DESCRIPTION:
A tribute to the Caravans. For those of you, who grew up as I did during the Golden Age of Gospel in the 50's and 60's. We had the opportunity to witness the birth of some of the greatest gospel groups of all times. In the early 50's Albertina Walker formed a group called the Caravans. The original group was Tina, Nellie Grace Daniels, Ora Lee Hopkins and Elyse Yancey. Over the years the personnel changed, and the Caravans went on to become one of the most famous female gospel groups, all the while led by Tina. From the Caravans came a host of other well known gospel singers. Other gospel groups tried to duplicate or imitate their gospel sound and style, but it was never fully emulated.

In the late 1960's Arthur Reid Reynolds took five of the best singers from his choir at the St. Vestal C.M.E. church in California, and created the gospel group, the "Art Reynolds Singers". The groups members were Thelma Houston, Lillie Mae Brown, Alexis Donnadell, Alfreda James and Glenna Session. They released their first album in 1966 titled Tellin' It Like It Is.The Art Reynolds singers soon became pioneers in the development of "gospel rock". Art wrote seven songs on the first album, and one song "Jesus Is Just Alright," was later recorded by The Byrds and The Doobie Brothers. In later years Thelma Houston went on the have a big career in the Disco era. Wining a Grammy in 1977 for her recording of the classic Don't Leave Me This way, originally done by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

From their 1966 album Tellin' It Like It Is, Sweeping Through The City aka I Won't Be Back. On lead Thelma Houston. The song was originally released by the Caravans in 1962 and written by James Herndon. This song became one of the anthem songs of the Vans.

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