The Harmonizers sound is a fascinating mix of the old and the new, drawing from both pre-war and post-war gospel quartet traditions. The close harmonies, strong bass line and syncopated phrasing hearken back to the Jubilee quartets of the 30's. Reverend Vernella Kelly's lead vocals, however, are straight out of post-war hard gospel. Their mix of old and newer material further underscores their blending of traditions.
This group was first formed in the 40's in Queens. The members here are Rev. Vernella Kelly of Sarasota, Fl; bass singer Wilburt Huntly of Monroe, NC; baritone William Ray of Fayetteville, NC; tenors Geneva Ray and Clara Mackay of Sumter, SC.
8 comments:
Ah jeez KC, another winner. God knows these aren't the greatest voices we've ever heard but still they're just so...good. And that barbershop ending to Two Wings - ?!
Thank you, KC!
Yes indeed! Give me wings! Thanks a million, as always. The church house is rockin' once again this Sunday.
To me, it's not so much about the greatness of the voices although I appreciate great voices as much as the next person, instead, it's about the effort and passion. After all if the Shaggs could get written up in the New Yorker as progenitors of punk despite being God-awful, then any tuneful voice is a vast improvement. I have read repeatedly that Billie Holiday lacked range but can't imagine anyone else singing Strange Fruit or Autumn In New York, among so many other tunes, like her. I even enjoy her voice and have bought her recordings during her famed vocal decline from the ravages of drugs. Bob Marley sang, "Who feels it knows it' and that's enough for me because, like ceedee writes, the Faithful Harmonizers are good, very good. Moreover like Charlie Story and His All Stars, I, too, am past my prime, albeit still inspired, so perhaps I am empathetic for reasons other than the music.
Sadly or luckily for most, I may not be able to contribute many comments anymore. Ever since I first heard them at age 14, I have loved anything by the Chambers Brothers and similar harmonizing groups, especially those that also sing work songs, so upon hearing the Menhaden Chanteymen, I was mesmerized and am now contemplating throwing my retirement to the winds and heading ten miles down the road to Chesapeake Bay to join the crabbers and fisherman and, with luck, learn their work songs as I learn the craft.
As someone who loves Caribbean music and studied creole languages in linguistics, I read Life in a Haitian Valley (1937) by Melville J. Herskovits more than three decades ago. Here's the connection, Herkovits devotes some space to discussing and proving examples of the work songs of Haitian workers in the fields and I was fortunate to know enough Creole to understand their lyrics. They are remarkably similar to the songs and joking of the Chanteymen and I considerable it remarkable that, despite the best efforts of slavers and slave owners to extirpate all traces of and influences from the indiginous African cultures, they failed miserably. Their failure and the survival of the roots and influences of African music and rhythms can be heard most in gospel, blues, and work songs even though the genres further developed in unique ways in this country. I find the endurance of musical and cultural traditions against difficult odds exciting, and in this country the delta, New Orleans, and Creole society and language in the bayous of south Louisiana served as fertile ground for preservation of the roots (similarly Scots-Irish music lives in the music of Appalachia and the piedmont areas of the southern eastern seaboard). Can one even conceive of music in this country and the Caribbean without the contributions of the African diaspora? And we are remarkably fortunate to have this blog and the efforts of its writers to help us preserve and treasure such music. That's enough for awhile, I have to learn to prepare the traps and search for a crew that will take on a novice. If only I could swim.
By the way, Happy Saint Patrick's day to you all.
http://www85.zippyshare.com/v/KG3CfENR/file.html
Thanks for the re-up!
Thanks very much for the re-post!
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