Golden Gate Quartet Golden Gate Quartet – 2 lps – Jazz, Funk / Soul, Blues , Gospel Swing (Rare German Vinyl)

stock photo

Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~ 8 slight edge wear open side w sleeves and booklet attached
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
side # 14 – all are -10
BIN # 166

The group was founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Singers in 1934, by four students atBooker T. Washington High SchoolinNorfolk, Virginia.[1]According to the group’s website,[2]the original members were Willie Johnson (baritone; d. 1980), William Landford (tenor; d. 1970), Henry Owens (second tenor; d. 1970) andOrlandus Wilson(bass; 19171998); other sources state that Landford and Wilson replaced earlier members Robert “Peg” Ford and A.C. “Eddie” Griffin in 1935.[3][4][5]

From 1935, the group sang in churches and on localradio, gaining a regular spot on radio stationWISinColumbia, South Carolinain 1936.[2][6]They began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated withbarbershop quartetswith rhythms borrowed from thebluesandjazzlikescat singing. They developed a broad repertoire of styles from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as “Anyhow” or “Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name”, to the group’s highlysyncopatedarrangements in “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”. LikeThe Mills Brothersin popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as “Golden Gate Gospel Train”. Landford often sang lead, using his ability to range frombaritonetofalsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group. Wilson’s bass served as the anchor for the group and Owens harmonized with Landford and Johnson.[citation needed]

In 1937 they moved to stationWBTinCharlotte, North Carolina, and soon afterwards won a contract withBluebird Records. After their first recording session on August 14, 1937, in which they recorded 14 songs in two hours,[2]they were contracted to record 12 tracks per year. In 1938, they were recruited byJohn Hammondto appear at the firstFrom Spirituals To Swingconcert held atCarnegie HallinNew York City, after which their popularity grew. They stayed in New York and were signed up for a residency at theCafe Societynightclub. As well as performing and recording gospel songs they also recorded some secular songs forRCA Records, who were intending to bill them as “The Four Chocolate Bars”, but the recordings were not released. In 1939, William Landford left the group to form a new group, the Southern Sons; he was replaced by Clyde Riddick (19131999)

Label:Columbia C 2023/24Format:2 Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited EditionCountry:GermanyReleased:1972??Genre:Jazz,Funk / Soul,BluesStyle:Gospel,Swing

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