Gospel Music: Black Male Gospel Singers You Should Know
Gospel music has a rich history, and black male gospel singers have played a significant role in its development. Here are just a few of the many talented artists you should know.
James Cleveland
James Cleveland was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer, fondly known as the “King of Gospel Music.” He was a pioneer in the development of the gospel music industry and helped to shape the sound and style of black gospel. Cleveland began his career as a member of the gospel group the Gospelaires, and later formed his own group, the James Cleveland Singers. He was one of the most influential gospel singers of his time, and his work helped to make gospel music more popular and acceptable in the mainstream.
His work with the Gospel Music Workshop of America
Cleveland is best known for his work with the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), an organization he co-founded in Detroit in 1968. The GMWA is a group of gospel musicians, singers, songwriters, and producers who work to promote and preserve the genre. Cleveland served as the GMWA’s president for many years and was an important figure in its development. He also played a key role in popularizing contemporary gospel music, helping to bring it into the mainstream. In addition to his work with the GMWA, Cleveland was also a highly respected solo artist, recording more than 50 albums over the course of his career. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2005.
His influence on contemporary gospel music
James Cleveland was born in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. Though he is most commonly associated with the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent the majority of his career, he actually got his start in gospel music singing with the Happy Land Jubilee Singers in Chicago. He went on to join the Gospelaires of Gospel Harmonic Temple, and eventually formed his own group, the Southern California Community Choir. He also served as minister of music at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles and Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Cleveland was a driving force in the development of contemporary gospel music. He was one of the first gospel artists to use musical instruments such as drums and electric guitars in his recordings, which was a major departure from the traditional a cappella style of gospel music. He was also one of the first gospel artists to cross over into the mainstream pop charts, with several of his singles becoming hits on both the gospel and R&B charts. His 1972 album Jesus Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me even reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making him one of only a handful of gospel artists to achieve that feat.
Though he passed away in 1991, James Cleveland’s influence on gospel music can still be felt today. He was a true pioneer in the genre, and helped to shape it into what it is today.
Andraé Crouch
Andraé Edward Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. A pioneer of contemporary Christian music, he was one of the first black Gospel artists to successfully cross over into the mainstream pop market.
His work with the Gospel Music Workshop of America
Andraé Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. A pioneer in contemporary Christian music, he was referred to as the “Father of Modern Gospel Music” by Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He recorded and toured with his own group the Andraé Crouch Choir and also wrote, produced, and played piano for artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Sting, Carrie Underwood and Kirk Franklin.
Crouch’s work with the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) also helped to shape contemporary black gospel music. He served as music director of the organization from 1971 to 1989 and again from 1996 to 1999. The GMWA is a national fellowship of over 4,000 members which consists of choirs, choruses, churches andindividuals dedicated to preserving and perpetuating traditional black gospel music.
His influence on contemporary gospel music
Andraé Crouch was an American gospel singer, musician, arranger, and record producer. A pioneer in contemporary Christian music, he was known for his cross-cultural style that combined elements of traditional black gospel, pop, soul, and jazz. He exerted a tremendous influence on the development of modern gospel music and was one of the most popular figures in the genre during his lifetime.
Crouch began his musical career as a teenager, leading a group called the Disciples. In 1964, he founded the Andraé Crouch Choir, which became one of the most acclaimed gospel choirs of its time. He went on to produce and arrange records for a number of artists, including Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, and Quincy Jones. In addition to his work in the studio, Crouch was a highly sought-after live performer; he appeared at major music festivals and concert halls around the world and played a pivotal role in spreading the gospel message to non-believers through his music.
Crouch’s health began to decline in recent years, and he passed away in 2015 at the age of 72. His legacy as one of the most important figures in gospel music is secure; he continues to be widely respected and admired by musicians across all genres.
Edwin Hawkins
Edwin Hawkins was a hugely successful gospel singer and songwriter who was best known for his arrangement of the gospel song “Oh Happy Day.” Hawkins was born in Oakland, California, on August 19, 1943. He began singing gospel music as a child and was a member of the Northern California State Youth Choir. Hawkins rose to prominence in the late 1960s with his arrangement of “Oh Happy Day,” which became a crossover hit.
