In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Sensational Nightingales

Group.

The Sensational Nightingales were assembled in the '40s. In 1957 they appeared on the Gospel Train tour with The Clara Ward Singers and five other big-name gospel acts. Members included Julius Cheeks (lead), Carl Coates (bass), JoJo Wallace (tenor), Howard Carroll (baritone), and Paul Gwens (tenor). Their noted hit was "See How They Done My Lord." One of the earliest gospel quintets, they recorded and toured throughout the 1990s. Many of their '50s and '60s sides (found on MCA reissues) feature the stunning vocals of Rev. Julius Cheeks. As with Archie Brownlee, Cheeks reaches an intensity that distorts the actual recordings, and his style has been heavily "borrowed" by Bobby Bland, Wilson Pickett, and others. The later recordings by Charles Johnson are smoother and slicker, but still top-notch. ~ Bil Carpenter & Billy C. Wirtz, All Music Guide

Discography

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Sensational Nightingales : Best of

Review: The Sensational Nightingales were briefly one of the greatest quartets of gospel's golden age, and this album proves it. Almost all of the tracks on this album feature the awesome and terrifying vocals of the Reverend Julius Cheeks, the greatest gospel shouter of them all. He's the man who taught Sam Cooke to shout and was the principal inspiration for a young Wilson Pickett. Cheeks was as great an arranger as any other in quartet music (check out "Standing At The Judgement") and peppered his best work with soulful and downhome ad-libbed interjections, anticipating James Brown's funk preaching by more than ten years. A great tribute to one of the unsung heroes of American music.

Songlist: Morning Train, To The End, Burying Ground, A Closer Walk With Thee, Standing In the Judgement, What Would You Give, Never Said A Word, I Want to Go, Don't Put Off Today, New Jerusalem, The Storm Is Passing, Prayed Too Late