Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. 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. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. So sorry to hear of Richards passing. We are so sorry and sadden to hear about Richard Wallace passing. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. 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. The original members of the band include Johnny Martin, Elmo and Ermant Franklin, Leon Polk and Richard Wallace. 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. JGM was saddened to learn from Debra Ligon and Libra Boyds post that singer and guitarist Richard Wallace of the Mighty Clouds of Joy passed away Monday, July 27, 2020. All Rights Reserved. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. The group's first break came when they caught the ear of a local gospel disc jockey, who agreed to produce several demo tapes. Ligon's fiery preaching, inspired by the radio broadcasts of Reverend C.L. Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Shouting, troubles over. by Dixie Hummingbirds Audio CD. Thus not realizing they were setting a standard and paving a way for future gospel soul groups for decades to come. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He loved everyone. He was a people person. Traveling to California to visit an uncle, at the age of 14 Ligon remained in the city for a year. Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Nominated for numerous Grammy Awards, the group received Grammys for several albums, including Live & Direct in 1978, Changing Times in 1979, and Power in 1993. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! While lineup changes plagued the Mighty Clouds throughout their career, they remained active into the new millennium; in addition to co-founders Ligon and Wallace, their latter-day incarnation also included Paul Beasley, Michael McCowin, Wilbert Williams, Johnny Valentine, and Ron Staples. 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). His legacy will live forever, I HAD THE HONOR OF SPENDING AN HOUR AND A HALF,HE WAS A VERY SMART MAN AND KNEW THE BUSINESS, Mr Joe Ligon inspired me to sing Quartet . JGM extends its sympathies to the family, friends, and many fans of the late Richard Wallace. Timeless Gospel Classics Vol. He was 46. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. 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. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. For once, the songsmany of them from producer Dave Crawford, whose spirit must have been movedinclude virtually no filler, not even (especially not even) the one that takes off from the group's name. '"[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 has always been one if my favorite Quartets. His ability to sing soon attracted the attention of other students, including Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace, and Elmo Franklin. 9:00 AM 11:00 AM viewing, 11:00 AM 2:00 PM service Steal Away to Jesus was their first recording in 1960, with their first album debuting in 1961 on Peacock Records. 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. Singles that are picks of the week are singled out for their quality. 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. 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. Hes some were around God Throne. 22 on the Billboard Soul Music chart and peaked at no. 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. What I mean be that he gave me his Holy Ghost, the peace within to know that He is the reason I even exist.. In 1960, the ensemble released Steal Away to Jesus on the Peacock label and in 1961 they recorded their debut album, Family Circlet. According to essays by Opal Nations, Richard Edward Wallace was born June 9, 1940, in Austin, Texas. He was indeed an inspirational singer, guitar player and a gentleman. He added: And we got stoned for it.. The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. Bass guitarist Richard Wallace, the last original member, and Leader of the group, diedon Monday, July 27, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act to ever appear on "Soul Train," which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. Michael Cook died in 2009 at the age of 46 after suffering a massive coronary. 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. 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy-mn0000893234/biography, https://www.malaco.com/artists/gospel/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy/, https://us.napster.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. A Michael Cook Tribute will be held: Javascript is required to view shouts on this page. 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"). The two started singing together and founded the group, pulling from other popular gospel groups in the area to round out the line-up. They won back-to-back Grammy Awards in 1978 and 1979 for best soul gospel performance, traditional, and again in 1991 for best traditional soul gospel album. 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. This will go to the welfare of his children. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. We lost another legend. RIH, Sir! Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. Ligon was born in Troy, Alabama, but moved to Los Angeles and started the gospel quartet in the 1950s. Unlike other gospel groups, its members dressed stylishly they used the same tailor as the Temptations and worked slick choreography into their act. Mighty Clouds Of Joy. They were influenced by R&B groups such as The Temptations, as well as the Rev. 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. Their crossover success brought them added recognition, and they opened for the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. 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! Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! Elmo Franklin died in 2008 at the age of 71. 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A new version of Last.fm is available, to keep everything running smoothly, please reload the site. In 1964, The Mighty Clouds of Joy released their debut album, called Family Circle via Peacock Records. Their first single, "Steal Away to Jesus," was recorded in 1960. 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. Ligon died Sunday in Georgia, his manager, Isaac Lindsey, said. Feel free to contribute! 47 on the R&B chart. 2011. This was when they came to South Carolina. In 1979, The Mighty Clouds of Joy received a Grammy Award for the album Live and Direct. In the same year, they released the album Changing Times, which also earned them a Grammy Award. Despite rumors of his demise, the charming rock legend is alive and well. Rest with God! The other original members of the group were Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (aka Bunker Hill). McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. The Greatest Singer Ever, Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Lee Marvin Net Worth | Wife, Children, Cause of Death. See original listing. In the House of the Lord - Live In Houston. 