The Golden Gate Quartet: A Glimpse into the Transitional Period

How it All Began

The Transitional Period 1930 – 1945

The group was founded as “The Golden Gate Jubilee Singers” in 1934. The group was formed by four students at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. The original members were Willie Johnson (baritone), William Langford (tenor), Henry Owens (second tenor), and Orlandus Wilson (bass).

The group would sing in churches and on the radio. Their sound came from a combination of barbershop quartet arrangements with blues and jazz rhythms. They gained popularity from their unique sound and ability to imitate train sounds in their songs.

Elements of Jubilee Quartets

Blue Notes: A note, sounded or suggested that falls between two adjacent notes in the standard Western division of octave, most often the third or seventh degrees in a scale.
Polyrhythm: Several contrasting rhythms played or simultaneously.

Melisma: A single syllable sung over several pitches.
Grace Note: A short ornamental note performed as an embellishment before the principal pitch.
Gospel Quartet: Male or female ensemble of four to six voices singing close vocal harmonies, featuring melismatic lead singers and instrumental accompaniment of drums, guitar, and bass.

Similar Acts

Delta Rhythm Boys (1934 – 1987) – specialized in R&B, jazz, and gospel. Group was formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma by Carl Jones, Traverse Crawford, Otha Lee Gaines, and Kelsey Pharr. Click Here to Listen to the Delta Rhythm Boys
Fisk Jubilee Singers – Formed by students of Fisk University at Nashville Tennessee. George L. White created this nine member choral ensemble and took them on tour to earn money for the University. Click Here to Listen to the Fisk Jubilee Singers
Five Blind Boys of Mississippi – Gospel quartet from Jackson Mississippi made up of Archie Brownlee, Joseph Ford, Lawrence Abrams, and Lloyd Woodlard. Click Here to Listen to the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi

Recognition

Inducted into the The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998
The song “Jezebel” from 2000 Liquid (Recoil album) is based on the Golden Gate Quartet’s sample

Paul Simon used excerpts from their 1938 recording of “Golden Gate Gospel Train” to mic into Simon’s song, “Love & Blessings”.

Inducted into the gospel Music Hall of Fame in. 2010

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How it All Began

Elements of Jubilee Quartets

Similar Acts

Thesis Statement: The Golden Gate Quartet were one of the first black singing groups who were able to manipulate a genre into their own sound.

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