The Soul Stirrers
One of the preminent & most widely known gospel groups of the 20th century,… Read Full Bio ↴One of the preminent & most widely known gospel groups of the 20th century, founded in Texas in the late 1920's. Early on the group was defined by the vocals of R.H Harris, and longtime member and actual group founder Roy Crain.
Alan Lomax recorded the group in 1936 for the US Library of Congress, but the group made many more recordings over the next several decades. These include notable releases on Art Rupe's Specialty label, and some on former member Sam Cooke's SAR label in the early 1960's. Other former members include vocalists such as Johnnie Taylor,James Phelps, T.L. Bruster, Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks.
They are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1989
One of the most popular and influential gospel groups of the 20th century, the Soul Stirrers were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and, without intending it, in the creation of soul music, the secular music that owed much to gospel.
The group was formed by Roy Crain, who had launched his first quartet, which sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "the Soul Stirrers." Among the members of that group was R.H. Harris, who soon became its musical leader.
Harris, also from Trinity, Texas, brought several changes to the Soul Stirrers that affected gospel quartet singing generally. He used a falsetto style that had its antecedents in African music, but which was new to the popular jubilee singing style of the time. He pioneered the "swing lead", in which two singers would share the job of leading the song, allowing virtuoso singers to increase the emotional intensity of the song as the lead passed between them. That innovation led the Soul Stirrers, while still called a quartet, to acquire five members; later groups would have as many as seven but still consider themselves "quartets", which referred more to their style than their number.
The Soul Stirrers made other important changes in those years: ad-libbing lyrics, singing in delayed time, and repeating words in the background as both a rhythmic and emotional support for the lead singers. The Soul Stirrers dropped the "flatfooted" style of jubilee quartets before them and expanded their repertoire from spirituals and traditional hymns to the newer gospel compositions. The group also loosened the rigid arrangements that jubilee quartets had favored to permit individual singers within the group more space for individual development.
In 1936 Alan Lomax recorded the Soul Stirrers for the Library of Congress's American music project. They later moved to Chicago, where they broadcast a weekly radio show. Their nationwide touring gained them an even larger audience, as they delivered the emotional fervor that popular jubilee groups, such as the Golden Gate Quartet, did not.
The Soul Stirrers signed with Specialty Records, where they recorded a number of tracks, including "By and By" and "In that Awful Hour". Harris, the most popular member of the group, soon quit, however, in order to form a new group. He was replaced by the then-unknown Sam Cooke.
One of the first singles with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water", a major hit that brought the Soul Stirrers massive acclaim. Thomas L. Breuster was replaced by Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks. When Cooke left in 1957 to pursue a career in pop music, the Soul Stirrers' preeminence in gospel was essentially over, though a brief period of success with Johnnie Taylor sustained the group for a time. Various line-ups continued touring and recording throughout the last half of the century to a small and devoted following. The group — and all of its members — was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as one of rock's Early Influences, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
Alan Lomax recorded the group in 1936 for the US Library of Congress, but the group made many more recordings over the next several decades. These include notable releases on Art Rupe's Specialty label, and some on former member Sam Cooke's SAR label in the early 1960's. Other former members include vocalists such as Johnnie Taylor,James Phelps, T.L. Bruster, Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks.
They are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1989
One of the most popular and influential gospel groups of the 20th century, the Soul Stirrers were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and, without intending it, in the creation of soul music, the secular music that owed much to gospel.
The group was formed by Roy Crain, who had launched his first quartet, which sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "the Soul Stirrers." Among the members of that group was R.H. Harris, who soon became its musical leader.
Harris, also from Trinity, Texas, brought several changes to the Soul Stirrers that affected gospel quartet singing generally. He used a falsetto style that had its antecedents in African music, but which was new to the popular jubilee singing style of the time. He pioneered the "swing lead", in which two singers would share the job of leading the song, allowing virtuoso singers to increase the emotional intensity of the song as the lead passed between them. That innovation led the Soul Stirrers, while still called a quartet, to acquire five members; later groups would have as many as seven but still consider themselves "quartets", which referred more to their style than their number.
The Soul Stirrers made other important changes in those years: ad-libbing lyrics, singing in delayed time, and repeating words in the background as both a rhythmic and emotional support for the lead singers. The Soul Stirrers dropped the "flatfooted" style of jubilee quartets before them and expanded their repertoire from spirituals and traditional hymns to the newer gospel compositions. The group also loosened the rigid arrangements that jubilee quartets had favored to permit individual singers within the group more space for individual development.
In 1936 Alan Lomax recorded the Soul Stirrers for the Library of Congress's American music project. They later moved to Chicago, where they broadcast a weekly radio show. Their nationwide touring gained them an even larger audience, as they delivered the emotional fervor that popular jubilee groups, such as the Golden Gate Quartet, did not.
