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radioThese are reader comments for the article 'Spirit Of Memphis Quartet: Tracing the history of a classic gospel group'
Reader Comments
Posted by William Prince in Aurora, Illinois @ 22:03 on Oct 19 2012
I remember attending a Spirit of Memphis consert around 1960 or 61 in Selma, Alabama. I remember a song that they sang that brought the house down. The title of the song is " What are they doing in your town" That was an experience.
I remember attending a Spirit of Memphis consert around 1960 or 61 in Selma, Alabama. I remember a song that they sang that brought the house down. The title of the song is " What are they doing in your town" That was an experience.
Posted by Queen Hawkins in Eustis, Florida @ 14:41 on Aug 15 2012
I grew up just South of Memphis in Tunica, Miss. and loved the Spirit of Memphis Quartet. I purchased and listen to the CD"Happy in the Service of the Lord" on a daily basis. Don't think I have ever heard any gospel music anywhere that good. In my humble opinion, Jethroe "Jet" Bledsoe and Archie Brownlee of the Blind Boys of Mississippi had voices that's wasn't heard before them and will never be heard again. So sad those voices have been hushed in death, but thank God for having them while we did.
I grew up just South of Memphis in Tunica, Miss. and loved the Spirit of Memphis Quartet. I purchased and listen to the CD"Happy in the Service of the Lord" on a daily basis. Don't think I have ever heard any gospel music anywhere that good. In my humble opinion, Jethroe "Jet" Bledsoe and Archie Brownlee of the Blind Boys of Mississippi had voices that's wasn't heard before them and will never be heard again. So sad those voices have been hushed in death, but thank God for having them while we did.
Reply by Denise Gould in Tampa, Florida @ 15:49 on Sep 10 2012
I am in total agreement with with the comments made by Queen. I love the old time gospel singing and groups. The Spirit of Memphis was my favorite gospel quartet of all times. Just to clearify for those who don't know, Jethroe "Jet" Bledsoe was the lead singer for the Spirit of Memphis Quartet and what a singer he was. As she stated, in my opinion, there was only one other that was equal to him in singing and that was Archie Brownlee of the Blind Boys of Mississippi. I don't feel
"Jet" got near the credit that was due him. The man was an awesome annointed singer. Just listen to "Blessed Are the Dead," and "The Day is Passed and Gone." He also blew you away with "That Awful Day" I would advise any old time gospel music lovers to grap any music you can find on this group. You will be glad you did!
I am in total agreement with with the comments made by Queen. I love the old time gospel singing and groups. The Spirit of Memphis was my favorite gospel quartet of all times. Just to clearify for those who don't know, Jethroe "Jet" Bledsoe was the lead singer for the Spirit of Memphis Quartet and what a singer he was. As she stated, in my opinion, there was only one other that was equal to him in singing and that was Archie Brownlee of the Blind Boys of Mississippi. I don't feel
"Jet" got near the credit that was due him. The man was an awesome annointed singer. Just listen to "Blessed Are the Dead," and "The Day is Passed and Gone." He also blew you away with "That Awful Day" I would advise any old time gospel music lovers to grap any music you can find on this group. You will be glad you did!
Posted by Shirley Ross in Detroit, MI. @ 19:03 on Dec 11 2011
This is amazing!! Found out recently Earl Malone is my first cousin. Mother was born into the Cox family. Would love to locate any relatives of his mother Annabelle, sister to my father Lonnie.
This is amazing!! Found out recently Earl Malone is my first cousin. Mother was born into the Cox family. Would love to locate any relatives of his mother Annabelle, sister to my father Lonnie.
Posted by Adrian Bess in Originally from Memphis @ 19:42 on Oct 16 2011
Born and raised in Memphis, Tn in the latter part of the fifties, when we went to church "Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church" on Kentucky Street, we (my brother and other kids our age) we could not wait for the Sunday evenings when the Spirit of Memphis would sing at our Church. A member of our Church, Robert Reed was a member of the group then. I remember names like Malone, Bleedsoe, and Reed. I remember my grandmother would say "we goin to hear sum hip slapping today". One of my favorite songs was "Pay Day"the part I recall is "hey hey hey, youuuuuu gottttt to work" and when they got to the part work, this one singer (a name remember people calling him "Mule") would always say "wow wow wow.........and he would cut it off, and sometimes would repeat it. man, that was great. I must add also that Theo Bless My Bones Wade's son went to school with me. his name "Emmit Wade"
Thanks for keeping this part of our history alive.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tn in the latter part of the fifties, when we went to church "Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church" on Kentucky Street, we (my brother and other kids our age) we could not wait for the Sunday evenings when the Spirit of Memphis would sing at our Church. A member of our Church, Robert Reed was a member of the group then. I remember names like Malone, Bleedsoe, and Reed. I remember my grandmother would say "we goin to hear sum hip slapping today". One of my favorite songs was "Pay Day"the part I recall is "hey hey hey, youuuuuu gottttt to work" and when they got to the part work, this one singer (a name remember people calling him "Mule") would always say "wow wow wow.........and he would cut it off, and sometimes would repeat it. man, that was great. I must add also that Theo Bless My Bones Wade's son went to school with me. his name "Emmit Wade"
Thanks for keeping this part of our history alive.
Posted by VF Tate in Northern California @ 04:05 on May 13 2010
Thanks for the research and providing answers to umerous question I've asked for fifty years. In the 1950s I grew-up in Memphis listening to the Spirit of Memophis Quartet on radio station WDIA. As a kid I sang quartet songs with my father and two brothers--including some SOMQ songs. Until this article, no one could say what happened to my favorite artists, Silas Steele and Little Axe. My uncle Walter Tate sang with the Spirits in the early and mid sixties. My brother-in-law Lee Thompson played guitar with the group in the 90s. "Great job, great job!"
Thanks for the research and providing answers to umerous question I've asked for fifty years. In the 1950s I grew-up in Memphis listening to the Spirit of Memophis Quartet on radio station WDIA. As a kid I sang quartet songs with my father and two brothers--including some SOMQ songs. Until this article, no one could say what happened to my favorite artists, Silas Steele and Little Axe. My uncle Walter Tate sang with the Spirits in the early and mid sixties. My brother-in-law Lee Thompson played guitar with the group in the 90s. "Great job, great job!"
Posted by wolfgang in germany @ 15:23 on Apr 30 2010
In 2005 I bought the 'Happy in the service of the Lord' compilation after you put it in the albums top 20 of that year. After reading this article I did listen to it again. This music is amazing. I cannot imagine that there is any music on earth that is much more deeper than this old gospel music from the late 40s and early fifties by this group or the Blind Boys of Alabama or similar groups. Without the reviews and articles here in Cross Rhythms I would have never found this kind of music.
Thank you very much
In 2005 I bought the 'Happy in the service of the Lord' compilation after you put it in the albums top 20 of that year. After reading this article I did listen to it again. This music is amazing. I cannot imagine that there is any music on earth that is much more deeper than this old gospel music from the late 40s and early fifties by this group or the Blind Boys of Alabama or similar groups. Without the reviews and articles here in Cross Rhythms I would have never found this kind of music.
Thank you very much
The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.
I was not of that generation and only know about contemporary gospel music, but Lord!, I heard this group on a friend's CD on my visit to SC. and was blown away. CD "Happy in the Service of the Lord," which I purchased as soon as I return home. I tell you, that Jethroe Bledsoe was a phenomena when it comes to singing. That voice is inside my head and heart. Never heard a voice like his. Love this CD and have found other music by The Spirits. Great quartet singing. Jethroe Bledsoe...WOW!