Living Waters Worship Center Shouting, troubles over. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. Release Title:---Record Size: 7" Style: Classic R&B, Gospel. In 1960, the ensemble released Steal Away to Jesus on the Peacock label and in 1961 they recorded their debut album, Family Circlet. After 44 years and 35 albums, three Grammys and trophy-case full of almost every award imaginable; shows that have run a gamut from the church-house to the White House, and top-billings with a dazzling roster of superstar artists from nearly every genre of popular music (the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire, Luther 32 on the Billboard R&B chart and 102 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. Timeless Gospel Classics Vol. Mr. Wallace was the creator of one of Gospel Quartet Musics iconic bass lines. A Michael Cook Tribute will be held: The groups signature songs included Walk Around Heaven, Nearer My God to Thee, and Ive Been in the Storm Too Long. Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account. He will be deeply missed by all of us. According to essays by Opal Nations, Richard Edward Wallace was born June 9, 1940, in Austin, Texas. . 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. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. 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. I am so shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Wallace. 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 Mighty Clouds of Joy went through many personnel changes in their decades-long career, with Ligon and Wallace ultimately the two remaining original members. Feel free to contribute! . The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon) helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Free shipping for many products! Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! Reviews of gospel DVDs, often in conjunction with the audio CD. 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. Menu. The two started singing together and founded the group, pulling from other popular gospel groups in the area to round out the line-up. 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. RIH, Sir! Please enjoy the archives. 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. Their first recording was "Build Me a Cabin in Glory" on the Elko label in 1957. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." Although shyness prevented him from singing in public, he sang constantly. The original group members included: David Walker; Ligon; Leon Polk; Richard Wallace; Elmo Franklin; Artis Turnbough; Ermant Franklin Jr.; Johnny Martin. 23 talking about this. During a subsequent interview, Ligon explained "We wanted to go back to our roots in the '60s, singing songs we were known for before the contemporary music came in.". THE MIGHTY CLOUDS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! Their crossover success continued with opening slots for secular pop stars including Marvin Gaye, the Rolling Stones, and Paul Simon, whom the group backed during a monthlong stint at Madison Square Garden. Material . 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). Gods Grace and Mercy will carry you thru, To God be the glory. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 2005. Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. The Mighty Clouds of Joy started out in a traditional-based style. 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. 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. Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. The original members of the band include Johnny Martin, Elmo and Ermant Franklin, Leon Polk and Richard Wallace. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! At age 14, Ligon moved to LA to live with his uncle. In 1974, The Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel group to appear on the television dance program, Soul Train. God bless his family! The Mighty Clouds of Joy went on to win GRAMMY Awards and become one of the top quartets of the 1960s and 1970s. The Mighty Clouds of Joy formed in 1955 in Los Angeles and still includes two of its original members, Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. 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. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. He was 80. The group's first break came when they caught the ear of a local gospel disc jockey, who agreed to produce several demo tapes. Jones, Kim. 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. There, he attended Jefferson High School. All That I Am: Chapter 1. They were influenced by R&B groups such as The Temptations, as well as the Rev. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. The Greatest Singer Ever, Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Lee Marvin Net Worth | Wife, Children, Cause of Death. 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. All Rights Reserved. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MIGHTY CLOUDS OF HARMONY press photo 8" x 10" publicity GOSPEL at the best online prices at eBay! I am so y to hear of Richards passing. Attendees will also be treated to a short documentary titled, A Living Legacy, by David Ramsey, Rev. Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. 