Gospel Memories: Recent Episodes

Bob Marovich

Every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. CT on Chicago's WLUW 88.7FM, host Bob Marovich brings you vintage black gospel recordings on "Gospel Memories."

If you are not in Chicago, you can listen live to the program via www.wluw.org. Miss a show? Hear a snippet of the last month's worth of programs on Podomatic.

Be sure to visit www.gospelmemories.com for the latest playlist and news about the upcoming show.

This episode features sets in memory of the late Haywood Barnes (pictured, Sunset Jubilaires) and DeWitt Johnson (B. C. & M. Mass Choir and Johnson Ensemble), as well as music from the First Church of Deliverance Mass Choir, Barrett Sisters, Gospel Harmonettes, Rosie Wallace, and others.

William Luck is your host this week, featuring music from the Friendly Five, Straight Street Choir, Royal Jubilee, Art Reynolds Singers, Heavenly Saints Spiritual Singers, and others.

Long sets in loving memory of the Reverend Thomas Spann (Brooklyn All Stars) and Bishop Claude O. Timmons (pictured, Gospel Chimes, Monument of Faith Ev. Church), a selection from the late Elder Jack Ward's final album, and more.

"In Loving Memory" of the late Kenneth Woods Jr., Professor L. Stanley Davis (pictured), and Prophet Carnell Murrell. We celebrate their lives through their music.

This episode features two sets celebrating Chicago's historic Roberts Temple COGIC being part of the new Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. Music from the church and the Roberts Family (pictured: Bishop William Roberts). Also selections from the Israelite Travelers, Sallie Martin & her Singers of Joy, Gospel Lords of Harmony, and others.

This episode includes a long set in honor of Rev. Jesse Jackson (pictured) on his retirement from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, plus music from the Fellowship MBC Choir, Nightingale Jubilaires, Calvin White Singers, Davis Sisters, Angelic Gospel Singers, and others.

This episode includes a long set in memory of Robert Dixon of the Salem Travelers of Chicago, tracks from the new 2-CD collection of Pilgrim Travelers' sides on Specialty, and music from Mahalia Jackson, Irma Thomas, Original Five Blind Boys, Gospel Coronetts, and others.

This episode features tracks from the new 2-CD Pilgrim Travelers collection on Acrobat, plus selections from the People's Choir of Operation PUSH, Sensational Angels, Beautiful Zion MBC Choir, Highway QCs, Southern Kings, Missionary Mamie Sample, and others.

This episode includes gospel selections from "Written in their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos" (Craft), as well as cuts by the First Church of Deliverance Choir, Avent Singers, Bessie Griffin, Roberta Martin Singers, Gospel Enchanters, the Fellowship MBC Choir, and others.

Words and music with Robin Williams, son of the late Marion Williams (pictured). He talks about the new documentary of his mother, now on Amazon Prime. Plus music in memory of Spencer Bouvier Taylor III (Highway QCs) and Jesse Allen (Gospel Writers), and more.

William Luck hosts Gospel Memories on this post-Thanksgiving episode with selections from his estimable gospel music record collection.

This episode features music by Cliff Dubose and Bishop Dwayne Mason from their new The Sirens issues, plus the Drinkard Singers, Andrews Gospel Singers, Jolly Airs, Tommy Ellison & Five Singing Stars, Mahalia, and others.

This episode features new releases by gospel keyboardists Richard Gibbs and Cliff Dubose, plus music from the Savettes, Imperial Gospel Singers, Doris Johnson Singers, Zion Travelers, QC Wonders of Port Chester, and more.

Music from the Caravans, Simmons-Akers Singers, Myrtle Jackson, James Herndon Singers, Swan Silvertones, tracks from new CDs by Richard Gibbs (pictured) and Bishop Dwayne Mason, and much more.

This episode features music from the West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir in celebration of the transition of leadership from Presiding Bishop Emeritus Charles Blake Sr. (pictured) to his son Pastor Charles Blake II, snippets of "The Million Dollar Quartet" in memory of Jerry Lee Lewis, and much more.

This episode features music from the Stars of Faith, Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Madame Marie Knight, the Beautiful Zion MB Church Choir, Rev. Cleophus Robinson (pictured), Bishop Jeff Banks & Revival Temple Mass Choir, and others.

This episode includes music from the Spiritual Five, Harmonizing Four, Bernice Johnson & the Spiritual Lites, Greene Sisters, Roberts Temple COGIC Choir, Willie Morganfield (pictured), and others.

This episode features more selections from the Caravans "Where Gospel Meets Soul" collection, two more versions of "Precious Lord" on its 90th anniversary, plus music from the Morning Stars of Savannah (pictured), Gospel Chimes, Norman Brothers, Voices of Cosmopolitan, Davis Sisters, and others.

This episode includes a set featuring the Voices of Victory of L.A.'s Victory Baptist Church, which suffered a devastating fire; in memoriam to Ramsey Lewis and Paul T. Kwami (Fisk Jubilee Singers); more examples of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," on the 90th anniversary of the song's composition; tracks from the new two-CD Caravans comp out of Acrobat, and more.

The first episode back live in the WLUW studio is an all-quartet program in memory of gospel quartet promoter extraordinare, the late Zadella Mama Curtis. Quartets include the Soul Stirrers, Pearly Gates, Brooklyn All Stars, Southern Sons of Memphis, Songbirds of the South, and Pilgrim Jubilees.

This episode includes long sets in memory of Roy Tyler (pictured, Gospel Hummingbirds, Roy Tyler & New Direction) and Judith Durham (Seekers), plus the start of a month-long series of recordings celebrating the 90th anniversary of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord."

This episode features an interview and music with Jerry Zolten, author of "Great God A'Mighty! The Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music." The second edition was recently released by Oxford University Press.

