23 talking about this. 1990 Albums Down Memory Lane: Chapter 2 2014 All That I Am: Chapter 1 2011 At the Revival 2010 Movin' See original listing. The Mighty Clouds of Joy. He was 65; Elmeo Franklin died on May 7, 2008, in Los Angeles at the age of 71; Willie Joe Ligon died on December 11, 2016, in Los Angeles. Richard Wallace was such a cool and soft spoken, and nice man that was very approacable. 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. But when I heard Mr lLigon he also had that growl , which made me feel so much better about singing and Ive been trying to sing every since. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. 47 on the R&B chart. The X Factor final performances - care to predict a winner. They become the first gospel act to ever appear on Soul Train,which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL THAT PERFORMED FOR SO MANY. I am so y to hear of Richards passing. In the years that followed, the Mighty Clouds joined the ranks of gospel's greatest showmen; one of the first groups to incorporate choreographed moves into their act, their nimble footwork and bright, color-coordinated outfits earned them the sobriquet "The Temptations of Gospel.". Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. Singing for God on the stage but not living for Him after I left the stage. 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. His manager, Isaac Lindsey, said Monday that Ligon died on Sunday . 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 . I meet all the Mighty Clouds, personally on multiple occasions as a child in the 60s and 70s. The Mighty Clouds of Joy formed in 1955 in Los Angeles and still includes two of its original members, Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. In 1990, they released the album Pray for Me. In 1992, The Mighty Clouds of Joy received another Grammy Award for best traditional soul gospel album (Pray for Me). Please enjoy the archives. The original group members included: David Walker; Ligon; Leon Polk; Richard Wallace; Elmo Franklin; Artis Turnbough; Ermant Franklin Jr.; Johnny Martin. 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. Traveling to California to visit an uncle, at the age of 14 Ligon remained in the city for a year. Ligon died Sunday in Georgia, his manager, Isaac Lindsey, said. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) w read more View all tracks Albums Changing Times 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. 9:00 AM 11:00 AM viewing, 11:00 AM 2:00 PM service Let it play in the background as you study and immerse yourself in this topic! Their first recording was "Build Me a Cabin in Glory" on the Elko label in 1957. In 1960, the ensemble released Steal Away to Jesus on the Peacock label and in 1961 they recorded their debut album, Family Circlet. May he forever Rest In Paradise.. Verdie Maynus 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Their song "Time" reached the top of the R&B charts in 1974, while their tune "Ride the Mighty High" became a major disco hit. The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. His ability to sing soon attracted the attention of other students, including Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace, and Elmo Franklin. 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. It was followed by A Bright Side in 1965. Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill). Cards can be sent to Valerie Cook, PO Box 273, Jessup, MD 20794. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Rest with the almighty my friend! Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The quartet formed in the mid-1950s as a hard-shouting quartet in keeping with the style of the times, and through the intercession of RnB artist turned gospel DJ Brother Henderson, came to the attention of Peacock Records. When I first heard his voice I thought theRev CL Franklin had joined a Quartet Group their voices were so close. All Rights Reserved. There, he attended Jefferson High School. Javascript is required to view shouts on this page. Free shipping for many products! The Greatest Singer Ever, Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Lee Marvin Net Worth | Wife, Children, Cause of Death. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. The Mighty Clouds' career stretches back to the early 60s, when the original members were Junior High School kids in LA, and still in their teenage years. It also reached no. Jones, Kim. 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). Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have shared the stage with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, andThe Rolling Stones. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. All That I Am: Chapter 1. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. Based in Los Angeles, California, 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). We love you! 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). 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Gods Grace and Mercy will carry you thru, To God be the glory. Invited to join a vocal group formed by his cousins, he was persuaded by his mother to accept the invitation. 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. (2021, February 8). 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. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. The other original members of the group were Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (aka Bunker Hill). Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. Odenton, MD 21113 sending my condolences Mighty Clouds Of Joy. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! They were also the first group to add bass, drums and keyboards to their music (the "standard" for quartets/groups at the time was a solo guitar). . So sorry to hear of Richards passing. 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 singer once said: Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do., My prayers go out to Joes family, friends, loved ones, and fans, said gospel singer BeBe Winans. 2011. Thus not realizing they were setting a standard and paving a way for future gospel soul groups for decades to come. The mighty clouds has always been one if my favorite Quartets. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. The funeral service will be: "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." Glenn Dale, MD 20769 He was 80. Lawrence Roberts and Gregory Gay informed TBGB that Elmo Franklin, an original member of the Mighty Clouds of Joy of Los Angeles, California, passed from labor to reward last week. The two started singing together and founded the group, pulling from other popular gospel groups in the area to round out the line-up. JGM was saddened to learn from Debra Ligon and Libra Boyds post that singer and guitarist Richard Wallace of the Mighty Clouds of Joy passed away Monday, July 27, 2020. Im so sorry.my condolences to his famiky and friends. Ligon told the AP that at the age of 56 he could hit every note that he could at the age of 18. 20072023 Blackpast.org. It was their first crossover success. Michael Cook, member of the legendary Gospel group The Mighty Clouds of Joy, died Friday morning July 18th as a result of a massive coronary. Gospel singers dont retire, you know, they just die doing what they do, he said. 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. 5:00 PM 9:00 PM In 1964, The Mighty Clouds of Joy released their debut album, called Family Circle via Peacock Records. It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. While lineup changes plagued the Mighty Clouds throughout their career, they remained active into the new millennium; in addition to co-founders Ligon and Wallace, their latter-day incarnation also included Paul Beasley, Michael McCowin, Wilbert Williams, Johnny Valentine, and Ron Staples. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Franklin, soon became a trademark of the Mighty Clouds of Joy's records. Younger fans loved it while older, more traditional fans did not. 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. 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! I was always a die hard quartet fan HE WILL BE SURELY BE MISSED. Nominated for numerous Grammy Awards, the group received Grammys for several albums, including Live & Direct in 1978, Changing Times in 1979, and Power in 1993. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1955 in Los Angeles, California. The Death of Dottie Rambo, Southern Gospel Legend, American Idol Finalists Who are Christian, The World's Best Christian Hard Rock Bands, The 27 Biggest Female Artists in Christian Music, Top 16 Christian Contemporary Pop Bands and Artists. 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. The original members were Walter Ligon, Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace and Elmer Franklin. Over the years, however, he took that style to a new level. 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. Reviews of gospel DVDs, often in conjunction with the audio CD. In 2005, Wallace told Clint Yeatts of KLTV that he got saved while a member of the Clouds. Reid Temple AME Church Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. 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"). The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died.