Sonorous Entertainment Inc. presents “Harvest Collection: Reverend James Cleveland” as the second release of their Harvest Gospel Collection. Known as the “Crown Prince of Gospel”, Reverend James Cleveland began as a soloist in Thomas A. Dorsey’s Junior Gospel Choir at the Pilgrim Baptist Church.
In the mid 1950’s he went on to serve as a pianist and arranger for Albertina Walkers’ group The Caravans, and found himself performing alongside the likes of future gospel stars such as a Inez Andrews, Dorothy Norwood and Shirley Caesar. He found himself in other groups such as the Gospel Chimes and the Gospel All-Stars before organizing his own, the James Cleveland Singers.
He founded the Gospel Music Worship of America (GMWA) in 1968, which was a convention to teach participants new songs and arrangements and then record them with a mass choir. In 1981 he became the first gospel artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Throughout his lengthy career he recorded more than 100 albums, 16 of which went gold.
This new compilation album features 12 of his classic tracks, all of which have been digitally re-mastered from their original recordings. It will be possible to experience his more popular songs, such as “Lord Do It” and “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”, as well as the rarer classics, like “Deep River.”
“Harvest Collection: Reverend James Cleveland” will be available online and in participating retail outlets on October 1, 2013.
