Sounds of Inspiration

By Effie Rolfe

Give honor to whom honor is due…It’s a weekend of celebration and appreciation! Pastor Shirley Caesar was in town to show her love for Apostle Richard Daniel Henton of the Monument of Faith Church. During a telephone interview, Caesar informed me that she took an early morning flight to Chicago to sing and bring the keynote address for the 42nd Founder’s Week service on last night. Caesar is Pastor of Mount Calvary in Raleigh, North Carolina. Caesar whose latest cd, “I Know the Truth” was nominated for a Grammy said, “I started singing at age 5, but my career kicked off at age twelve. When I got started I saw the hand of God on my life…I would lie in bed and have dreams of people being healed through my ministry.” Caesar recorded with the Albertina Walker and the Caravans and later met Henton at age 22. “I’m so glad he’s in my life. Rev Henton has taught a many preachers how to preach and he doesn’t even know it.” Apostle Henton has been a minister for 55 years since he was called to the gospel at 15 years old during class at Wendell Phillips High School.

Rev. Bryant Jones will be in a special salute on Sunday at Samaritan Bible Baptist Church, 6847 S. Halsted at 4pm. Special guests will be Chosen, The Thompson Community Singers, Steve Jones, Oakdale Covenant Mass Choir and others. Rev Billy Jones is the Pastor.

Gerald Gray of Grayboy Productions will be honored tonight at Fellowship MB Church. New Direction, Joshua’s Troop, Praise II Choir, Chicago Mass and Kevin Vasser will be special guests. Services will be at Fellowship Baptist, 45th Place and Princeton, Rev Charles Jenkins is Pastor.

 Joe Ligon is in Chicago being interviewed for the Mahalia Jackson documentary. The Board members for the Gospel Fest are presenting a special feature called ‘The Gospel Champions’ which will showcase Joe Ligon and the Mighty Clouds of Joy,The Caravans and Doc McKenzie and the Hi-lites. Ligon and the Mighty Cloud will open and close this year’s festival. Dottie Peoples and Marvin Sapp will close out on Friday evening and Grammy award winner Cece Winans closes out on Saturday.

The legendary Inez Andrews will be featured on Sunday Morning Golden Gospel with Nash Schaffer. Andrews, who sang with legendary groups such as Dorothy Lovecoates and the Harmoneers as well as The Caravans, has composed and recorded such gospel classics as Your Friend, Toiling, Lest I Stray, A Letter to Jesus, No Tears in Heaven, I’m Willing to Wait and her most popular to date Lord Don’t Move The Mountain. The special presentation will be aired Sunday Morning from 5am to 7am on AM 1450/WCEV. Minister Nannette Banks will be Schaffer’s special guest.

Musical Black History note…The first Grammy award presented to a gospel artist was given to Mahalia Jackson for the song “Every Time I feel the Spirit” in the category of “Best Gospel or Other Religious Recordings” during the 4th Annual Grammy Awards in 1961. Eight years later, in 1969, Hawkins received a Grammy in the newly created category “Best Soul Gospel Performance” for the song “Oh Happy Day.” Hawkins recorded the album, “Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord” by the Northern California State Youth Choir as a fundraiser to help the one hundred and fifty member choir attend the Holy Convocation in Memphis. The following year, The Edwin Hawkins Singers won a Grammy for the song, “Every Man Wants to Be Free.” Oh Happy Day revolutionized the face, the style and performance technique of gospel music of modern music and helped to usher in the modern contemporary music. (Special thanks to L. Stanley Davis)

Happy Birthday blessings to Fran Allen-Leake (25). “Remember you are blessed by the Best!”

 Effie Rolfe is the religion entertainment columnist for the Chicago Defender. She is also midday host (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on WGRB-AM/1390 and Host of "Music of Love and Inspiration" Sunday Mornings on WGCI-FM/107.5 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Email Effie Rolfe at: effrolfe@aol.com