[78-L] Ever Ready Gospel Singers Resolution

[Bill McClung]

There is no mention of Shaw Records in the Duke/Peacock Records history that
Galen Gart and Roy Ames published and I've never seen any Texas label by
that name.

The nearest named gospel 78 label I have is Sharon which was based in Los
Angeles in the early 50s.

On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 11:43 PM, David Lewis <uncledavelewis at hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE:
>
> RESOLUTION NO. 182 OF 1997
>
> A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE EVER READY GOSPEL SINGERS AS A SHREVEPORT
> LEGEND, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SHREVEPORT'S RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE, AND TO
> OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO.
>
> BY: COUNCILMAN BURRELL
>
> WHEREAS, In 1946, Charles Graves, Elbert Green, Roy Simms, and Willie
> "Uncle Bill" Caston joined forces in Shreveport, Louisiana, to become The
> Ever Ready Gospel Singers, a group which sings a style of gospel music
> called Southland gospel; and
>
> WHEREAS, a short time after The Ever Ready Gospel Singers was formed, it
> became the first black group to appear on the superstation KWKH and it
> developed a large following which led to hectic touring schedules in the
> tri-state area and across the country; and
>
> WHEREAS, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers recorded its music on the Abbott
> Record Label (Hollywood, California) in 1954; on the Shaw Label (Houston,
> Texas) in 1957; on the Peacock Label (Houston, Texas) with Bobby "Blue"
> Bland in 1959, and on Sitting In Records (New York City) in 1959; and
>
> WHEREAS, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers was featured on KSLA Television on a
> show called "Hallelujah Train" from 1977 until the mid-eighties; and
>
> WHEREAS, Fortune Stephenson joined the group in 1948, and Frank Edwards
> joined the group in 1951 at the age of 14 years; and
>
> WHEREAS, The Ever Ready Gospel Singers has featured many performers
> throughout the years including Eddie Jackson, Robert Broussard, Curtis
> Kimble, Rev. Fred Smith, Nathaniel Bills, Robert Hardin, Rev. George
> Coleman, James Jones, and Booker Miles, the core of the group has always
> been Charles Graves - 2nd tenor, Elbert Green - bass, Fortune Stephenson -
> baritone, and Frank Edwards - 1st tenor; andEver
> (http://www.shreveportla.gov/ccmin/99_97/ccsep297.htm)
>
> ***
> The Ever Readys Peacock (1802/1959; 45 rpm) and Abbott (149, 158/1954) are
> known. If "Sitting In Records (New York City)" means Bob Shad's label
> Sittin' In With, than there is no way the Ever Readys could have recorded
> with them in 1959; perhaps 1949 is meant. The Gospel part of the Sittin' In
> catalog is very sparsely populated, and I have no idea what these records
> might have been.
>
> Likewise, I've never heard of "Shaw Records" in Houston or elsewhere. Could
> be a misreading of "Shad Records" but that label didn't record any Gospel
> that I know of and did not start, to my knowledge until 1958. Is anyone
> familiar with such a label? Perhaps it was a local, Houston-based concern or
> a Robey spinoff?
>
> thanks,
>
> Uncle Dave Lewis uncledavelewis at hotmail.com
>
> Uncle Dave Lewis
> uncledavelewis at hotmail.com
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