Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. As a young man I didnt have that smooth voice like most young boys had My voice was always hard and rough, People would say I had a growl and sounded like I had rocks in my mouth when I sang. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Johnny Martin - the founding member died in 1987 at the age of 46. We dont have any upcoming events for this artist right now. The group's first break came when they caught the ear of a local gospel disc jockey, who agreed to produce several demo tapes. 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. 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. 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 Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. 4. by Five Blind Boys Of Alabama Audio CD. 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. I grew up listening to the Mighty Clouds of Joy, I even had my own little group at 13 signing their songs. Their first recording was "Build Me a Cabin in Glory" on the Elko label in 1957. A native of Troy, Alabama, Ligon was blessed with natural singing talent. Scrobbling is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your music profile. Release Title:---Record Size: 7" Style: Classic R&B, Gospel. He was my vocal backbone in the group. I meet all the Mighty Clouds, personally on multiple occasions as a child in the 60s and 70s. 3x Grammy Award-Winning gospel group ft. Ron Staples, Johnny Valentine, Dale Staples, Tim Woodson & Derrick Staples -. This item: Classic 3. by The Mighty Clouds of Joy Audio CD. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have been awarded numerous accolades including eightGrammy nominations and three awards. God bless his family! 11400 Glenn Dale Boulevard According to to a news release provided by gospel music industry publicist Bill. The Mighty Clouds of Joy who often performed as Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy, was a gospel quartet established in Los Angeles, California in 1955. 20072023 Blackpast.org. And we got stoned for it, Ligon told The Associated Press in a 1993 interview. 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. Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act to ever appear on "Soul Train," which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. 47 on the R&B chart. His grandfather was a preacher, while his father sang in a gospel quartet. For more informaiton, visit the Mighty Clouds of Joy website. In the House of the Lord - Live In Houston. Over the years, however, he took that style to a new level. The Mighty Clouds of Joy formed in 1955 in Los Angeles and still includes two of its original members, Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. Ligon was born in Troy, Alabama, but moved to Los Angeles and started the gospel quartet in the 1950s. Although they increasingly veered toward a heavy, dance-inspiring sound, Ligon and the Mighty Clouds of Joy returned to their earliest roots with the album Live in Charleston, recorded during a concert at the Abundance Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 7, 1996. Learn Religions. He inspired so many gospel groups. My Dad and my sisters sung gospil and this gave me a unique opportunity to meet many of icons gospil. Biography. 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. 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. He was 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). Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1961 and started out in a tradition-based style. A Michael Cook Tribute will be held: What I mean be that he gave me his Holy Ghost, the peace within to know that He is the reason I even exist.. He added: And we got stoned for it.. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. 2005. 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. He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. RIH, Sir! 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. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. 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 two started singing together and founded the group, pulling from other popular gospel groups in the area to round out the line-up. 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. Richard and the Clouds were truly a group of great guys who I counted as really good friends. The Clouds were the first Gospel group to perform on Soul Train. Theyve won multiple Grammys, and opened for the likes of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon, whom they backed for a month at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL THAT PERFORMED FOR SO MANY. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. (2021, February 8). Franklin, soon became a trademark of the Mighty Clouds of Joy's records. Ligon was born . 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 Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do, he said. Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. 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 Singing for God on the stage but not living for Him after I left the stage. Steal Away to Jesus was their first recording in 1960, with their first album debuting in 1961 on Peacock Records. Younger fans loved it while older, more traditional fans did not. 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." You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Go directly to shout page. Nicest conceit: how hard it is to be soft in a 'Stoned World. This will go to the welfare of his children. Cards can be sent to Valerie Cook, PO Box 273, Jessup, MD 20794. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. December 20, 2020 at 12:16 a.m. Ligon told the AP that at the age of 56 he could hit every note that he could at the age of 18. By 1960, they had a major Gospel record deal with a hit single and album flying up the charts. 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. He will be deeply missed by all of us. THE MIGHTY CLOUDS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! 32 on the Billboard R&B chart and 102 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart. Bass guitarist Richard Wallace, the last original member, and Leader of the group, diedon Monday, July 27, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The mighty clouds has always been one if my favorite Quartets. With a singing style derived from Southern Baptist churches, Ligon would shout, scream and jump into the crowds, which he called cuttin the fool, and would deliver sermons in between songs. I was always a die hard quartet fan HE WILL BE SURELY BE MISSED. Although I was in the church I was not living saved, but then God saved me. The following year, the group recorded their debut album, Family Circle. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. 