His work with the Northern California State Youth Choir
Hawkins was born in Oakland, California, and began playing piano at the age of five. He joined his local church choir when he was nine years old, and began composing gospel songs when he was just eleven. In 1962, he formed the Northern California State Youth Choir, a group which would go on to achieve considerable success. The choir’s first album, Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord (1968), was a surprise hit, reaching Number 2 on the Billboard gospel chart. The album featured Hawkins’ arrangement of “Oh Happy Day”, a medieval hymn which had been a hit for the Sanctified Singer Mahalia Jackson in 1947. “Oh Happy Day” became an even bigger hit for Hawkins’ choir, reaching Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1969 and selling over a million copies.
His influence on contemporary gospel music
Edwon Hawkins was born in Oakland, California in 1943. He was the eldest of nine children and began singing gospel music at an early age. He founded the Northern California State Youth Choir, which became known for its unique sound and dynamic stage performances. The group recorded its first album in 1968, and the title track, “Oh Happy Day”, became a crossover hit, reaching #4 on the pop charts and selling over five million copies. The success of the song made Hawkins a household name and spurred a renewed interest in gospel music among young people.
Hawkins continued to record and perform throughout his career, and his work had a profound impact on contemporary gospel music. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002, and he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Walter Hawkins
His work with the Love Center Choir
Walter Hawkins was born in San Francisco, California in 1949. He was the fifth and youngest child of Willie and Jenny Hawkins. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother was a gospel singer. Walter began singing in his father’s church at the age of four. By the time he was a teenager, he was working as a musician and singing background vocals for Mahalia Jackson.
In the early 1970s, Hawkins started leading his own gospel group, the Love Center Choir. The choir recorded several albums and had a number of hit songs, including “Jesus Christ Is Lord” and “Oh Happy Day.” In 1979, Hawkins released his solo album, The Truth Will Set You Free, which won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.
Walter Hawkins died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.
His influence on contemporary gospel music
Walter Hawkins was an American gospel music singer, songwriter, record producer, and pastor. He is recognized as one of the architects of contemporary gospel music, and his composition “The Wonder of Your Love” is considered a modern gospel standard.
Hawkins was born in Oakland, California, and began singing in his church choir at an early age. He went on to study music at the Oakland City College, and later at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In the early 1970s, Hawkins formed the group The Love Center Choir, which became one of the most popular gospel groups of its time. He released his first solo album in 1977, and continued to release well-received albums throughout his career.
Hawkins’ music was characterized by its use of modern pop and R&B styles, as well as its positive and uplifting lyrics. He was a prolific songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by numerous artists including Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, and Kirk Franklin.
Hawkins passed away in 2010, but his music continues to influence Gospel artists today.
BeBe Winans
BeBe Winans is a legendary Gospel singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He has won numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards, and he is one of the best-selling Gospel artists of all time. BeBe has released 11 solo albums, and he has also collaborated with his sister, CeCe Winans, on seven albums.
His work with the New Baptist Covenant
In 2008, BeBe Winans was one of the featured performers at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was organized by Former President Jimmy Carter, and brought together Baptists from all over the United States in an effort to promote racial unity within the Baptist denomination. Winans co-wrote and performed a song called “We Are One” for the event, which summed up the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood that was central to the New Baptist Covenant’s mission.
His influence on contemporary gospel music
BeBe Winans has had a long and successful career in the world of gospel music. He has been a part of several different groups and has also released several solo albums. He is one of the most well-known black male gospel singers and is considered to be a pioneer in the genre.
Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1962. His Parents were two of the founding members of the legendary gospel group The Staple Singers. BeBe and his seven siblings were all born into a family with a rich musical heritage. His older brothers Cecil and Ronald are also well-known gospel musicians. BeBe began his musical career at an early age, singing with his family in their local church.
In 1987, BeBe and his brother CeCe formed the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans. The siblings enjoyed commercial success with their first album, a self-titled project that featured the hit single “I’ll Take You There.” The album went on to sell more than two million copies and earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group.
After releasing several more albums together, BeBe & CeCe decided to pursue solo careers in 1996. BeBe released his debut solo album, “Love & Freedom,” that same year. The album featured guests such as Whitney Houston,bonsi Boyz II Men, and Quincy Jones. It received critical acclaim and earned BeBe his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
Since then, he has released several more solo albums and has continued to enjoy success in the world of gospel music. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and has been inducted into both the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to his musical accomplishments, he has also written four books on faith and spirituality
