[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 of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. Traveling to California to visit an uncle, at the age of 14 Ligon remained in the city for a year. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have shared the stage with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, andThe Rolling Stones. Movies. We love you! May he forever Rest In Paradise.. Verdie Maynus Do you find this information helpful? Let it play in the background as you study and immerse yourself in this topic! 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). This item: Classic 3. by The Mighty Clouds of Joy Audio CD. Therefore, at the time of his death, gospel singer Joe Ligon had an estimated net worth of $3 million. Elmant Franklin Jr. died on January 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was one of the first groups in urban gospel to incorporate choreographed moves into their act. We dont have any upcoming events for this artist right now. 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. Franklin, soon became a trademark of the Mighty Clouds of Joy's records. At his uncle's insistence, he agreed to enroll in the local high school. 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. However at a little [], Davy Jones dies and I say goodbye to my childhood. 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. . Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Jones, Kim. He was 80. 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. 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. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. . When the Peacock Records label heard these tapes, the group was quickly signed to a recording contract. Such a loss to us all.. 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. Read Full Biography. 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. Steal Away to Jesus was their first recording in 1960, with their first album debuting in 1961 on Peacock Records. God bless his family! 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. I am so y to hear of Richards passing. Despite rumors of his demise, the charming rock legend is alive and well. The following year, the group recorded their debut album, Family Circle. sending my condolences 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. It was their first crossover success. The three finalists Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene, and Melanie Amaro pulled out all of the stops for their final performances. And we got stoned for it, Ligon told The Associated Press in a 1993 interview. I grew up listening to the Mighty Clouds of Joy, I even had my own little group at 13 signing their songs. Over the years, however, he took that style to a new level. Im not going to say goodbye but I will say see ya later! 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 They can even be found on display in the Apollo Theater. 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. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. Richard Wallace was such a cool and soft spoken, and nice man that was very approacable. 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. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. 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. Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. 2002. A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL THAT PERFORMED FOR SO MANY. 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. Ligon died Sunday in Georgia, his manager, Isaac Lindsey, said. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have been awarded numerous accolades including eightGrammy nominations and three awards. By 1960, they had a major Gospel record deal with a hit single and album flying up the charts. Johnny Martin - the founding member died in 1987 at the age of 46. The Mighty Clouds of Joy went on to win GRAMMY Awards and become one of the top quartets of the 1960s and 1970s. My Dad and my sisters sung gospil and this gave me a unique opportunity to meet many of icons gospil. 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. 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. In 2005, Wallace told Clint Yeatts of KLTV that he got saved while a member of the Clouds. 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. In 1960, the ensemble released Steal Away to Jesus on the Peacock label and in 1961 they recorded their debut album, Family Circlet. Ligon was born in Troy, Alabama, but moved to Los Angeles and started the gospel quartet in the 1950s. Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. Often immatated but never duplicatedl Founding ensemble member Johnny Martin died on February 12, 1987, in Los Angeles at the age of 46. 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). 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. 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. Rest with God! 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 In 1974, The Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel group to appear on the television dance program, Soul Train. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. THE MIGHTY CLOUDS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! About THE MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY Founding Members: Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace Long-time Members: Mike Cook, Ron Staples and Johnny Valentine The original Mighty Clouds of Joy members were made up of members from three different Los Angeles Gospel groups. Glenn Dale, MD 20769 This blog is no longer being updated. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, . Under Ligon's leadership, the Mighty Clouds of Joy changed the standard gospel lineup from a vocal quartet backed by a sole electric guitar to a full-fledged, R&B-influenced group complete with bass, drums, and keyboards. The funeral service will be: 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. December 20, 2020 at 12:16 a.m. It was there that he met Johnny Martin in school. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. 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 See also. McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . The quartet later changed its name to the Stars of Bethlehem and cut an album for Ensign Records in 1960. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 47 on the R&B chart. The Mighty Clouds of Joy started out in a traditional-based style. Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. 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. Reviews of gospel DVDs, often in conjunction with the audio CD. The two started singing together and founded the group, pulling from other popular gospel groups in the area to round out the line-up. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Free shipping for many products! Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. 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. Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography. 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 Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. In 1979, the group won a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional for theirLive And Directalbum followed by the song Changing Times in 1980 forBest Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional. In 1992, they were awarded a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Albumfor Pray For Me.In 1998, the group had a disco hit, Mighty High, that peaked at no. Im so sorry.my condolences to his famiky and friends. All That I Am: Chapter 1. A new version of Last.fm is available, to keep everything running smoothly, please reload the site. I always remembered him from way back when I was a child. 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." They played for President Jimmy Carter and toured extensively overseas. Shortly thereafter, the quartet signed a long-term contract with Peacock Records, leaving one Mighty off their name. 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. Thank you for visitingGospel Soundcheckpage. 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. It was followed by A Bright Side in 1965. They become the first gospel act to ever appear on Soul Train,which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. Odenton, MD 21113 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! It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. Thanks for the story. Rest with the almighty my friend! 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. 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. He was my vocal backbone in the group. We were one of the first groups to do contemporary gospel, Ligon said during a 1993 interview. The following year, 1958, they produced In Lord, You Woke Me Up This Morning on the Proverb label. 1990 Albums Down Memory Lane: Chapter 2 2014 All That I Am: Chapter 1 2011 At the Revival 2010 Movin' . He moved to Los Angeles to live with his uncle when he was in his early teens. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday . Rest easy mr. wallace. The Greatest Singer Ever, Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Lee Marvin Net Worth | Wife, Children, Cause of Death. The group was also inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. 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. Bass guitarist Richard Wallace, the last original member, and Leader of the group, diedon Monday, July 27, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. 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 Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act to ever appear on "Soul Train," which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday in Georgia. A Michael Cook Tribute will be held: Although I was in the church I was not living saved, but then God saved me. Living Waters Worship Center The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. 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. They became one of the most influential gospel groups in the US. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. 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. 3x Grammy Award-Winning gospel group ft. Ron Staples, Johnny Valentine, Dale Staples, Tim Woodson & Derrick Staples -. More By The Mighty Clouds of Joy Pray for Me. So sorry to hear of Richards passing. Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do, he said. All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. Mighty Clouds of one of my favorite groups Joe Jim and Joan Richard Johnny Martin known as choked Emirate Franklin The Mighty Clouds of my favorite groups Joe Jimmy Jones Johnny Martin Richard Wallace Emirate Franklin and Elmo Franklin they were the best as far as I am concerned after the Dixie Hummingbirds our group the silver stars of Raleigh song a lot of The Mighty Clouds of Joy song Especially make a step, Mr. Richard Wallace will be missed by many condolences go out to his family from the silver stars of Raleigh North Carolina. Feel free to contribute! The quartet formed in the mid-1950s as a hard-shouting quartet in keeping with the style of the times, and through the intercession of RnB artist turned gospel DJ Brother Henderson, came to the attention of Peacock Records. The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. 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. Elmo Franklin died in 2008 at the age of 71. Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account. Ligon was born . Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Invited to join a vocal group formed by his cousins, he was persuaded by his mother to accept the invitation. Their moves earned them "The Temptations of Gospel" moniker. For more informaiton, visit the Mighty Clouds of Joy website. 8262 Lokus Road Younger fans loved it while older, more traditional fans did not. It also reached no. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373.