Biography: Rev. Moses Mason, Rev. Pearly Brown, Rev. Sister Mary M. Nelson, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey, Rev. Timothy Wright, Revelation, Reverend Andrew Jenkins, Reverend Edward W. Clayborn, Reverend J.M. Gates, Reverend Jackson,

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Rev. Moses Mason Biography, Photos, Pictures

The Rev Moses Mason recorded eight songs for Paramount in 1928, including sacred songs (“John the Baptist,” “Go Wash in the Beautiful Stream”) under his own name as well as a few secular songs (“Molly Man,” “Shrimp Man”) under the name Red Hot Ole Mose

Rev. Pearly Brown Biography, Photos, Pictures

Quite possible the last of the great blues street singers, Rev Pearly Brown was born August 18, 1915, in Abbeville, GA Blind from birth, he grew up in Americus, GA, where he reportedly learned to play guitar at the age of seven

Rev. Sister Mary M. Nelson Biography, Photos, Pictures

The Rev Sister Mary M Nelson, probably a Pentecostal storefront preacher in Memphis, recorded four sides for Vocalion during the late ’20s (including one sermon) Unfortunately, little else is known about her life

Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey Biography, Photos, Pictures

The acknowleged father of gospel music, Thomas A Dorsey remains arguably the most influential figure ever to impact the genre A versatile composer whose material shifted easily from energetic hard gospel to gossamer hymns, he penned many of the best-known songs in the gospel canon, among them “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” and “Peace in the Valley”; the founder of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, he was also a pioneering force in the renowned Chicago gospel community, where he helped launch the careers of legends including Mahalia Jackson and Sallie Martin

Rev. Timothy Wright Biography, Photos, Pictures

Gospel director Reverend Timothy Wright has been involved with choirs on a regular basis for most of his life Wright began playing piano at the age of 12, as he utilized his budding musical talents at the St

A silky New York group that never got their due despite a fair amount of support, Revelation was Philip Ballou, Benny Diggs, Arthur Freeman, and Arnold McCuller — all longtime church friends

Reverend Andrew Jenkins Biography, Photos, Pictures

A preacher, performer, and talented songwriter, Reverend Andrew Jenkins is perhaps best known as the author of “The Death of Floyd Collins,” a smash hit for Vernon Dalhart

Reverend Edward W. Clayborn Biography, Photos, Pictures

Rev Edward W Clayborn (he is often listed as just Edward Clayborn, with the surname sometimes spelled Clayburn or Claeburn) billed himself as “the Guitar Evangelist,” and indeed he was, singing a kind of blues gospel not unlike the work of the better known Blind Willie Johnson

Reverend J.M. Gates Biography, Photos, Pictures

The Baptist preacher JM Gates was one of the most prolifically recorded black artists of the early century, with over 200 sides on wax between the mid-’20s and his death in 1940 (he once recorded 23 titles in a week, at just two sessions)

Reverend Jackson Biography, Photos, Pictures

Neither as real or as revered as the fully named performers Reverend Charlie Jackson or Reverend Lucille L Jackson, the publishing credit of just plain Reverend Jackson can be found on gospel titles such as “Memphis Bound