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. Trivia (1) Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, Tim Woodson, Johnny Martin, June Richmond. Im not going to say goodbye but I will say see ya later! My Dad and my sisters sung gospil and this gave me a unique opportunity to meet many of icons gospil. $3.98. Rest with the almighty my friend! Aliases The Mighty Clouds of Joy Country United States Comments Gospel vocal group formed in 1955 in Los Angeles by Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. The following year, 1958, they produced In Lord, You Woke Me Up This Morning on the Proverb label. Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, . They can even be found on display in the Apollo Theater. The Mighty Clouds of Joy used declamations of traditional African American ministers and were one of the earliest groups to use an electrified rhythm section to enhance classic Gospel vocals. 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. Ligon told the AP that at the age of 56 he could hit every note that he could at the age of 18. 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 group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. Among Mighty Clouds of Joys most popular songs: Time, which crossed over to the R&B charts in 1974, and Mighty High, a 1975 disco hit. 11400 Glenn Dale Boulevard In 1960, the group released a single, titled Steal Away to Jesus.. It was followed by A Bright Side in 1965. He is survived by his wife Valerie and three children, ages 8, 11 and 16. 20072023 Blackpast.org. The three finalists Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene, and Melanie Amaro pulled out all of the stops for their final performances. 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. 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. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The . By 1960, they had a major Gospel record deal with a hit single and album flying up the charts. Thanks for the update.. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Julius Cheeks, a Los Angeles singer known for his baritone voice and onstage antics. This blog is no longer being updated. In 2005, Wallace told Clint Yeatts of KLTV that he got saved while a member of the Clouds. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. Elmant Franklin Jr. died on January 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas. When the Peacock Records label heard these tapes, the group was quickly signed to a recording contract. They played for President Jimmy Carter and toured extensively overseas. 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. 8262 Lokus Road 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. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show. Here is another blog you may also enjoy: Idol Chatter Happy Reading! When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I am so shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Wallace. 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. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday in Georgia. Often immatated but never duplicatedl Their first recording was Build Me a Cabin in Glory on the Elko label in 1957. 2002. You can read more on my personal blog,Notes From The Funny Farmand follow some fun stuff on my dog Bandits blog. Formed 1955 in a Los Angeles high school by Willie Joe Ligon, born Sept. 11, 1942 in Troy, AL; original members were Ligon, lead, Johnney Martin, lead, Elmo Franklin, baritone, and Richard Wallace, bass; Ligon and Wallace continued with the group for the next forty years; added Paul Beasley lead singer of the Gospel Keytones 1980; current members 2, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. 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. Release Title:---Record Size: 7" Style: Classic R&B, Gospel. (2021, February 8). Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. The Best of The Dixie Hummingbirds. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. He will be surely missed. 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. Ligons death also was confirmed by his former booking agent Ricky DeRae. 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. Movies. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) w read more View all tracks Albums Changing Times 4. by Five Blind Boys Of Alabama Audio CD. 2014. We were one of the first groups to do contemporary gospel. . Scrobbling is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your music profile. Fly high above the clouds another ?.gone so soon. Jones, Kim. 23 talking about this. . The Mighty Clouds of Joy started out in a traditional-based style. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Thanks for the story. . 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. 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. https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696 (accessed March 4, 2023). Free shipping for many products! sending my condolences Mr. Wallace was the creator of one of Gospel Quartet Musics iconic bass lines. His grandfather was a preacher, while his father sang in a gospel quartet. Shortly thereafter, the quartet signed a long-term contract with Peacock Records, leaving one Mighty off their name. Attendees will also be treated to a short documentary titled, A Living Legacy, by David Ramsey, Rev. He inspired so many gospel groups. [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. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. 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). As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Beasley. 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. Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account. He was 80. Ligon had eight daughters, named: Ericka, La Tonya, Dawn, La Tisha, Patricia, Adrenia, Clarice, and Debra. For more information, contact bobm@journalofgospelmusic.com or call (773) 576-2378. 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. Although shyness prevented him from singing in public, he sang constantly. God bless his family! He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. Younger fans loved it while older, more traditional fans did not. The funeral service will be: Mr Bob as always your ability with the pen to speak to who and what are relative is amazing thank you for taking the time to honor and celebrate a life dedicated to gospel music when people think of Clouds they immediately think Joe Ligon, but Mr Richard Wallace booked, managed for many years, actually most of the years and made it possible for Mr Ligon to focus solely on singing they were brothers, they were friends, they were comrades, in gospel and in life, Richard Wallace is officially the last original who went on the road with the Clouds, making it the end of a long standing, era Now he joins the amazing cast of Clouds that proceeded him in Glory. It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. According to to a news release provided by gospel music industry publicist Bill. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. They become the first gospel act to ever appear on Soul Train,which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards.