popular singing group. This picture is from The Tampa Bay Times newspaper dated August 14,1949... (Top) J.C. Ginyard, lead; (Left) Joe Floyd, tenor; (Right) Jimmy Smith, baritone; (Bottom) Johnny Hines, bass. J.C. Ginyard was also known as Caleb N. Ginyard Jr. or just Caleb Ginyard. The "J.C." in his name stands for Junior Caleb.
This group's name was spelled in three different manners.... The Dixiaires, The Dixieaires, and The Dixie-Aires. J.C. Ginyard had been the leader of The Jubalaires, also spelled "Jubilaires" when they were recording for King Records.
CHICAGO DEFENDER, December 12, 1949:
DIXIE-AIRES TO TOUR
NEW YORK—The new sensational recording artists, the Dixie-Aires, are in the throes of preparation for a 22-state whirlwind tour beginning in mid-January and lasting eight weeks, it was disclosed here last week.The group, which has recently jumped into popularity with juke box enthusiasts and music lovers throughout the country, are under contract with Exclusive Records, one of the most successful disc companies of the post-war era.
The Dixie-Aires came into being just over a year ago, when J.C. Ginyard, organizer of the CBS Jubilaires, left that group to organize another....
On tour, their schedule will include various army hospitals and military installations. The launt will end on the west coast, where they are expected to remain for a week's engagement.
Above Left: January 1955 Duke Records clipping, announcing the second Southern Tones' release on that label. This Duke spiritual group was The Southern Tones of Houston, Texas. Note that Duke was located in Houston.
Above Right: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN, March 21, 1953.
NOTE: "The Bells Of Joy Of Houston, Texas" were renamed The Southern Tones when they first recorded for Duke Records in 1954.The pictures of the faces in the above left ad were taken from this photo, apparently having two less people in the group. In the above right picture, the members at front, far left and far right, are not included in the ad.
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER (Lexington, Kentucky), January 29, 1956:
The Southern Tones, formerly as the Bells Of Joy of Houston, Texas, will present a program....
PORTSMOUTH STAR (Portsmouth, Virginia), December 12, 1952:
....(The Bells Of Joy) are now two years old. The group personnel are Ray Jackson of Hammond, La.; Linwood Hargrove of Asbury Park, N.J.; Franklin Pouncey of Houston, Texas; Leon Bingham of Chicago; Rudolph King of Baltimore; and Willie L. Richardson of Houston.Houston is headquarters for the sextet. Singing honors include a trophy for rendering "Let's Talk About Jesus"....
(NOTE: Might "Rudolph King" have been "Bob King", who sang on three of the Duke Records' sides? Franklin Pouncey and Rev. Richardson are lead singers on the other two Duke sides.
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Above Left: Label image of Manor 4000 B, released in 1946, but recorded much earlier, probably in 1943. This record was also released on Manor 1188 in 1949. The arrangement is by Alton Bradley, who left them to join the Golden Gate Quartet in 1944. Above Middle: Label image of Exclusive 37x, recorded on March 16, 1948 and released in June 1948. This is the first of twelve records The Dixie-Aires had on Exclusive (1948-50). The label gives the accurate composer as "Kenneth Morris".
Above Right: Label image of Duke 207, released in December 1954.
The Southern Tones' Duke labels are white and purple, with white replacing the usual yellow color. The white was probably used to designate their spiritual records.
LISTEN (Windows Media Player):
1. "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Silver Echo Quartette - Manor 4000 B - 1946.
2. "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - The Dixie-Aires - Exclusive 37x - 1948.
3. "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Southern Tones - Duke 207 - 1954.ALL THREE SONGS played in sequence.
PART SIX CONCLUDES THIS SERIES OF "MANOR RECORDS" ARTICLES. THE LABEL IS KNOWN MOSTLY FOR "SAVANNAH CHURCHILL", "THE BROWN DOTS", AND "THE FOUR TUNES". IRVING BERMAN, A RECORD STORE OWNER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, WAS OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF THE REGIS, MANOR, AND THEN ARCO LABELS FROM 1942 TO 1950. HIS ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO RECORD LOCAL SPIRITUAL ARTISTS. THERE WAS A LARGE MARKET FOR THAT MUSIC AND BERMAN WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING FOR IT.
HE SOON DELVED INTO THE RHYTHM AND BLUES FIELD, RECORDING SUCH ARTISTS AS TINY BRADSHAW, TAB SMITH, HAL MITCHELL, BIG SID CATLETT, CATS AND THE FIDDLE, SAVANNAH CHURCHILL, DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS, THE FOUR TUNES, RUDY RICHARDSON, LUIS RUSSELL, IDA JAMES, MANHATTAN PAUL, PAUL BASCOMB, AND JOE MORRIS.
NOTE: Restoration of photos, clippings, record label images, and some audio files is by Tony Fournier.
Many of the audio files used in this Manor Records' series of articles were restored by Dave Saviet.
MANOR RECORDS - PART ONE FEATURES IRVING BERMAN, PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF REGIS, MANOR, AND ARCO RECORDS. ALSO REGIS ARTISTS... GEORGIA PEACH AND SKYLIGHT SINGERS, SILVER ECHO QUARTETTE, COLEMAN BROTHERS, TINY BRADSHAW, GENE PHIPPS, TIMMIE ROGERS, TAB SMITH, TREVOR BACON, CATS AND THE FIDDLE, HAL MITCHELL, AND MAMIE MILLER. MANOR RECORDS - PART TWO FEATURES ERNESTINE WASHINGTON SINGING SOLO AND WITH THE DIXIE HUMINGBIRDS AND THE SOUTHERN SONS. ALSO EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF SAVANNAH CHURCHILL, HER FIRST RECORDS, SAVANNAH SOLO ON MANOR & ARCO RECORDS, AND SAVANNAH WITH THE FOUR TUNES ON MANOR. INCLUDED ARE THREE SAVANNAH CHURCHILL VIDEOS.
MANOR RECORDS - PART THREE FEATURES EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF SAVANNAH CHURCHILL AND THE FIVE KINGS, SAVANNAH CHURCHILL AND THE STRIDERS, THE FIVE KINGS, AND DEEK WATSON AND HIS BROWN DOTS. INCLUDED ARE FOUR "BROWN DOTS" VIDEOS.
MANOR RECORDS - PART FOUR FEATURES EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE FOUR TUNES (AKA THE SENTIMENTALISTS), INCLUDING THEIR BACKING UP BETTY NORTON AND BETTY HARRIS. THERE ARE ALSO SECTIONS FOR MARGARET WATKINS AND RUDY RICHARDSON, AND A SPOTLIGHT ON THE SONG, "WRAPPED UP IN A DREAM".
MANOR RECORDS - PART FIVE FEATURES EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF IDA JAMES, LUIS RUSSELL, INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM, PAUL BASCOMB, MANHATTAN PAUL, AND JOE MORRIS. THERE ARE ALSO SECTIONS FOR TINY DAVIS, ACE HARRIS, AND LAURIE TATE.
1. "They Put John On The Island" - Heavenly Gospel Singers - Manor 1021-A - 1946.
ALL TWENTY-EIGHT ABOVE MANOR LABEL SONGS played in sequence. THE REGIS LABELS (AT RIGHT) ARE FROM MANOR RECORDS - PART ONE OF THIS ARTICLE. |
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Last Update: October 22, 2025
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