All Male Chorus of Blacksburg
Gospel/Spirituals
Music that explores themes of Christian belief and biblical history, and is popular among black and whites alike. Their renditions may differ significantly, in keeping with the cultural/stylistic traits of blues and old-time coun¬try/bluegrass, respectively. Early African American spirituals, church hymnody, and blues formed the basis for the rise of gospel music in the 1930s. Sacred music has many stylistic variations – 3 and 4 part harmony, shape-note, common meter hymn choir, call-and-response, and praise house are all a part of gospel’s foundation.
Content is provided by McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina.
For further information about any of the artists featured on Digital Traditions, send your questions and comments to hallagan@mailbox.sc.edu.
More in this Series
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
This recording consists of songs predominately created, nurtured, and encouraged by Black Americans. "Negro" spirituals are musical derivations of Africanic arts coupled with the love, power, and...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
This recording consists of songs predominately created, nurtured, and encouraged by Black Americans. "Negro" spirituals are musical derivations of Africanic arts coupled with the love, power, and...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
This recording consists of songs predominately created, nurtured, and encouraged by Black Americans. "Negro" spirituals are musical derivations of Africanic arts coupled with the love, power, and...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
This recording consists of songs predominately created, nurtured, and encouraged by Black Americans. "Negro" spirituals are musical derivations of Africanic arts coupled with the love, power, and...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
This recording consists of songs predominately created, nurtured, and encouraged by Black Americans. "Negro" spirituals are musical derivations of Africanic arts coupled with the love, power, and...
Photo
Grades
- Higher Education
The Jarvis Brothers of Orangeburg County are the living continuation of the Jubilee style of a cappella gospel singing that was immensely popular before World War II. Organized and arranged by their...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
NOTE: Transcripts are not available yet for the audio. The use of the shape note method of reading music was an important thread in American musical history. Introduced at the end of the eighteenth...
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
2
From one of the group's first recordings "Give God a Chance."
Audio
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
3
From the recording "God is Always Standing By."
Photo
Grades
- Higher Education
The All Male Chorus of Blacksburg is recognized as a group with deep roots in African-American a cappella gospel traditions. One day in 1974, Howard Thompson visited Harold Gaffney and they discussed...
Photo
Grades
- Higher Education
Marshall and Leon James began singing gospel music at an early age. Their father, AB James, formed a family singing group that included their older brother Albert. He taught them to sing harmony by...
Photo
Grades
- Higher Education
One of the choirs that sang in the Sunday afternoon “Gospel Extravaganza” portion of the Williamsburg County Black Heritage Festival in Kingstree, SC.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
2
From the video production "A Collection of African-American Spiritual and Metered Hymns." Produced by Steve Sweeney.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
1
From the video production "A Collection of African-American Spiritual and Metered Hymns." Produced by Steve Sweeney.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
2
Rosiland (on lead), Trudy Lucas, Bernice Cromwell, and Mary Lucas (l to r) in rehearsal for a perfomance in the Lowcountry.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
The Moving Star Hall Singers performing in 1992 at the "Heritage of Song" concert hosted by McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. Co-produced by South Carolina Educational Television.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Shell Johnson blowing the horn at Shady Grove Camp Meeting in 2002. Footage courtesy of Stan Woodward and Woodward Studio Ltd.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
1
Bernice Cromwell and Rosiland Lucas talk about the power of music in their lives...
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
The Malloy Family Singers performing in 1992 at the "Heritage of Song" concert hosted by McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. Co-produced by South Carolina Educational Television.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Smith singing at the 1988 Harborwalk Festival in Georgetown, SC. Aired on "Midday 5" program with WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
1
Marlena McGhee Smalls discusses the reason why the singers wear such elaborate clothing while on stage. From "Voices of the Gullah Culture: Hallelujah Singers." WJWJ-TV Beaufort, SC and SCETV, 1993.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
Episode
2
The Hallelujah Singers performing on WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. 1993.
Video
Grades
- Higher Education
The Chosen Sisters performing in 1992 at the "Heritage of Song" concert hosted by McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. Co-produced by South Carolina Educational Television.
