The Golden Gate Quartet | The Legacy Of Rap in 1930s Negro Spiritual Jubilee Music Tradition

About this episode

This episode explores the legacy of the Golden Gate Quartet and their influence on the jubilee singing style and gospel music in the 1930s.

The legacy of this internationally renowned ensemble, innovators of the "jubilee" singing style which influenced the national sound of quartets in the black community before World War II. The most popular of the Jubilee quartets, the Golden Gate Quartet started singing as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in the mid-'30s when they were students at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA. The membership included Willie Johnson (baritone and narrator), Henry Owens (first tenor) William Langford (second tenor), and Orlandus Wilson (bass). Their harmonies became very sophisticated, laced with a heavy dose of jazz and a Mills Brothers influence right down to their vocal imitation of instruments. In fact, next to the Mills Brothers, they were probably the best at the "sounding like instruments" technique. They built their reputation through performing on local radio shows and in churches. In 1937 the Gates signed to Victor's Bluebird affiliate and applied their unique jazz-swing sound to gospel titles like "Go Where I Send Thee," "The Preacher and the Bear," and "When the Saints Go Marchin' In." On Aug. 4, 1937, they recorded an amazing 14 songs in two hours at the Charlotte…

People in this episode

Host: John G. Horse

Topics covered

• jubilee singing
• black community music
• 1930s music history
• Golden Gate Quartet
• gospel music
• jazz influence

Keywords

• Golden Gate Quartet
• jubilee music
• gospel
• 1930s
• black music history
• jazz
• Leadbelly

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Golden Gate Quartet, Victor's Bluebird, NBC Radio

Books & works: Go Where I Send Thee, The Preacher and the Bear, When the Saints Go Marchin' In

Places: Norfolk, VA

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