The Soul Stirrers were an American gospel music group, whose career spans over eighty years. The group was a pioneer in the development of the quartet style of gospel, and a major influence on soul, doo wop, and Motown, some of the secular music that owed much to gospel.
The group was formed by (Silas) Roy Crain, launching his first quartet who sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas, United States. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "the Soul Stirrers".
The name "Soul Stirrers" yields from the description of one of Roy Crain's earlier quartets as "soul-stirring." Among the members of that group was R.H. (Rebert) Harris, who soon became its musical leader. The Soul Stirrers, formed as a jubilee quartet, transformed their sound, influenced by hard gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Links to Peel[]
Peel some of the group's material on his shows, including solo music from Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor, who were once both members of the group.
Shows Played[]
- 08 March 1988: The Year King Uzziah Died (LP - Strength, Power And Love) Jewel
- 1989
- 24 December 1989 (BBC Radio East Anglia): Must Jesus Bare The Cross Alone (album - In The Beginning) Ace
- 1990
- 02 January 1990: Must Jesus Bare The Cross Alone (album - In The Beginning) Ace
- 1994
- 09 September 1994: Last Mile Of The Way
- 24 September 1994: 'That's Heaven To Me (CD-The Last Mile Of The Way)' (Ace)
- 28 October 1994: Pilgrim Of Sorrow (album - The Last Mile Of The Way) Ace
- 2002
- 04 December 2002: 'Christmas Joy (7"-I Know I'll Be Free)' (Checker)
- 12 December 2002 (Radio Eins): 'Christmas Joy (7"-I Know I'll Be Free)' (Checker)