Successful gospel group who fused the traditional quartet style with modern, R&B-influenced musical arrangements. He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show. Cards can be sent to Valerie Cook, PO Box 273, Jessup, MD 20794. Such a loss to us all.. 3x Grammy Award-Winning gospel group ft. Ron Staples, Johnny Valentine, Dale Staples, Tim Woodson & Derrick Staples -. Thursday, July 24th Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. He was 80. A native of Troy, Alabama, Ligon was blessed with natural singing talent. But when I heard Mr lLigon he also had that growl , which made me feel so much better about singing and Ive been trying to sing every since. He and his brother Lee ODaniel migrated west to Los Angeles and, in 1956, joined the Stars of Bethel, a quartet that included cousins from Texas who had moved to LA ahead of them. $16.99. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. They were organized in 1955 in Los Angeles, California by group founders Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace, along with High School friends Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name "Bunker Hill"). As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Beasley. The funeral service will be: Movies. Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, . Release Title:---Record Size: 7" Style: Classic R&B, Gospel. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." Lawrence Roberts and Gregory Gay informed TBGB that Elmo Franklin, an original member of the Mighty Clouds of Joy of Los Angeles, California, passed from labor to reward last week. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Living Waters Worship Center My Dad and my sisters sung gospil and this gave me a unique opportunity to meet many of icons gospil. '"[2], Last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, Willie Joe Ligon of Beaumont, Texas | 1936 - 2016 | Obituary, An interview with Joe Ligon at Soul Express in July 2013, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mighty_Clouds_of_Joy&oldid=1139105309, 1960: "Steal Away to Jesus" (Peacock Records), 1975: "Amazing Grace"; R&B#4 UK#15 US Hot Dance Club Play No. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1961 and started out in a tradition-based style. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. Home Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Sparc Mac Net Worth, Girlfriend, YouTube, Biography, Gabrielle Bernstein Net Worth, Husband, Quotes, Books, Biography. The Mighty Clouds of Joy. Successful gospel group who fused the traditional quartet style with modern, R&B-influenced musical arrangements. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. My condolences to his family and many friends. In 1960, the ensemble released Steal Away to Jesus on the Peacock label and in 1961 they recorded their debut album, Family Circlet. Thanks for the story. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. The group's first break came when they caught the ear of a local gospel disc jockey, who agreed to produce several demo tapes. See original listing. Kim Jones is an ordained pastor and a co-founder of Road to Revelation, a Christian rock band. When the Peacock Records label heard these tapes, the group was quickly signed to a recording contract. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Gods Grace and Mercy will carry you thru, To God be the glory. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. 2014. I would like to offer my condolences to the family. Thank you, Debra they are singing in glory, indeed! Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act to ever appear on "Soul Train," which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. Ligon earned most of his wealth from being part of The Mighty Clouds of Joy. The band released 31 albums, including Down Memory Lane, In the House of the Lord: Live in Houston, Pray for Me, Sing and Shout, The Truth Is the Power, Mighty Clouds of Joy Live, Live at Music Hall, and Family Circle. Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. Thank you for visitingGospel Soundcheckpage. The group has won three Grammy Awards, several Stellar Awards, Hall of Fame Inductions, Lifetime Achievement Awards, with more nominations and top selling hit albums along the way. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Michael Cook Trust Fund and can be made at any Bank of America Branch. The founding members were Willie Joe Ligon (October 11, 1936), Johnny Martin (February 2, 1941), Bass Guitarist Richard Wallace (June 9, 1940), and brother guitarists Ermant Franklin, Jr. (March 20, 1931) and Elmo Franklin (October 8, 1936). The line-up was drawn from three of the hottest gospel groups in LA at the time, as Richard recalls, "I used to have a singing group called the Stars Of Bethel. In a break with tradition, the groups sound incorporated Soul, R&B, and Rock; all of which flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. By 1960, they had a major Gospel record deal with a hit single and album flying up the charts. Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its been a while since I posted Im kind of in limbo right now with entertainment writing, as Ive made the move to animals and faith. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, CA as a traditional-based style group. $3.98. In 1990, they released the album Pray for Me. In 1992, The Mighty Clouds of Joy received another Grammy Award for best traditional soul gospel album (Pray for Me). . Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. Posted on Last updated: November 10, 2021, Joe Ligon was an American gospel singer best known asthe dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy.. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have shared the stage with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, andThe Rolling Stones. In 1960, the group released a single, titled Steal Away to Jesus.. 2, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Please enjoy the archives. In 1974, The Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel group to appear on the television dance program, Soul Train. The Best of The Dixie Hummingbirds. However at a little [], Davy Jones dies and I say goodbye to my childhood. