Gospel Song – Let Your Light from the Lighthouse Shine on Me. Blind Willie Johnson, the writer of this classic gospel song, has been a monumental influence in gospel blues since he recorded his songs in the latter 1920’s. He recorded 30 songs in all, completing his recording career around 1930. All of Blind Willie’s songs …
Gospel Song – Come, Let Us Go Back To God. The legendary writer of this song, Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993), is called the “Father of Gospel Music.” He coined the term Gospel in the early 1930’s, and is said to have written over 1,000 gospel songs. He was the first musician to popularize the fusion of sacred …
Gospel Song – You Got To Move. This country blues gospel song was recorded by Mississippi Fred McDowell in the 1940’s, but no one knows how old it is. Mississippi Fred is given credit for writing the song, with an assist from Rev. Gary Davis. McDowell is one of the eminent blues artists of the 20th …
Gospel Song – Denomination Blues. Washington Phillips wrote this fascinating gospel song, and he recorded it in 1928. He was born and raised in central Texas, and became a renowned gospel blues singer in the South. He recorded 18 songs, between 1927-1929, but only 16 have survived. Besides “Denomination Blues,” he wrote another big hit …
Gospel Song – John the Revelator. This classic blues gospel song was first recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1930. Between the bad recording and the complex wording of the lyrics, the song was pretty much forgotten after a few years. But the legendary Delta bluesman, Son House, revived public interest in the song in the …
Gospel Song – God Don’t Never Change. This gospel blues classic was recorded by the legendary Blind Willie Johnson in 1929. No one else has ever claimed credit for the song, so it is assumed that he was the original composer and writer. Blind Willie was born around 1900 in Texas. He was not born …
Gospel – Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. This classic gospel song was originally performed by one of the great bluesman of all time, Blind Willie Johnson, in 1928. Blues musicians in the early days had a tradition of borrowing music and lyrics from each other, so it’s not clear who originally wrote the song. It …
Gospel – Sending Up My Timber. “There are many dwelling places in my Father’s household. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place of rest for you.” (John 14:2). There is a heartfelt and fascinating old Gospel song in the African-American tradition entitled “Sending Up My Timber.” Here …