Chante Moore, The Davis Sisters, Daryl Coley

A few happenings in the worlds of gospel and soul over the last month

Hello friends,

I hope this message finds you all as well and as happy as we can be in these continuously strange times.

I was knee-deep in a book proposal for about six weeks and am now back in the thick of the New York Community Choir book, which I get increasingly excited about! If I’ve learned anything in the last eight years of research, it’s to remain open to understanding what I think I know from a different light.

If you’re new to the newsletter, you can read about the book and the choir at the links I’ve embedded in the words “book” and “choir” in this sentence! The GoFundMe for the project has crossed $4100 and I can’t thank you enough for your support!

Now. Here’s a few fun things that have happened since the last newsletter.

R&B songstress Chante Moore went live on Instagram this past month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her debut album, Precious. She namedropped two of the great artists we’ve featured here—-Tramaine Hawkins and Reba Rambo when discussing her early vocal influences! If you missed either of those features, just click on their names to read! Sending a big thank you to my friend Timothy Williams for making sure I saw this.

Tim Dillinger @timdillinger

Hearing @IAmChanteMoore acknowledge both Tramaine Hawkins and @RebaFRambo in this IG Live made me so happy! I interviewed Reba about her work--so deeply unsung--last year: godsmusicismylife.substack.com/p/the-redempti… I also wrote about Tramaine's important 1985 crossover: godsmusicismylife.substack.com/p/new-time-rel…

My friend and fellow historian Eric Maurice Clark—who was recently bestowed a doctorate in sacred music by Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary—had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the children of Audrey Davis of the Davis Sisters, one of the most underrated groups from gospel’s golden era. The conversation is filled with stories and memories…an essential view! Be sure to subscribe to Eric’s channel because he stays on the road getting these good stories!

Many don’t know that in one of my prior incarnations, I was a singer/songwriter. In 2006, I released my sophomore album, The Muse.

Well, in September it turned 16!

One of the highlights of that project for me personally was getting the opportunity to collaborate with my friend, Daryl Coley. This song, “Seasons of Change,” was originally slated for my debut album, Love Is On My Mind, but Daryl and I couldn’t coordinate our schedules—and I refused to record it without him, so we held it for The Muse. I’m so glad we did. I wanted to share it with you here. I’ve been living with this song a lot lately, as it reflects my heart space even still.

I’ll see you all in two weeks! Be sure to like, comment and share!

I am ever grateful.