Not all black music was R&B before Motown, STAX and Doo Wop. Here are a couple of various colors from the mosaic of black music in the 1950s and 60s.
Originally known as the Robert Anderson Singers and The Robert Anderson Gospel Caravan the female group The Caravans included throughout their illustrious career vocals ranging from Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, Shirley Caesar, Cassietta George, Joneron Davis and even had the famous Reverend James Cleveland as a guest. This two disc collection has 56 tracks from their days on the labels States and Gospel. Caesar is featured on “I Won’t Be Back” with Walker testifying on “The “Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power” . The ladies also were adept at traditional pieces like “Blessed Assurance” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” while they rock through the spiritual “Get Away Jordan”. Pass the plate!
Gene McDaniels (1935-2011) actually started out as a jazz singer with Les McCann, and you can tell on this 58 song collection in 2 discs. His delivery is smooth and velvety, crooning to fans of the Eisenhour years desiring something warm and upbeat. He had a bunch of hits like “100 Lbs of Clay” “Chip Chip” and “Tower Of Strength”. He also hit the charts with “The Tear” and “Spanish Lace” for singles, while his albums had him trying to capture the Nat Cole crossover crowd with songs like “Mona Lisa”, “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” and “Three Coins In The Fountain”. There’s even a take of him delivering an impressive version of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” while he gives a Black Rat Pack take of “Young At Heart”. McDaniels later got associated with Roberta Flack and returned to his groove with McCann, so he simmered through the end. This is a great place to get introduced to a charter member of the soul scene.