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was one of the first groups in urban gospel to incorporate choreographed moves into their act. The founding members were Willie Joe Ligon (October 11, 1936), Johnny Martin (February 2, 1941), Bass Guitarist Richard Wallace (June 9, 1940), and brother guitarists Ermant Franklin, Jr. (March 20, 1931) and Elmo Franklin (October 8, 1936). [1], While reviewing the group's 1974 crossover LP It's Time, Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), "You'd figure the showiest of all gospel groups would sell out with some flair, but the vocal transfigurationsthat old Wilson Pickett (and Julius Cheeks) unhh born againaren't the only reason this is one of the best LPs ever to come out of Philadelphia. Just Us Guys' live performance is sure to honor the memory of beloved founding members Wallace Hedgspeth and James Lunsford, who passed on in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He will be deeply missed by all of us. McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . $11.99. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. A new version of Last.fm is available, to keep everything running smoothly, please reload the site. The following year, 1958, they produced In Lord, You Woke Me Up This Morning on the Proverb label. Reviews of gospel DVDs, often in conjunction with the audio CD. 20072023 Blackpast.org. The mighty clouds has always been one if my favorite Quartets. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. Free shipping for many products! 9:00 AM 11:00 AM viewing, 11:00 AM 2:00 PM service I always remembered him from way back when I was a child. The Mighty Clouds of Joy Joe Ligon Albertina Walker Ncandweni Christ Ambassodors Winston Mankunku Ngozi Jonas Gwangwa Mthunzi Namba Stimela The Jackson Southernaires Israel Mosehla . His grandfather was a preacher, while his father sang in a gospel quartet. To God be the glory for giving the talents to these men to lift their voices in praise. Here is another blog you may also enjoy: Idol Chatter Happy Reading! Their song "Time" reached the top of the R&B charts in 1974, while their tune "Ride the Mighty High" became a major disco hit. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. It also reached no. He was 65; Elmeo Franklin died on May 7, 2008, in Los Angeles at the age of 71; Willie Joe Ligon died on December 11, 2016, in Los Angeles. The long-lived group flourished into the 21th century, scoring numerous Grammy wins and nominations and hit albums along the way. More importantly, they were the first group to add bass, drums, and keyboards to the standard quartet accompaniment of solo guitar, resulting in a sound that horrified traditionalists but appealed to younger listeners -- so much so, in fact, that the Mighty Clouds became the first gospel act ever to appear on television's Soul Train, where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High." The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. He is survived by his wife Valerie and three children, ages 8, 11 and 16. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. The original group members included: David Walker; Ligon; Leon Polk; Richard Wallace; Elmo Franklin; Artis Turnbough; Ermant Franklin Jr.; Johnny Martin. The Mighty Clouds of Joy signed a deal with Peacock Records gospel label. The Mighty Clouds' career stretches back to the early 60s, when the original members were Junior High School kids in LA, and still in their teenage years. Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill). He will be surely missed. Members: Clay Hammond, David Walker (35), Elmeo Franklin, Ermant Franklin, Joe Ligon, Johnny Martin (4), Leon Polk, Paul Beasley, Richard Wallace (2), Ted Taylor Variations: Viewing All | The Mighty Clouds Of Joy Javascript is required to view shouts on this page. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. For more informaiton, visit the Mighty Clouds of Joy website. Jason Ankeny, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy-mn0000893234/biography; The Last Soul Company, Malaco.com, https://www.malaco.com/artists/gospel/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy/;The Mighty Clouds of Joy, napster.com, https://us.napster.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do, he said. May he forever Rest In Paradise.. Verdie Maynus Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. This was when they came to South Carolina. He was 46. You can read more on my personal blog,Notes From The Funny Farmand follow some fun stuff on my dog Bandits blog. Another first, the Mighty Clouds was the first gospel act ever to appear on television's Soul Train, where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High.". Scrobbling is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your music profile. Before his passing My group was privileged to have recorded a song with him that I will hold dear to my heart till that day I see him again in Glory. Ligon was born in Troy, Alabama, but moved to Los Angeles and started the gospel quartet in the 1950s. It was there that he met Johnny Martin in school. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. It wasn't until 1961 as the group became famous, they added bass, drums, and keyboards to the standard guitar backup and developed a funky sound that split the difference between gospel, and rhythm and blues. December 20, 2020 at 12:16 a.m. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. And we got stoned for it, Ligon told The Associated Press in a 1993 interview. Fly high above the clouds another ?.gone so soon. Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill). Michael Cook, member of the legendary Gospel group The Mighty Clouds of Joy, died Friday morning July 18th as a result of a massive coronary. I grew up with gospel music in my blood and on my mind.. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. He inspired so many gospel groups. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. Although they increasingly veered toward a heavy, dance-inspiring sound, Ligon and the Mighty Clouds of Joy returned to their earliest roots with the album Live in Charleston, recorded during a concert at the Abundance Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 7, 1996. Shop the Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel store $14.99 22 on the Billboard Soul Music chart and peaked at no. Jones, Kim. See also. