Friday, August 26, 2011

How Lerone Baker's quest to deify the already grand Cassietta George is wrecking the hard work of Gospel Music Historians

By: Joseph Middleton

Cassietta George (seen at right) was a gem of the Golden Gospel Era. From her days in the early 1950s with the Songbirds of the South, until becoming one of the longest tenured Caravans, there's no doubt she reserved herself a great place amongst the top gospel singers in the history books.

Unfortunately, her nephew's recent actions to honor her name reeks of callousness and ill-hearted intentions. In the past few years, Lerone Baker of Atlanta, GA has released a beyond mediocre, poorly written and poorly researched book that has become both the laughingstock and the bane of the Golden Era Gospel Community. I don't have to remind you that when it comes to the history Golden Era Gospel, it's often hard to get truly correct information when you have different versions of one story coming from different singers. Baker's book only complicates matters that will make the less informed believe they are receiving correct information. Perhaps this stems from the fact that Baker himself is likely misinformed about the rich legacy of the late Cassietta George.

This misinformation has spread to YouTube, causing the deletion of accounts of friends of the Golden Era Gospel Blog such as DJ and Historian, Linwood Heath, Timothy Williams and Emmanuel Jones. In good news, Linwood Heath recently won his counter argument against Baker and had his account fully restored.

This is a message to Lerone Baker from the Golden Era Gospel Community. STOP. CEASE. QUIT. Or to respond with a case of ungrammatical profundity, SITCHOAZZDOWN! It's clear that you are only trying to fill your pocket book and not honor your aunt. Cassietta George truly deserves better than the likes of you representing her. If you truly cared about your aunt's legacy, you would build a platform to raise her up without un-necessarily deriding the names of other members of the Caravans in a libelous manner, publishing outright and easily debunked lies, and claiming works that pre-date your aunt's birth by over 50 years as being owned by her.

Folks, I've done the research, and he's been claiming songs copyrighted by Roberta Martin and James Herndon of the Caravans among others as being his aunt's work. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but in addition to being unethical, isn't that also illegal? Hmm..

To Sonny Austin (son of Roberta Martin), Rev. Herndon, I know you're probably not receiving the proper dues from those copyrighted works, but you may want to speak to a lawyer. He doesn't have the right to claim the hard earned works of Miss Martin and others as his aunt's works.

Lerone Baker, I know you're reading this, and just know that your unkind deeds WILL be stopped. I've got a band of educated scholars and historians, descendants of Golden Era Gospel Singers and even a few Golden Era Gospel Singers on my side and we're ready to debunk your false claims at every turn. Bring it.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Funeral Arrangements for Delois Barrett Campbell


Funeral arrangements have been set for gospel pioneer, Delois Barrett Campbell. The musical tribute will be at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th Street in Chicago on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7:00pm. The funeral will be on Wednesday, August 10 at the same church. Visitation will begin at 6:00pm and the funeral service will begin at 7:00pm. The internment will be on Thursday, August 11 at Oakwoods Cemetery.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Delois Barrett Campbell of the Barrett Sisters and Roberta Martin Singers passes in Chicago


Sad news to report from Chicago. Earlier today, the Golden Era Gospel Blog learned about the passing of gospel legend, Delois Barrett Campbell. She was 85 years old. Delois was born March 12, 1926 in Chicago, IL. In 1943, she became one of the first female members of the Roberta Martin Singers, and also went on to record with her sisters, Billie and Rhodessa as the Barrett Sisters. In 1982, Delois and her sisters appeared in "Say Amen, Somebody", marking a highlight in her career. In later years, Delois would travel internationally to sing for audiences. In recent years, Delois was confined to a wheelchair, and started to lose her voice as her health declined.

Prayers go out to the Barrett Family at this time. Arrangements will be posted as they become available.
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