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 may have 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.
Musicians and critics today recognize Sam cooke as one of the founders of soul music, and as one of the most important singers in soul music history. He has been called "the king of soul" by many, and while some may dispute this title, Sam Cooke's legacy is an extensive one and his impact on soul music is undeniable. He had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. He is therefore seen by many as "the creator" of the genre. Major hits like "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World" and "Bring It on Home to Me" are some of his most popular songs.
Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the Civil Rights Movement, using his musical ability to bridge gaps between black and white audiences.
Happy In Love
Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers Lyrics
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That's what the feeling does to you
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
Whoa
Friends will notice you're acting more gay
All your troubles will be washed away
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
You won't care if the sun don't shine
All your worries will be left behind
You'll be happy, happy, happy, happy all the time
When you're happy, happy, happy in love
Sha la la
You'll have a smile upon your face
All your worries will be washed away
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
Sha la la la la la, sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la da
You won't care if the sun don't shine
All your worries will be left behind
You'll be happy, happy, happy, happy all the time
When you're happy, happy, happy in love
Sha la la
You'll wear a smile upon your face
The world will seem like a better place
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
Sha la la la la la, sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la da
(Happy, happy in love)
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
(Happy, happy in love)
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
(Happy, happy in love)
The song "Happy In Love" by Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers talks about the profound feeling of being in love and how it changes everything in your life. The song begins by describing how the grass seems greener and the sky seems bluer when you're happy in love. The feeling is so strong that it affects everything around you, and all your worries seem to disappear. Friends will notice that you're acting more cheerful and carefree. Even if the sun doesn't shine, your worries will be left behind because you're happy all the time when you're happy in love.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the phrase "happy in love" as if nothing else matters as long as you feel that way. The world will seem like a better place, and you'll wear a constant smile on your face. The sha la la's create a catchy and joyful melody that matches the theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The grass will be greener, the sky more blue
When you are happy in love, the world around you appears more vibrant and colorful.
That's what the feeling does to you
Being happy in love changes your perspective and enhances your surroundings.
When you're happy, happy, happy
Happiness is not a fleeting feeling, but rather a sustained state of being.
Happy, happy, happy, happy in love
Being in love amplifies the level of happiness one can experience.
Friends will notice you're acting more gay
The joy of being in love radiates from within and is easily noticeable to others.
All your troubles will be washed away
Love has the power to bring peace and dissolve stress and worries.
You won't care if the sun don't shine
The happiness of being in love is not dependent on external circumstances.
All your worries will be left behind
Love has the ability to create a sense of security and calm in one's life.
You'll be happy, happy, happy, happy all the time
The happiness of being in love extends beyond fleeting moments and becomes a constant part of one's life.
You'll have a smile upon your face
The happiness of being in love is visible on one's face and can be contagious.
The world will seem like a better place
Being in love can elevate one's perception of the world and make it seem more positive and hopeful.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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