This is part one of a series that will cover the history of this classic Gospel group - the series comes courtesy of Dr. Hepcat and was compiled by
Mr. Bob Laughton and Mr. Alan Young. I'm not presenting them exactly chronologically, but in groups by label, first up is Nashboro.
Artist Biography by Sandra Brennan
"Since the early '50s, the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers have used their hard, rockin' gospel music as a powerful means of testifying their faith, love, and charitable hope that humanity will find a way to bring itself closer to the kingdom of heaven. Over its long history, the group has undergone numerous personnel changes. The first incarnation originated in the 1940s on the Mississippi Delta by Elgie and Theopholis Graham, but the most famous version of the Pilgrim Jubilees began in Chicago, 1952, when younger Graham brothers Clay and Cleve resurrected the group. Since then, these two have remained the group's spiritual and musical core. While growing up in Mississippi, all four Graham brothers were trained to sing. It was Theopholis who left the first group to live in Chicago; the rest of his brothers followed in 1951, and all four briefly sang in the group. The Pilgrim Jubilees toured quite a bit (when not working their day jobs, which for the Graham brothers meant working in their separate barber shops), and this proved too much for the older brothers, who gradually dropped out. Shortly thereafter, Clay and Cleve invited baritone Major Roberson and lead singer Percy Clark (both from Mississippi) to join. They also took on guitarist Richard Crume and bassist Roosevelt English, and began recording; through the 1950s, they released sides and albums for assorted labels, including Peacock, Chance, and Nashboro. Soon after signing to Peacock in 1960, the band gained national exposure with their label debut, "Stretch Out." Its success allowed the Pilgrim Jubilees to finally go professional. Crume eventually left the group to join the Soul Stirrers, but the other three have remained together and carried on into the '90s."
This is part two of a series that will cover the history of this classic
Gospel group - the series comes courtesy of Dr. Hepcat and was compiled
by Mr. Bob Laughton and Mr. Alan Young. I'm not presenting them exactly chronologically, but in groups by label. Today we have their earliest recordings on Chance, NBC and Specialty.
This is part one of a series that will cover the history of this classic Gospel group - the series comes courtesy of Dr. Hepcat and was compiled by Mr. Bob Laughton and Mr. Alan Young. I'm not presenting them exactly chronologically, but in groups by label, first up is Nashboro. 
The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers of Chicago: Cleve
Graham, Clay Graham, N. Major Roberson, Percy Clark (vocals), Richard
Crume (guitar). WALK ON was released on the Peacock label in 1962, THE
OLD SHIP OF ZION was released on Peacock in 1964. Includes original
release liner notes by Dzondria Lalsac and additional notes by Jerry
Zoltan and Ray Funk. Mobile Fidelity's Walk On/The Old Ship of Zion
combines two Peacock albums -- 1962's Walk On and 1964's The Old Ship of
Zion -- on one compact disc. Both albums capture the Pilgrim Jubilee
Singers at their peak, demonstrating that they were one of the greatest
hard gospel quartets of their time. ~ Leo Stanley Personnel: Percy
Clark, N. Major Roberson (vocals); Richard Crume (guitar). Unknown
Contributor Roles: Clay Graham; Cleve Graham.