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way. Their crossover success brought them added recognition, and they opened for the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. This will go to the welfare of his children. The Mighty Clouds of Joy went on to win GRAMMY Awards and become one of the top quartets of the 1960s and 1970s. The groups signature songs included Walk Around Heaven, Nearer My God to Thee, and Ive Been in the Storm Too Long. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, CA as a traditional-based style group. I missed sharing [], Tonight was the final performance episode of this first season of The X Factor in the US, and what a way to end the competition. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday in Georgia. According to to a news release provided by gospel music industry publicist Bill. . Bass guitarist Richard Wallace, the last original member, and Leader of the group, diedon Monday, July 27, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. In 1977, the band released two albums, Live and Direct and The Truth Is the Power.. Born and raised in rural Alabama, Joe Ligon was a musically gifted but shy young man who had grown up in the church and sang there for as long as anyone can remember. 12/13/2016. The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. He was 80. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. The other original members of the group were Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (aka Bunker Hill). First, each performed a duet with a star, [], Rock fans and women around the world are breathing a collective sigh of relief: Jon Bon Jovi is not dead. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have been awarded numerous accolades including eightGrammy nominations and three awards. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. Eventually they added soul, R&B read more Similar Artists Play all Eddie Ruth Bradford 2,873 listeners Lee Williams And The Spiritual QC's 3,274 listeners Douglas Miller 3,849 listeners 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. 47 on the R&B chart. The Mighty Clouds of Joy who often performed as Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy, was a gospel quartet established in Los Angeles, California in 1955. Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. I am so shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Wallace. 1 on the Disco/Dance chart and remained charted for five weeks. Timeless Gospel Classics Vol. Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! The Death of Dottie Rambo, Southern Gospel Legend, American Idol Finalists Who are Christian, The World's Best Christian Hard Rock Bands, The 27 Biggest Female Artists in Christian Music, Top 16 Christian Contemporary Pop Bands and Artists. According to essays by Opal Nations, Richard Edward Wallace was born June 9, 1940, in Austin, Texas. At his uncle's insistence, he agreed to enroll in the local high school. He was indeed an inspirational singer, guitar player and a gentleman. All That I Am: Chapter 1. 32 on the Billboard R&B chart and 102 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart. Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Williams Brothers, The Rance Allen Group, and more 11 Songs Mama Used to Sing II Various Artists Updated 5 days ago Mix - Mighty Clouds of Joy Mighty. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Shouting, troubles over. He was my vocal backbone in the group. Ligon's fiery preaching, inspired by the radio broadcasts of Reverend C.L. Invited to join a vocal group formed by his cousins, he was persuaded by his mother to accept the invitation. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in Los Angeles during the '50s by schoolmates Joe Ligon and Johnny Martin; while still in their teens, the original group -- which also included Leon Polk, Richard Wallace, and brothers Ermant and Elmo Franklin -- made their recorded debut in 1960 with "Steal Away to Jesus," cut for the Peacock label. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm not if anybody can tell me have Joe look on song on the same show with Sam Cooke and the soul stirrers and mighty clouds, James Oliver (The FAYETTE Spiritual Aires), Joe was the greatest. Gospel music authorities Rev. There, he attended Jefferson High School. The group was also inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. Biography. The Mighty Clouds of Joy formed in 1955 in Los Angeles and still includes two of its original members, Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. Over the years, however, he took that style to a new level. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Sometime that same year, Wallace, along with members of the Sensational Wonders quartet Ermant Franklin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk, David Walker, and former Clouds member-turned-Sensational-Wonder Willie Joe Ligon, joined Johnny Martin in a reconstituted version of the Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy. A new version of Last.fm is available, to keep everything running smoothly, please reload the site. Jones, Kim. He added: And we got stoned for it.. Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Read Full Biography, Contemporary gospel's preeminent group, the Mighty Clouds of Joy carried the torch for the traditional quartet vocal style throughout an era dominated by solo acts and choirs; pioneering a distinctively funky sound that over time gained grudging acceptance even among purists, they pushed spiritual music in new and unexpected directions, even scoring a major disco hit. Go directly to shout page. Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members included Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr. (d. 1996), Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmeo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace (d. 2020), Leon Polk (d. 1998) and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill).