ELVIS KNEW THIS GROUP WELL AND  MET THEM WHILE IN THE ARMY HE DID A COVERS OF THEIR "SWING DOWN SWEET CHARIOT" AND " YOU NEVER WALK ALONE"WHICH IS ALSO ON THIS RECORD  SOON AFTER LEAVING HIS SERVICE~~~~~

Golden Gate Quartet From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: , This article needs additional citations for . Please help by . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2011)Golden Gate Quartet The Golden Gate Quartet (1964) Background informationAlso known asGolden Gate Jubilee QuartetOriginYears active1934–presentMembersPaul Brembly
Frank Davis
Thierry Francis
Timothy RileyPast membersWillie Johnson
Henry Owens
Robert "Peg" Ford
A.C. "Eddie" Griffin
William Landford

Clyde Riddick
Cliff Givens
Alton Bradley
Orville Brooks
Eugene Mumford
Franck Todd
Caleb Ginyard, Jr.
Calvin Williams
Clyde Wright
Richard Phillips

The Golden Gate Quartet (aka The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet) is an vocal group. It was formed in 1934 and, with changes in membership, remains active. It is the most successful of all of the groups who sang in the style.[]

The group was founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Singers in 1934, by four students at the Booker T. Washington College in . According to the group's website, the original members were Willie Johnson (baritone; d. 1980), William Landford (tenor; d. 1970), Henry Owens (second tenor; d. 1970) and (bass; 1917–1998); other sources state that Landford and Wilson replaced earlier members Robert "Peg" Ford and A.C. "Eddie" Griffin in 1935.

From 1935, the group sang in churches and on local , gaining a regular spot on radio station in in 1936. They began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with with rhythms borrowed from the and like . They developed a broad repertoire of styles – from Owens' mournful, understated approach in songs such as "Anyhow" or "Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name", to the group's highly arrangements in "". Like in popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as "Golden Gate Gospel Train". Landford often sang lead, using his ability to range from to , while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group. Wilson's bass served as the anchor for the group and Owens harmonized with Landford and Johnson.[]

In 1937 they moved to station in , and soon afterwards won a contract with . After their first recording session on August 14, 1937, in which they recorded 14 songs in two hours, they were contracted to record 12 tracks per year. In 1938, they were recruited by to appear at the first concert held at in , after which their popularity grew. They stayed in New York and were signed up for a residency at the nightclub. As well as performing and recording gospel songs they also recorded some secular songs for , who were intending to bill them as "The Four Chocolate Bars", but the recordings were not released. In 1939, William Landford left the group to form a new group, the Southern Sons; he was replaced by Clyde Riddick (1913–1999).

The 1940s and 1950s[]

In 1940 the group signed a new contract with ' subsidiary label, and shortened their name to the Golden Gate Quartet. They soon had a nationwide radio program and the opportunity to sing at 's inauguration in 1941, becoming the first black musical group to sing at and later performing several times at the . They continued to be popular during , making several appearances in films and singing secular music, including some unique songs such as "" that mixed humor with political commentary. The Quartet appeared in films such as (1942), (1943), (1944), and the film (1948). In the latter film, they performed the songs "" and part of "A Song Is Born" with and .

Johnson was called into the in 1943, followed by Wilson in 1944; they were temporarily replaced by Cliff Givens - who later left to join firstly and then - and Alton Bradley. The group moved first to the main Columbia record label and then, in 1948, to . Johnson left in 1948 to form The Jubalaires, and was replaced by Orville Brooks (1919-1997).

The quartet lost their pre-eminent position in gospel music after the war, when they faced competition from the newer hard gospel quartets. They continued in their old style, offering sharper political commentary in songs such as "God's Gonna Cut 'Em Down", but losing much of their audience to quartets such as and . Henry Owens left in 1950 to become a preacher and solo artist. Alton Bradley returned to replace him, but then left in 1952 when he was replaced by Eugene Mumford (1925-1977), previously of .

The Golden Gates revived their career in 1955, however, when they toured for the first time, where they became widely popular. The group moved to in 1959 and has continued touring, primarily in Europe, since then. During his stint in the US Army, in Germany, , who was a huge admirer of their work since his early childhood, visited them backstage at "Le Lido", in Paris, and stayed to watch their entire show, staying also with them at the hotel "Prince de Galles". Presley recorded a version of their popular"" that appeared on his gospel album. During this time there were further personnel changes: Orville Brooks left and was replaced by Franck Todd and later in turn by Caleb Ginyard (1910-1978), and Eugene Mumford was replaced by Clyde Wright (born May 1, 1928, Charlotte, North Carolina).

Since the 1950s, the group has been primarily based in Europe. They toured widely in the late 1950s, including -sponsored tours around the world. In 1959, the group started a two-year residency at the . A visit from Elvis took place at this time.

Later activities

The group made their first tour of Africa in 1962, and during the early 1960s gradually expanded their accompanying band to incorporate guitar, piano, bass and drums. Through the 1960s they toured widely in Europe, with a long-established line-up of Orlandus Wilson, Clyde Riddick, Caleb Ginyard, and Clyde Wright. In 1971, Ginyard and Wright left, and were replaced by Paul Brembly (the great-nephew of Orlandus Wilson) and Calvin Williams. Wright returned to the group in 1985 to replace Williams, who returned to the US.

The group undertook a 60th anniversary world tour in 1994. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995, and Wilson, the last surviving member of the original group, until his death in 1998. Riddick was replaced by Frank Davis. Wright was replaced by Charles West (Nephew to Wilson) of Portsmouth, VA. The position of bass singer has in recent years been filled by Thierry Fred Francois, Richard Phillips, and, since 2005, by Anthony Gordon.

Recognition

The Golden Gate Quartet was inducted into The in 1998.

In his 2011 album "" musician used excerpts from their 1938 recording of "Golden Gate Gospel Train" to mix into the song "Love & Blessings". In addition, the group's music was also featured in the video game .~~~~