The Golden Gate Quartet is the most successful of all of the African-Americ… Read Full Bio ↴The Golden Gate Quartet is the most successful of all of the African-American gospel music groups who sang in the jubilee quartet style. Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. "Eddie" Griffin, Robert "Peg" Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.

The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join "The Jubalaires" and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.

The Gates had 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 highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, 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 Langford and Johnson.

They achieved regional fame through their radio program in Columbia, South Carolina in the 1930s. They became nationally popular after John Hammond presented them as part of the 1938 extravaganza From Spirituals to Swing in Carnegie Hall, which led to a nationwide radio program, appearances at Cafe Society in 1940 and the opportunity to sing at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration in 1941, becoming the first black musical group to sing at Constitution Hall. They continued to be popular during World War Two, making several appearances in Hollywood films and singing secular music, including some unique popular front songs such as Stalin Wasn't Stalling that mixed humor with political commentary.

The quartet lost their preeminent position in gospel music after the war, when they faced competition from the newer hard gospel quartets. They continued in their old style, offering sharper political commentary in songs such as God's Gonna Cut 'Em Down, but losing much of their audience to quartets such as the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Soul Stirrers. The Golden Gates revived their career in 1955, however, when they toured Europe for the first time, where they became widely popular. The group moved to Paris in 1959 and has continued touring, primarily in Europe, since then. During his stint in the US Army, in Germany, Elvis Presley, who a huge admirer of their work since his early childhood, visited them backstage at "Le Lido", in Paris, and stayed to watch their entire show, staying also with them at the hotel "Prince de Galles".

The Golden Gate Quartet has been inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998

Stormy Weather
Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics

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Don't know why
There's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps raining all the time

Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere

Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor old self together
I'm weary all the time, the time
So weary all of the time

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can't go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps raining all the time
Keeps raining all of the time

I walk around,
Heavy-hearted and sad
Night comes around
And I'm still feeling bad
Rain pourin' down
Blinding every hope I had
This pitter 'n patter 'n beatin' 'n spatterin' drivin' me mad

Love, love, love, love
This misery will be the end of me

When he went away
The blues walked in and met me
If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray
The lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can't go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together

Keeps raining all the time, the time
Keeps raining all the time

Overall Meaning

The Golden Gate Quartet's song "Stormy Weather" tells a story of heartache and despair. The opening lines, "Don't know why, there's no sun up in the sky, stormy weather," set the scene of an emotional storm that is raging inside the singer. The song speaks of a woman who is suffering from a broken heart since her man left her. She feels like she is living in a world of gloom and misery with no hope for a better tomorrow. The lyrics capture the feeling of loneliness and sadness that comes with the end of any relationship.

The song expresses the desperation and hopelessness that often accompany a broken heart. The singer prays for the Lord to restore her happiness and bring light back into her life. She is unable to move on and feels like everything she had is gone. The lyrics, "Can't go on, everything I had is gone, stormy weather, since my man and I ain't together, keeps raining all the time," paint a vivid picture of her inner turmoil. Despite her prayers, her outlook remains bleak, and her misery threatens to consume her.

In summary, "Stormy Weather" is a powerful song that captures the intense emotions that come with the end of a relationship. The lyrics convey the pain of heartbreak and the grief that can linger long after a partner has left. The Golden Gate Quartet's rendition of the song is particularly moving because of their powerful harmonies and emotive delivery.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't know why
I'm unsure about the reason

There's no sun up in the sky
It is overcast and gloomy

Stormy weather
Adverse circumstances

Since my man and I ain't together
Since my partner and I are not together

Keeps raining all the time
It is raining continuously

Life is bare
Life is dull and unfulfilling

Gloom and misery everywhere
There is a prevailing sense of sadness and despair

Just can't get my poor old self together
I am unable to get myself in order

I'm weary all the time, the time
I am tired and fatigued constantly

So weary all of the time
I am very tired all the time

When he went away
When he left