Cook has been a member of the group for more than 20 years. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." Although I was in the church I was not living saved, but then God saved me. 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. The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Self: Soul Train. He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. Ligon had eight daughters, named: Ericka, La Tonya, Dawn, La Tisha, Patricia, Adrenia, Clarice, and Debra. The X Factor final performances - care to predict a winner. 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. '"[2], Last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, Willie Joe Ligon of Beaumont, Texas | 1936 - 2016 | Obituary, An interview with Joe Ligon at Soul Express in July 2013, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mighty_Clouds_of_Joy&oldid=1139105309, 1960: "Steal Away to Jesus" (Peacock Records), 1975: "Amazing Grace"; R&B#4 UK#15 US Hot Dance Club Play No. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. . Joe died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Singing for God on the stage but not living for Him after I left the stage. Elmo Franklin died in 2008 at the age of 71. So sorry to hear of Richards passing. Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. 1990. Gods Grace and Mercy will carry you thru, To God be the glory. Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. 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. [1], While reviewing the group's 1974 crossover LP It's Time, Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), "You'd figure the showiest of all gospel groups would sell out with some flair, but the vocal transfigurationsthat old Wilson Pickett (and Julius Cheeks) unhh born againaren't the only reason this is one of the best LPs ever to come out of Philadelphia. He was my vocal backbone in the group. A native of Troy, Alabama, Ligon was blessed with natural singing talent. @rustychalfont Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis . You can read more on my personal blog,Notes From The Funny Farmand follow some fun stuff on my dog Bandits blog. The other original members of the group were Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (aka Bunker Hill). Feel free to contribute! Format: Record. 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. The resulting sound turned the Mighty Clouds of Joy into the most commercially successful gospel group. 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. 2, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 11:29. 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). 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. 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.". 12/13/2016. It also reached no. https://www.learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696 (accessed March 4, 2023). The groups signature songs included Walk Around Heaven, Nearer My God to Thee, and Ive Been in the Storm Too Long. Nicest conceit: how hard it is to be soft in a 'Stoned World. Scrobbling is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your music profile. I knew he was the last original. He had been a member of the group for 20 years. The . Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Odenton, MD 21113 Please enjoy the archives. Free shipping for many products! 2014. Ligon says, When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove. Mighty Clouds Of Joy. I grew up with gospel music in my blood and on my mind.. In 1960, the group released a single, titled Steal Away to Jesus.. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. 4. by Five Blind Boys Of Alabama Audio CD. 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. I meet all the Mighty Clouds, personally on multiple occasions as a child in the 60s and 70s. 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. At his uncle's insistence, he agreed to enroll in the local high school. For more information, contact bobm@journalofgospelmusic.com or call (773) 576-2378. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. We are so sorry and sadden to hear about Richard Wallace passing. Biography. . The Mighty Clouds of Joy went on to win GRAMMY Awards and become one of the top quartets of the 1960s and 1970s. He is survived by his wife Valerie and three children, ages 8, 11 and 16. Franklin, soon became a trademark of the Mighty Clouds of Joy's records. When I first heard his voice I thought theRev CL Franklin had joined a Quartet Group their voices were so close. McArthur Pettiford, and Stacey Pettiford; all of whom are renowned . He loved everyone. Unlike other gospel groups, its members dressed stylishly they used the same tailor as the Temptations and worked slick choreography into their act. RIH, Sir! 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 Shop the Jonathan DesVerney Gospel Channel store $14.99 We lost another legend. Such a loss to us all.. Michael Cook, a member of the award-winning Mighty Clouds of Joy, died Friday of a heart attack. sending my condolences They can even be found on display in the Apollo Theater. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Paul Beasley. 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. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon) helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Jones, Kim. In 1977, the band released two albums, Live and Direct and The Truth Is the Power.. Elmant Franklin Jr. died on January 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, CA as a traditional-based style group. 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. Johnny Martin - the founding member died in 1987 at the age of 46. 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. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy-mn0000893234/biography, https://www.malaco.com/artists/gospel/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy/, https://us.napster.com/artist/the-mighty-clouds-of-joy, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. However at a little [], Davy Jones dies and I say goodbye to my childhood. There, he attended Jefferson High School. Cards can be sent to Valerie Cook, PO Box 273, Jessup, MD 20794. He will be deeply missed by all of us. Aliases The Mighty Clouds of Joy Country United States Comments Gospel vocal group formed in 1955 in Los Angeles by Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace. 22 on the Billboard Soul Music chart and peaked at no. When the Peacock Records label heard these tapes, the group was quickly signed to a recording contract. The funeral service will be: Richard and the Clouds were truly a group of great guys who I counted as really good friends. They become the first gospel act to ever appear on Soul Train,which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. 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). 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. They were influenced by R&B groups such as The Temptations, as well as the Rev. 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. We were one of the first groups to do contemporary gospel. 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. It was followed by A Bright Side in 1965. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in LA in 1959. Therefore, at the time of his death, gospel singer Joe Ligon had an estimated net worth of $3 million. What I mean be that he gave me his Holy Ghost, the peace within to know that He is the reason I even exist.. Javascript is required to view shouts on this page. Founding ensemble member Johnny Martin died on February 12, 1987, in Los Angeles at the age of 46. Attendees will also be treated to a short documentary titled, A Living Legacy, by David Ramsey, Rev. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." 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. He was 80. 9:00 AM 11:00 AM viewing, 11:00 AM 2:00 PM service 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Michael Cook died in 2009 at the age of 46 after suffering a massive coronary. 23 talking about this. Reviews of gospel DVDs, often in conjunction with the audio CD. Their first recording was Build Me a Cabin in Glory on the Elko label in 1957. In 2005, Wallace told Clint Yeatts of KLTV that he got saved while a member of the Clouds. The Mighty Clouds of Joy developed a fan base much like the soul Pop and R&B groups. He was 80. This blog is no longer being updated. Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Williams Brothers, The Rance Allen Group, and more 11 Songs Mama Used to Sing II Various Artists Updated 5 days ago Mix - Mighty Clouds of Joy Mighty. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. 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. It appears to have started with a fake blog post reporting that Bon Jovi suffered cardiac arrest. The Mighty Clouds of Joy. My Dad and my sisters sung gospil and this gave me a unique opportunity to meet many of icons gospil. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The mighty clouds has always been one if my favorite Quartets. Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/mighty-clouds-of-joy-biography-710696. Thanks for the update.. Ligon's fiery preaching, inspired by the radio broadcasts of Reverend C.L. The following year, 1958, they produced In Lord, You Woke Me Up This Morning on the Proverb label. 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! My condolences to his family and many friends. He added: And we got stoned for it.. Jones, Kim. Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon in Troy, Alabama on October 11, 1936) died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. Let it play in the background as you study and immerse yourself in this topic! We dont have any upcoming events for this artist right now. 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. Trivia (1) Members have included Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace, Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, Tim Woodson, Johnny Martin, June Richmond. 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. Home Joe Ligon Net Worth, Wife, Death, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Biography, Sparc Mac Net Worth, Girlfriend, YouTube, Biography, Gabrielle Bernstein Net Worth, Husband, Quotes, Books, Biography.