The Soul Stirrers signed with Specialty Records, where they recorded a number of tracks, including "By and By" and "In that Awful Hour". Harris, the most popular member of the group, soon quit, however, in order to form a new group. He was replaced by the then-unknown Sam Cooke.
One of the first singles with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water", a major hit that brought the Soul Stirrers massive acclaim. Thomas L. Breuster was replaced by Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks. When Cooke left in 1957 to pursue a career in pop music, the Soul Stirrers' preeminence in gospel was essentially over, though a brief period of success with Johnnie Taylor sustained the group for a time. Various line-ups continued touring and recording throughout the last half of the century to a small and devoted following. The group — and all of its members — was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as one of rock's Early Influences, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
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The Soul Stirrers Lyrics
Amazing Grace Amazing grace, oh how sweet the sound That saved a wreck…
Another Day Another Dollar Just another day That my Lord, my Lord has kept me Yes…
Any Day Now One of these mornings I'm a-going away Any day now I'm going…
Be with Me Jesus Oh Lord, the time is growing nigh When I must breathe…
Be With Me Just Oh Lord, the time is growing nigh When I must breathe…
By And By When you have troubles, don't cry Just remember that God is…
Christ Is All Well, I don't possess houses or land Fine clothes or jewelry…
Come And Go To That Land Well come and go come and go now come and…
Come Let Us Go Back To God The earth is in a blaze, The world is in a…
Come, Let Us Go Back To God The earth is in a blaze, the word is in…
Farther Along Farther along we'll know all about it Farther along we'll un…
Glory Glory Hallelujah Glory, glory hallelujah Since I laid my, burden down Glory, …
God Is Standing By When you have troubles, don't cry Just remember that God is…
He'll Make A Way I know the Lord will make a way for me I…
He'll Welcome Me I'm living this life just to live again And with the…
He's My Friend Until The End When your way gets dark as night Jesus will bring things…
Heâll Welcome Me I'm living this life just to live again And with the…
Hello Sunshine [Chorus:] Hello sunshine! Will old darkness be my friend? …
He’ll Welcome Me I'm living this life just to live again And with the…
How Far Am I From Canaan? We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, I…
I Folks said that you found someone new To do the thing…
I Have A Friend Above All Others Somebody knows when I am taunted Somebody cares when things …
I Need You Now Darling, I need you now, there's a moon up so…
I'll Come Running Back To You Folks said that you found someone new To do the thing…
I'm so Glad Well, you know I'm so glad I know the trouble don't…
I'm Trying to Be Your Friend 10. The Soul Stirrers - I'm Trying To Be Your…
It Won't Be Very Long You know it won't be very long You know it won't…
Jesus Be A Fence Oh Lord, the time is growing nigh When I must breathe…
Jesus Be A Fence Around Me I wonder Is there anybody here who late at midnight sheds br…
Jesus Gave Me Water Woah, Jesus gave me water, Jesus gave me water Jesus gave…
Jesus I Oh, Jesus, I'll never forget What You done for me Jesus, I'l…
Jesus Paid My Debt I was a wanderer Far away from God I had sorrow in…
Jesus Wash Away My Troubles Jesus, wash away my troubles While I'm traveling here below …
Jesus Will Lead Me To That Promised Land We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, I…
Jesus, I'll Never Forget Oh, Jesus, I'll never forget What You done for me Jesus, I'l…
Just Another Day Just another day That my Lord, my Lord has kept me Yes…
Last Mile Of The Way If I walk in the pathway of duty If I work…
Lead Me Jesus Oh Lord, the time is growing nigh When I must breathe…
Let Me Go Home I dream of home up yonder, oh, yeah Where loved ones…
Lord Remember Me Whoa, you know I'm like I'm like a ship that's tossed…
Mean Old World This is a mean old world to live in all…
Must Jesus Bear The Cross Must Jesus bear this cross alone And all this world go…
One More River One more river to cross. Before I'll reach my journey's…
Peace In The Valley Oh, there will be peace in the valley, one day There…
Shine On Me Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like…
Slow Train It's a slow train But it's moving on I've got my ticket…
Stand By Me Father Oh, Father You've been my friend Now that I'm in trouble Sta…
Take Me Home I dream of home up yonder, oh, yeah Where loved ones…
That The things that I see As I walk along the streets That's…
That's All I Need To Know Darling, I promise from this Day forward, to go wherever you…
That's Heaven To Me The things that I see As I walk along the streets That's…
The Last Mile Of The Way If I walk in the pathway of duty If I work…
The Love Of God The love of God guides me along my way, The love of God wil…
Touch The Hem Of His Garment Whoa, there was a woman in the Bible days She had…
Until Jesus Calls Me Home Why should I worry when trouble fall When other people don't…
Wade in the Water Jesus is calling (Wade in the water) Telling you to wade …
Wade In the Water (Chatter) Jesus is calling "wade in the water" telling you to wade "wa…
Were You There Them was going to Jerusalem He met two strangers along the…