Joe Ligon (deceased) Richard Wallace (deceased) Johnny Martin (deceased) Elmeo Franklin (deceased) Ermant Franklin (deceased)
Past members
Paul Beasley(deceased) Michael Cook (deceased) Clayton Hammond Jr. (deceased) Dwight Gordon Terry Fuller Michael McCowin Leon Polk Hamp Carlton Artis Turnbough (deceased) Alphonso McClain Eddie "Spanky" Alford Lamanuel Boykin Charles McElveen Ron Staples Johnny Valentine Ervin Williams Ronald Clark Sr Kevin Wilson Sr[not verified in body]
The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles as a tradition-based style group. 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. In a break with tradition, the groups sound incorporated Soul, R&B, and Rock; all of which flourishes in their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the religious essence of their material. Unlike other gospel groups, its members dressed stylishly — they used the same tailor as the Temptations — and worked slick choreography into their act Thus, not realizing they were setting a standard and paving a way for future gospel soul groups for decades to come, they became one of the most influential gospel groups in the US. 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 developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. Their pictures are even on display in the Apollo Theater.
Based in Los Angeles, 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).
Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80.[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 transfigurations — that old Wilson Pickett (and Julius Cheeks) unhh born again — aren't the only reason this is one of the best LPs ever to come out of Philadelphia. For once, the songs — many of them from producer Dave Crawford, whose spirit must have been moved — include virtually no filler, not even (especially not even) the one that takes off from the group's name. Nicest conceit: how hard it is to be soft in a 'Stoned World.'"[2]
Discographyedit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)
Albumsedit
1964: Family Circle (Peacock) PLP 114
1965: A Bright Side (Peacock) PLP 121
1966: Live at Music Hall (Peacock) PLP 134
1966: Presenting the Untouchable (Peacock) PLP 151
1972: Mighty Clouds of Joy Live (At The Apollo)
1974: It's Time (Dunhill/ABC)
1975: Kickin' (ABC)
1977: The Truth is the Power (ABC) (Reissue-Myrrh)
1977: Live and Direct (ABC)
1979: Changing Times (Epic/CBS)
1980: Cloudburst (Myrrh/CBS)
1982: Miracle Man (Myrrh)
1983: Sing and Shout (Myrrh/Word)
1987: Catching On (Word)
1989: Night Song (Word)
1990: Pray for Me (Live) (Word)
1995: Power (Intersound)
1996: Live in Charleston (Live) (Intersound)
1999: It Was You (Light Records)
2002: I Want to Thank You (EMI Gospel)
2005: In the House of the Lord: Live in Houston (EMI Gospel)
2007: Movin' (EMI Gospel)
2010: At the Revival (EMI Gospel)
2011: 50-Year Celebration (EMI Gospel)
2013: All That I Am Chapter 1 (MCG Records)
2014: Down Memory Lane: Chapter 2 (MCG Records)
2016: Rebirth (Asah Entertainment)
Compilation albumsedit
1973: The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy (Peacock/ABC) (Reissue-MCA)
1978: The Very Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy (ABC)
1982: Request Line (Myrrh/Word)
1994: Faith, Mercy, Glory (King)
2002: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy (MCA/Peacock)
Singlesedit
1960: "Steal Away to Jesus" (Peacock Records)
1975: "Amazing Grace"; R&B#4 UK#15 US Hot Dance Club Play No. 2
1975: "Mighty High"; US#69 US Hot Dance Club Play No. 1
Referencesedit
^Willie Joe Ligon of Beaumont, Texas | 1936 - 2016 | Obituary accessdate December 14, 2017
An interview with Joe Ligon at Soul Express in July 2013
May 05, 2024
mighty, clouds, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2018, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mighty Clouds of Joy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet Mighty Clouds of JoyOriginLos Angeles California U S GenresTraditional gospel discoYears active1961 2012LabelsLight Peacock Epic ABC Word Myrrh Intersound EMI Gospel CBS Dunhill ABC MCGMembersJoe Ligon deceased Richard Wallace deceased Johnny Martin deceased Elmeo Franklin deceased Ermant Franklin deceased Past membersPaul Beasley deceased Michael Cook deceased Clayton Hammond Jr deceased Dwight GordonTerry FullerMichael McCowinLeon PolkHamp CarltonArtis Turnbough deceased Alphonso McClainEddie Spanky Alford Lamanuel Boykin Charles McElveenRon StaplesJohnny ValentineErvin WilliamsRonald Clark SrKevin Wilson Sr not verified in body Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Compilation albums 2 3 Singles 3 References 4 External linksCareer editThe Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles as a tradition based style group 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 In a break with tradition the groups sound incorporated Soul R amp B and Rock all of which flourishes in their musical mix one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff without diluting the religious essence of their material Unlike other gospel groups its members dressed stylishly they used the same tailor as the Temptations and worked slick choreography into their act Thus not realizing they were setting a standard and paving a way for future gospel soul groups for decades to come they became one of the most influential gospel groups in the US 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 developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R amp B groups Their pictures are even on display in the Apollo Theater Based in Los Angeles 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 Joe Ligon born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy Alabama on October 11 1936 died on December 11 2016 at age 80 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 transfigurations that old Wilson Pickett and Julius Cheeks unhh born again aren t the only reason this is one of the best LPs ever to come out of Philadelphia For once the songs many of them from producer Dave Crawford whose spirit must have been moved include virtually no filler not even especially not even the one that takes off from the group s name Nicest conceit how hard it is to be soft in a Stoned World 2 Discography editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items August 2008 Albums edit 1964 Family Circle Peacock PLP 114 1965 A Bright Side Peacock PLP 121 1966 Live at Music Hall Peacock PLP 134 1966 Presenting the Untouchable Peacock PLP 151 1972 Mighty Clouds of Joy Live At The Apollo 1974 It s Time Dunhill ABC 1975 Kickin ABC 1977 The Truth is the Power ABC Reissue Myrrh 1977 Live and Direct ABC 1979 Changing Times Epic CBS 1980 Cloudburst Myrrh CBS 1982 Miracle Man Myrrh 1983 Sing and Shout Myrrh Word 1987 Catching On Word 1989 Night Song Word 1990 Pray for Me Live Word 1995 Power Intersound 1996 Live in Charleston Live Intersound 1999 It Was You Light Records 2002 I Want to Thank You EMI Gospel 2005 In the House of the Lord Live in Houston EMI Gospel 2007 Movin EMI Gospel 2010 At the Revival EMI Gospel 2011 50 Year Celebration EMI Gospel 2013 All That I Am Chapter 1 MCG Records 2014 Down Memory Lane Chapter 2 MCG Records 2016 Rebirth Asah Entertainment Compilation albums edit 1973 The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy Peacock ABC Reissue MCA 1978 The Very Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy ABC 1982 Request Line Myrrh Word 1994 Faith Mercy Glory King 2002 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy MCA Peacock Singles edit 1960 Steal Away to Jesus Peacock Records 1975 Amazing Grace R amp B 4 UK 15 US Hot Dance Club Play No 2 1975 Mighty High US 69 US Hot Dance Club Play No 1References edit Willie Joe Ligon of Beaumont Texas 1936 2016 Obituary accessdate December 14 2017 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s M Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Archived from the original on June 29 2017 Retrieved March 8 2019 via robertchristgau com External links editMighty Clouds of Joy at AllMusic An interview with Joe Ligon at Soul Express in July 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mighty Clouds of Joy amp oldid 1204176656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