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. @rustychalfont Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis . In 1964, The Mighty Clouds of Joy released their debut album, called Family Circle via Peacock Records. They played for President Jimmy Carter and toured extensively overseas. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. 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 influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. He was 80. I lived, I call it a sinful life, Wallace said. When I first heard his voice I thought theRev CL Franklin had joined a Quartet Group their voices were so close. 5:00 PM 9:00 PM Reid Temple AME Church So sorry to hear of Richards passing. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, CA as a traditional-based style group. Shop the Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel store $14.99 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. He was 46. Friday, July 25th We were one of the first groups to do contemporary gospel. Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. Founding ensemble member Johnny Martin died on February 12, 1987, in Los Angeles at the age of 46. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. They became one of the most influential gospel groups in the US. Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. 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. I knew he was the last original. Thanks for the update.. Another first, the Mighty Clouds was the first gospel act ever to appear on television's Soul Train, where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High.". Joe died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Unlike other gospel groups, its members dressed stylishly they used the same tailor as the Temptations and worked slick choreography into their act. . The . Thank you for visitingGospel Soundcheckpage. Elmant Franklin Jr. died on January 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas. 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). Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. 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. 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. I grew up with gospel music in my blood and on my mind.. 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. 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. 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. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Format: Record. Im not going to say goodbye but I will say see ya later! Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. Kim Jones is an ordained pastor and a co-founder of Road to Revelation, a Christian rock band. Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. The funeral service will be: 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. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. 9:00 AM 11:00 AM viewing, 11:00 AM 2:00 PM service 8262 Lokus Road Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, . 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. Julius Cheeks, a Los Angeles singer known for his baritone voice and onstage antics. Fly high above the clouds another ?.gone so soon. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. Their moves earned them "The Temptations of Gospel" moniker. Menu. Their first recording was Build Me a Cabin in Glory on the Elko label in 1957. . See original listing. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was one of the first groups in urban gospel to incorporate choreographed moves into their act. The group was also inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. Singles that are picks of the week are singled out for their quality. 23 talking about this. Jones, Kim. We lost another legend. Jones, Kim. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro . $16.99. He loved everyone. 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! Therefore, at the time of his death, gospel singer Joe Ligon had an estimated net worth of $3 million. $11.99. McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . The Mighty Clouds of Joy. Their crossover success brought them added recognition, and they opened for the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. It was there that he met Johnny Martin in school. 2011. The original group members included: David Walker; Ligon; Leon Polk; Richard Wallace; Elmo Franklin; Artis Turnbough; Ermant Franklin Jr.; Johnny Martin. I would like to offer my condolences to the family. 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"). Odenton, MD 21113 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. His ability to sing soon attracted the attention of other students, including Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace, and Elmo Franklin. Movies. To God be the glory for giving the talents to these men to lift their voices in praise. There, he attended Jefferson High School. He moved to Los Angeles to live with his uncle when he was in his early teens. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. They were influenced by R&B groups such as The Temptations, as well as the Rev. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday . Im saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Wallace. 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. 69 on Billboard Hot 100. It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. 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. However at a little [], Davy Jones dies and I say goodbye to my childhood. . Elmo Franklin died in 2008 at the age of 71. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. At his uncle's insistence, he agreed to enroll in the local high school. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." . In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Michael Cook Trust Fund and can be made at any Bank of America Branch. The resulting sound turned the Mighty Clouds of Joy into the most commercially successful gospel group. 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. 2, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29. 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. 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. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. 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 . Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Although shyness prevented him from singing in public, he sang constantly. 22 on the Billboard Soul Music chart and peaked at no. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MIGHTY CLOUDS OF HARMONY press photo 8" x 10" publicity GOSPEL at the best online prices at eBay! Jones, Kim. The X Factor final performances - care to predict a winner. Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. After 44 years and 35 albums, three Grammys and trophy-case full of almost every award imaginable; shows that have run a gamut from the church-house to the White House, and top-billings with a dazzling roster of superstar artists from nearly every genre of popular music (the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire, Luther