James Cleveland
James Cleveland was born in December 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. When he wa… Read Full Bio ↴James Cleveland was born in December 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. When he was a toddler, his grandmother took him with her to choir practice at Pilgrim Baptist Church, where he invariably found himself bored to tears. Despite his protests, she took him regularly. Sensin he wasn't going to ever escape these tedious sessions, he hatched the idea to try and sing along with the choir, for his own diversion. As he got more confident and certain of the words, he began to sing out, which brought him to the notice of the choir as welll as its director, Thomas A. Dorsey, perhaps one of the greatest gospel composers who ever lived.
Rather than landing him in trouble, as he feared, the young Cleveland found himself crowned the new "Choir Mascot" and furthermore acquired the honor of having a song written especially for him by Thomas A. Dorsey. Dorsey spent alot of time with Cleveland which influenced and inspired him more and more as he grew older.
Before long, Cleveland began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church, under Dorsey's baton, the watchful eye of his grandmother, and the accompaniment of famed pianist Roberta Martin. As a teenager,however, Cleveland's voice underwent more than a normal pre-adulthood change. He strained his vocal cords singing with a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger. Thus 1950, Cleveland joined the Gospelaires, a trio led by Norsalus Mckissick and Bessie Folk, who were associated with Roberta Martin. Martin hired him as a composer and arranger after the group disbanded. His arrangements of songs such as "(Give Me That) Old Time Religion" and "It's Me O Lord" transformed them, giving a rocking lilt and insistent drive to old standards.
The rest is history in his music like: I Don't feel noways tired, Where Is Your Faith in God, Everything Will Be Alright, Shine on Me, and This Too Will Pass
Rather than landing him in trouble, as he feared, the young Cleveland found himself crowned the new "Choir Mascot" and furthermore acquired the honor of having a song written especially for him by Thomas A. Dorsey. Dorsey spent alot of time with Cleveland which influenced and inspired him more and more as he grew older.
Before long, Cleveland began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church, under Dorsey's baton, the watchful eye of his grandmother, and the accompaniment of famed pianist Roberta Martin. As a teenager,however, Cleveland's voice underwent more than a normal pre-adulthood change. He strained his vocal cords singing with a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger. Thus 1950, Cleveland joined the Gospelaires, a trio led by Norsalus Mckissick and Bessie Folk, who were associated with Roberta Martin. Martin hired him as a composer and arranger after the group disbanded. His arrangements of songs such as "(Give Me That) Old Time Religion" and "It's Me O Lord" transformed them, giving a rocking lilt and insistent drive to old standards.
The rest is history in his music like: I Don't feel noways tired, Where Is Your Faith in God, Everything Will Be Alright, Shine on Me, and This Too Will Pass
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James Cleveland Lyrics
Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus Can′t nobody do me like like Jesus. Can't nobody do me…
God Is Verse 1 God is my protection. God is my all in all. God…
God Is Enough MY GOD IS STILL GOOD Christina Degazio & Kelly Garner Verse…
Hold On Sometimes I get a good feeling I get a feeling that…
I don I don't feel no ways tired I've come too far from…
I Stood On the Banks of Jordan I STOOD ON THE BANKS OF JORDAN You know I had…
Jesus Is The Best Thing I've had my share of life's ups and downs God's been…
Lord Do It Lord do it (Lord do it) Lord please do it for me (Lord…
Lord Help Me to Hold Out Lord, help me to hold out Until my change come My…
No Ways Tired I don't feel no ways tired I've come too far from…
Oh Mary Don't You Weep Oh oh Mary Oh, Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn Oh,…
Peace Be Still Master, the tempest is raging The billows are tossing high T…
Something's Got A Hold Of Me Sometimes I get a good feeling I get a feeling that…
The Lord Is My Light The Lord is my light and he's my salvation Whom shall…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
This Too Will Pass This Too Will Pass Rev James Cleveland Duet I've had hearta…
When I Get Home THE DcY I GET HOME cmy Keffer Shellem/Kelly Garner VERSE 1 …