Sunday Morning with Harlem Gospel Choir

While checking out music for a Sunday morning post, I ran across a video from Harlem Gospel Choir and could not resist posting it. They sing "Oh Happy Day", a number based on an 18th Century song by English clergyman Philip Doddridge but with updates and arranged by Edwin Hawkins in the 1960s. When recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers for a 1969 release, the song went to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Hawkins' arrangement quickly became a classic, and sung by many. That would include the Harlem Gospel Choir.

"Go Down Moses" is a spiritual that describes events in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically the book of Exodus. The song was most famously done by Paul Robeson, whose deep and resonant voice injected depth to whatever he sang. The song was popular during the Civil War, especially by those active with the Underground Railroad. The song was also important to the Civil Rights activists in the 1960s. Here is the wonderful version of the Harlem Gospel Choir.

To learn more about Harlem Gospel Choir, visit their official website.

Sunday Morning with Elvis Presley

It just occurred to me that we needed a little bit of Gospel from Elvis. I mean, how about having the King bring a little bit of Sunday morning to everyone. We can start with Elvis singing a gospel music arrangement of an 18th century hymn. That would be Oh Happy Day.



And then we can give a listen to How Great Thou Art?, a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in 1885, set to the melody of a Swedish folk song. British missionary Stuart K. Hine made the English translation, and also added two original verses of his own composition. It has been performed by some of the biggest names in the music business, but not sure if any would be bigger than Elvis.



Peace In The Valley was a song written in 1937 by Thomas A. Dorsey for the great Mahalia Jackson. Elvis began singing it in the 1950s, with the support of the legendary The Jordanaires. The song also managed to make it on the soundtrack of the Broadway smash Million Dollar Quartet, sung by "Elvis" on Broadway eight times a week. Here is Elvis from the Ed Sullivan Show, with The Jordanaires behind him.



Thank you very much, y'all.

Sunday Morning with Aretha Franklin

In 1987, Aretha Franklin released a collection of gospel songs called One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. There were many amazing songs on it, including this duet with Mavis Staples, singing Oh Happy Day.

Sunday Worship - San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus

They perform Oh Happy Day.



You can learn more about the San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus by clicking here.