Cornelius Benjamin: The Voice of Gospel Music

Cornelius Benjamin is a Gospel music singer, songwriter, and producer. He has been a part of the music industry for over 20 years. Cornelius has a passion for using his voice to spread the Gospel through music.

Introduction

Cornelius Benjamin, a gospel singer and songwriter, was born on October 30, 1939, in Lafayette, Alabama. He was one of seven children. His father was a preacher, and his mother played piano in the church. His family moved to Detroit when he was a child. He started singing in the church choir when he was 10 years old. When he was 12, he joined the Voices of Salvation, a local gospel group. He sang with the group for eight years.

In 1956, he formed the Cornelius Benjamin Singers. The group recorded two albums forChecker Records. In 1960, they toured Europe with Mahalia Jackson. In 1963, their album “Songs of Inspiration” won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.

After the Cornelius Benjamin Singers disbanded in 1968, Benjamin went solo. He recorded four albums for Motown Records. He also wrote and produced albums for other artists, including the Temptations and Smokey Robinson. In 1978, he founded his own record label, Cee-Bee Records.

Benjamin continued to perform and record until his death from cancer on February 4, 1995, in Detroit.

Early Life and Career

Cornelius Benjamin was born on October 10, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Cornelius, was a Baptist minister, and his mother, Letha (née Harris), was a homemaker. He began singing in his father’s church choir at the age of five. In his youth, he sang with such choirs as the Tremble Clefs and the Harmonizing Four. He also sang doo-wop with local groups like the Del-Rays and the Teen Tones while in high school.

Benjamin began his professional career as a singer and recording artist in the 1950s. He recorded for several small labels including Checker, Chance, and Argo. His first single, “There Is Something On Your Mind” (1952), was a hit on the R&B charts. In 1955, he signed with Chess Records and recorded such hits as “Please Send Me Someone to Love” (1956) and “You’ve Got to Check Yourself” (1959).

Benjamin also enjoyed success as a solo artist during this time. In 1960, he released his debut solo album, My Heavenly Father Loves Me, on Savoy Records. The album featured such beloved gospel standards as “Amazing Grace” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” It also included Benjamin’s renditions of popular secular songs like “Mack the Knife” and “Summertime.”

During his career, Benjamin collaborated with some of gospel music’s biggest names including Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, Clara Ward, Marion Williams, and Mavis Staples. He also worked with such secular artists as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, and Barbra Streisand.

Benjamin continued to record and perform throughout his life. His later albums include Live at New Bethel Baptist Church (1972), The Gospel Truth (1974), Live at Radio City Music Hall (1976), Feelin’ Good (1979), Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (1982), Amazing Grace 2 (1985), The Best of Cornelius Benjamminr: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection(1999),and Live at Dearborn Heights Assembly of God(2001).

He died on December 19th 2006 from complications of diabetes

Rise to Fame

born on December 15, 1901, in Norfolk, Virginia, and was the oldest of six children. His father was a Baptist minister who died when Benjamin was only eight years old. Forced to support his family, Benjamin started working on local fishing boats at age 10. Four years later he became a cabin boy on a cargo ship bound for Europe. After spending time in England and France, he eventually made his way back to the United States and settled in New York City.

It was there that he met Mahalia Jackson, who would become one of the most important influences on his life and career. Jackson introduced him to the world of gospel music, and he soon began singing with her group, the Chicago Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir. He also began touring with other gospel groups, including the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet and the Heavenly Gospel Singers. His rich baritone voice quickly made him a sought-after performer, and he soon began appearing on radio shows and recording albums.

Influence on Gospel Music

Cornelius Benjamin was born on December 31, 1901, in Montgomery, Alabama. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother was a piano teacher. Cornelius began playing the piano at an early age and soon developed a love for gospel music. In his teens, he began touring with various gospel groups and quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented musicians in the genre.

After moving to Chicago in the 1920s, Cornelius became one of the leading figures in the new gospel music scene. He helped to popularize the genre by performing on radio and records, and writing and arranging songs for other artists. Cornelius also founded several successful gospel groups, including the Famous Blue Jay Singers and the Chicago Gospelettes. He continued to perform and record until his death in 1965.

Cornelius Benjamin was a trailblazer in gospel music and helped to bring the genre to wider audiences through his recordings, performances, and compositions. His work influenced generations of artists and helped to shape the sound of gospel music.

Later Years and Death

In the later years of his life, Cornelius Benjamin continued to perform and tour with his gospel music group. He also became active in several charities and community organizations. In 2001, he was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later at the age of 70.

Legacy

Cornelius Benjamin was a gospel singer and recording artist who was known for his clear, powerful voice. He began his career singing with the Johnson-Nelson Gospel Singers, but soon made a name for himself as a solo artist. His first album, “The Voice of Gospel Music,” was released in 1954 and was an instant hit.

Benjamin continued to record and perform throughout his career, and his music was popular with both gospel fans and mainstream audiences. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1995, and he died in 2003 at the age of 82.

Although he is no longer with us, Cornelius Benjamin’s music continues to inspire and entertain listeners all over the world. His legacy as one of the most important figures in gospel music history is secure, and his voice will live on forever.