Jubilee Quartets
Bridging the gap between traditional jubilee style singing and rising prominence of vibrant gospel music, the transitional period began to incorporate more modern instruments such as electric guitars into their arrangements. This period had more upbeat tunes to accompany the harmonies and intricate vocal arrangements of the quartet. Commercial recording and the use of radio gave jubilee quartets of this period national coverage, reaching more diverse audiences. A notable group of this period was the Golden Gate Quartet, who combined traditional spirituals with rhythmic, up-tempo arrangements.
From the 1940’s to the 1960’s, the jubilee quartet underwent the gospel period. Incorporating instruments such as the piano, guitar, and drums, the jubilee music of this period became more dynamic and influenced secular music genres in the later years with R&B and soul music. Jubilee quartets of this period held performances in the church and theater, gaining popularity beyond Christian-based audiences. A notable group of this period is the Soul Stirrers, featuring an early Sam Cooke who went on to become the “King of Soul” once departing from the group.
The jubilee period is considered the earliest phase of the jubilee quartet, spanning from the 19th century to the early-to-mid 1900’s. Often associated with African American institutions, jubilee quartets were formed to raise money for the schools, singing spirituals with themes of faith, suffering, and deliverance in acapella. The groups based at HBCU’s included the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Hampton Quartet, and Tuskegee Institute Singers. The style of singing from this era is described as restrained and polished with a more unified style of singing than the periods to follow in later years.