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. In the years that followed, the Mighty Clouds joined the ranks of gospel's greatest showmen; one of the first groups to incorporate choreographed moves into their act, their nimble footwork and bright, color-coordinated outfits earned them the sobriquet "The Temptations of Gospel.". The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. Jones, Kim. The three finalists Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene, and Melanie Amaro pulled out all of the stops for their final performances. Friday, July 25th Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. 2002. [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. The mighty clouds has always been one if my favorite Quartets. 11400 Glenn Dale Boulevard This will go to the welfare of his children. by Dixie Hummingbirds Audio CD. Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography. This was when they came to South Carolina. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. For more information, contact bobm@journalofgospelmusic.com or call (773) 576-2378. McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Beasley. 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. He will be surely missed. Interestingly, Wallace had recorded for Peacock two years prior to the signing, when he played guitar behind the Alpha-Omega Singers 1958 sides for the Houston-based imprint. Who is going down in the grave with me and He s able are classic s from Richard Wallace, I barely listen to the lyrics lol. Ligons death also was confirmed by his former booking agent Ricky DeRae. Wallace remained with the Clouds for the remainder of his career, leaving the parent group in 2010 to form his own iteration of the Mighty Clouds. IT WAS A PLEASURE FOR ME TO SING WITH RICHARD FOR TWO YEARS AS THE LEAD SINGER OF HIS MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY AND I BEGAN TO LOVE LOVE HIM HE SHOWED ME MANY THINGS ABOUT THE ROAD SHOW ME PLACES IN FLY ME PLACES I NEVER BEEN BEFORE SO I HONOR RICHARD WALLACE AS TAKING ME IN AS TO BE THE LEAD SINGER WHEN HE SEPARATED FOR THAT MOMENT FROM JOLLA HES THE BEST FRIEND THAT I KNOW AND HE WILL CALL MY WIFE DIDNT KNOW WHETHER TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME BECAUSE ITS HARD TO CATCH ME BUT TO THE WILD FAMILY FROM ME AND MY WIFE EBONY STAPLES WE PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND RICHARD YOU ALL WILL BE MISSED. 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. Biography. The X Factor final performances - care to predict a winner. 8262 Lokus Road 3x Grammy Award-Winning gospel group ft. Ron Staples, Johnny Valentine, Dale Staples, Tim Woodson & Derrick Staples -. Read Full Biography. 1 on the Disco/Dance chart and remained charted for five weeks. 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"). Format: Record. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday . As a young man I didnt have that smooth voice like most young boys had My voice was always hard and rough, People would say I had a growl and sounded like I had rocks in my mouth when I sang. Joe died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. 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). The quartet later changed its name to the Stars of Bethlehem and cut an album for Ensign Records in 1960. The Mighty Clouds of Joy formed in 1955 in Los Angeles and still includes two of its original members, Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. And we got stoned for it, Ligon told The Associated Press in a 1993 interview. May he forever Rest In Paradise.. Verdie Maynus Ligon died Sunday in Georgia, his manager, Isaac Lindsey, said. Despite rumors of his demise, the charming rock legend is alive and well. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. 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.. Franklin, soon became a trademark of the Mighty Clouds of Joy's records. Do you find this information helpful? The following year, the group recorded their debut album, Family Circle. Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. He inspired so many gospel groups. The singer once said: Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do., My prayers go out to Joes family, friends, loved ones, and fans, said gospel singer BeBe Winans. Bass guitarist Richard Wallace, the last original member, and Leader of the group, diedon Monday, July 27, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. December 20, 2020 at 12:16 a.m. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Ligon had eight daughters, named: Ericka, La Tonya, Dawn, La Tisha, Patricia, Adrenia, Clarice, and Debra. Their first recording was Build Me a Cabin in Glory on the Elko label in 1957. They became one of the most influential gospel groups in the US. 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. The funeral service will be: Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. All Rights Reserved. 1990 Albums Down Memory Lane: Chapter 2 2014 All That I Am: Chapter 1 2011 At the Revival 2010 Movin' So sorry to hear of Richards passing. The single Mighty Clouds of Joy from that same album reached no. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Press Photo Music Group The Mighty Clouds of Joy - afx16019 at the best online prices at eBay! Forming a vocal quartet, the four teenagers were taken under the wing of a neighbor who tutored them in the art of four-part harmonizing. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. 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. 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. Their moves earned them "The Temptations of Gospel" moniker. 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.