This episode includes music from Ernestine Anderson & the Heavenly Gospel Singers, Pastor James E. Lenox (pictured), Fairlane Gospel Singers, Silver Stars of Chicago, Nicholas, Lucille Parks Singers, and others.

This episode features music from Bessie Jones, the Caravans, James Cleveland & the Angelic Choir, Rolling Stones Quartet, St. James Choir of Detroit, Golden Gate Quartet (pictured), Mary Ellen George, and others.

An interview (and music) with Ms. Nathalie Wadley, former member of the Brewster Ensemble and the East Trigg Trio of the East Trigg Ave. Baptist Church of Memphis, TN, under the leadership of Dr. W. Herbert Brewster (pictured). Ms. Wadley met everyone...including Elvis!

This episode includes selections from Tessie Hill, Clara Ward, the Northern Travelers, Truthettes (two of them pictured - their first single!), Young Gospel Singers, Twenty-First Century Singers, and many others.

This episode contains selections from the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, Cleveland Singers, Gill Singers, Myrtle Jackson, Dixie Hummingbirds, Fellowship MB Church Choir (pictured, ca. 1963), Rev. Johnny Blakely, and many others.

This episode includes a long set in memory of the late Dr. Joyce Taylor (pictured) of the Institutional COGIC Choir, plus music from the Silver Leaf Quartet, early Myrna Summers, Golden Tones, Sis. Emma Tucker, and others.

This episode includes a set in memory of the late Melvin Boyd (Gospelaires, Ohio Wonders), hat tips to the Savettes and Tyrone Porter (Christianaires), plus the Clover Leaf Jubilee Quartet, St. James Choir of Detroit, Soul Stirrers, Little Lucy Smith on the organ, and others.

Due to technical difficulties, "Gospel Memories" re-ran the February 26, 2022, episode, which includes music from the Gospelaires, Rev. James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir (pictured), Daughters of Zion, Ward Singers, and others.

This episode includes selections from the new three-CD set "Female Gospel Groups: 1940 - 1962" (Fremeaux & Associes), salutes to Deacon Reuben Burton (Victory Travelers) and LouDella Evans Reid (Fellowship MBC) on being honored at the 2022 Chicago Gospel Music Festival, and more.

This episode includes two long sets in remembrance of Memorial Day (US), plus music from Bro. Hugh Dent, Bonita Cantrell, Trumpeteers, Fisk University Jubilee Quartette, Gospel Clefs (pictured), Family Chorus of Terrell, TX, and others.

This episode includes music from the Soul Stirrers, Doris Akers, Upper Room Quintet, Original Five Blind Boys ft. Roscoe Robinson (pictured), Charles Watkins, Busy Bees, a long set of Buffalo gospel artists in memory of the Buffalo, NY, tragedy last week, and others.

This episode features music from Isaac Douglas & the Douglas Singers, Donald Vails Choraleers, Victory Five, Violinaires, Rev. Otis Sampson, Staple Singers (pictured), and others.

Gospel Memories' 21st anniversary episode includes long sets in honor of Mother's Day. Artists include the Pilgrim Travelers, Helen Robinson Youth Chorus, Windy City Four, Ruby Elzy (pictured), Bessie Griffin, and the Mighty Clouds of Harmony.

This episode includes music from the Pilgrim Jubilees, Gospel Harmonettes, Otis Clay, Bibletone Gospel Singers, Pullman Porters Quartette, Mighty Soul Searchers, a long set of 1960s-era music from Chicago's Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (pictured), lost to a Good Friday fire, and others.

This episode includes two long sets of Specialty Records gospel in memory of Specialty prexy Art Rupe, who died April 15, 2022, at age 104; plus an exclusive recording of classic gospel artists singing at a program at the now-demolished Antioch Baptist Church of Chicago in 2007.

This episode features tributes to the late LaShun Pace (pictured) and Dr. Timothy Poston; plus music from the Starlight Spiritual Singers, Original Gospel Harmonettes, Metropolitan Baptist Church Choir, Bro. Isaiah Roberts' choir feat. Lorenza Brown Porter, and more.

This episode features another set in honor of Women's History Month, a set in memory of Junette Smith, the daughter of pioneering gospel vocalist Julia Mae Smith (pictured), a 1917 recording of the Billy Sunday Chorus of 2,500 voices, a cappella quartet and jubilee singing, and more.

A one-hour salute to the pioneering women of gospel music, in celebration of Women's History Month.

This episode contains music from the Anna Murrell Singers, Kim McFarland, Jesse Martin Singers, Swan Silvertones, New Orleans Chosen Five, the Duncanaires (pictured), and others.

This episode is a repeat of the April 10, 2010, broadcast. It includes a rare recording of Pastor Donald Gay and Geraldine Gay Hambric (of the Gay Sisters, pictured) at Antioch B.C. during the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild's 2007 "Pleasant Saturday Service." One of the people you can hear shouting encouragements to Geraldine as she played is Eugene Smith of the Roberta Martin Singers. How do I know? He was sitting next to me!

This episode features music from Mahalia Jackson (pictured) on the 50th anniversary of her passing, plus Washington Phillips, Blind Pearly Brown, Teddy Huffam & the Gems, Gene Martin & Miracle Valley Choir, Artistic Nightingales, Chosen Gospel Singers, and others.

This episode features music from the Swan Silvertones, Aretha Franklin (pictured), Andrae Crouch, Helen Robinson Youth Chorus, Fountain of Life Singers, St. Luke's Young Adult Choir, and others.

This episode features selections from the Skylarks, Cassietta George, St. Louis All Stars, Beverly Glenn Concert Chorale, Art Reynolds Singers, a long set in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and more.