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Mitchell's Christian Singers

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Mitchell's Christian Singers
Also known asNew Four Quartet
Mitchell's New Four Singers
OriginKinston, North Carolina, United States
GenresGospel
Years active1934–1940
Past membersLewis Herring
William Brown
Julius Davis
Louis David
Sam Bryant

Mitchell's Christian Singers were an American gospel music group who recorded prolifically between 1934 and 1940.

Musical career

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Formed in the early 1930s in Kinston, North Carolina, the group initially featured William Brown (lead tenor), Julius Davis (tenor), Louis "Panella" David (baritone) and Lewis Herring (bass), all former farmers. Later, two of them drove trucks, one was a carpenter and one a tobacco-factory hand. Good friends, they gradually drifted into the habit of singing together in the evenings after work.

They were discovered by J. B. Long, a talent scout for the American Record Company who was also responsible for discovering Blind Boy Fuller. Originally known as the "New Four Quartet," they were managed by former singer Willie Mitchell and first recorded in August 1934 as "Mitchell's New Four Singers" under the supervision of producer William Calloway.[1] In 1935, Herring left and was replaced by Sam Bryant. When they recorded again in 1936, they did so under the name of "Mitchell's Christian Singers".[1] They recorded over 80 songs over six years, released on seven different labels owned by the American Record Company. They became more widely known after performing at the From Spirituals to Swing concert presented by John Hammond in Carnegie Hall on 23 December 1938. Their last recordings were in 1940, after which they occasionally performed at community functions in Kinston.[1]

They pioneered a 'primitive' idiosyncratic style of a cappella gospel singing: curiously wailing, syncopated spirituals, with a "down home" quality, featuring with an interplay of voices that anticipated the sound of post-war gospel quartets. Their material was mostly standard quartet fare like "What Are They Are Doing in Heaven?", "Traveling Shoes", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", etc.[citation needed]

Discography

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Label / Catalog # Date Title Matrix # Ref
Banner 33434 8/21/1934 Here Am I 15678 ME13401
Perfect 327 8/21/1934 Here Am I 15678=2 OR8469
Melotone 13401 8/21/1934 Here I Am 15678 BA33434
Banner 33390 8/21/1934 I'm on My Way 15680 ME13357
Melotone 13357 8/21/1934 I'm on My Way 15680 BA33390
Banner 33195 8/21/1934 Mother Where Was You 15681 ME13162
Melotone 13162 8/21/1934 Mother Where Was You 15681 CQ8457
Conqueror 8457 8/21/1934 Mother, Where Was You? 15681 RO5381
Perfect 297 8/21/1934 Mother, Where Was You? 15681=1 OR8381
Conqueror 8497 8/21/1934 On My Way 15680 -
Perfect 319 8/21/1934 On My Way 15680=2 OR8451
Melotone 5-12-67 8/21/1934 Them Bones 15676 -
Banner 33196 8/21/1934 Traveling Shoes 15679 ME13163
Melotone 13163 8/21/1934 Traveling Shoes 15679 BA33196
Perfect 298 8/21/1934 Traveling Shoes 15679=2 OR8382
Perfect 326 8/21/1934 What Are They Doing in Heaven 15677=1 OR8468
Banner 33433 8/21/1934 What Are They Doing in Heaven? 15677=1 ME13400
Conqueror 8431 8/21/1934 What Are They Doing in Heaven? 15677=1 ME13400
Melotone 13400 8/21/1934 What Are They Doing in Heaven? 15677=1 BA33433
Banner 33283 8/21/1934 When a Man Feels Discouraged 15675=2 ME13250
Conqueror 8414 8/21/1934 When a Man Feels Discouraged 15675=2 ME13250
Melotone 13250 8/21/1934 When a Man Feels Discouraged 15675=2 BA33283
Perfect 305 8/21/1934 When a Man Feels Discouraged 15675=2 OR8409
Banner 33390 8/22/1934 Angels Will Roll the Stone Away 15686 ME13357
Conqueror 8497 8/22/1934 Angels Will Roll the Stone Away 15686 ME13357
Perfect 319 8/22/1934 Angels Will Roll the Stone Away 15686=1 OR8451
Melotone 13357 8/22/1934 Angels Will Roll the Stones Away 15686 CQ8497
Conqueror 8873 8/22/1934 Are You Working on the Building 15688 -
Perfect 298 8/22/1934 Are You Working on the Building 15688=1 OR8382
Banner 33196 8/22/1934 Are You Working on the Building? 15688 ME13163
Melotone 13163 8/22/1934 Are You Working on the Building? 15688 BA33196
Melotone 6-04-64 8/22/1934 Gonna Shout All Over God's Heaven 15684 -
Banner 33434 8/22/1934 Homey Homey 15687 ME13401
Perfect 327 8/22/1934 Homey Homey 15687=2 OR8469
Melotone 13401 8/22/1934 Homey, Homey 15687 BA33434
Banner 33433 8/22/1934 How About You 15689=2 ME13400
Perfect 326 8/22/1934 How About You 15689=2 OR8468
Vocalion 04394 8/22/1934 How About You 15689=2 OR8468
Conqueror 8431 8/22/1934 How About You? 15689=2 ME13400
Melotone 13400 8/22/1934 How About You? 15689=2 CQ8431
Banner 33283 8/22/1934 Lean Your Head Out the Window 15683=1 ME13250
Conqueror 8414 8/22/1934 Lean Your Head Out the Window 15683=1 ME13250
Melotone 13250 8/22/1934 Lean Your Head Out the Window 15683 CQ8414
Perfect 305 8/22/1934 Lean Your Head Out the Window 15683=1 OR8409
Conqueror 8873 8/22/1934 Somewhere in Heaven 15690 ME51267
Melotone 5-12-67 8/22/1934 Somewhere in Heaven 15690 CQ8873
Melotone 6-04-64 8/22/1934 Swing Low Sweet Chariot 15682 -
Banner 33195 8/22/1934 They Scandalized My Name 15685 ME13162
Conqueror 8457 8/22/1934 They Scandalized My Name 15685 ME13162
Melotone 13162 8/22/1934 They Scandalized My Name 15685 BA33195
Perfect 297 8/22/1934 They Scandalized My Name 15685=1 OR8381
Conqueror 8872 4/28/1936 Count Out the Angels 19154=1 ME70572
Columbia 30073 4/28/1936 Got My Ticket 19132=1 CO37696
Columbia 37696 4/28/1936 Got My Ticket 19132=1 30073
Melotone 7-03-62 4/28/1936 Got My Ticket 19132=1 VO3099z
Conqueror 8927 4/28/1936 Lord, I Can't Turn Back 19151=1 ME60962
Melotone 6-09-62 4/28/1936 Lord, I Can't Turn Back 19151 CQ8927
Conqueror 8927 4/28/1936 New Dry Bones 19133=1 ME60962
Melotone 6-09-62 4/28/1936 New Dry Bones 19133 CQ8927
Melotone 7-01-71 4/28/1936 Repair Me 19148 -
Columbia 30072 4/28/1936 Standing by the Bedside 19129=1 CO37695
Melotone 6-12-53 4/28/1936 Standing by the Bedside 19129=1 CQ8769
Conqueror 8769 4/28/1936 Standing by the Riverside 19129=1 ME61253
Columbia 30072 4/28/1936 What Kind of Shoes Do the Angels Wear 19146=1 CO37695
Columbia 37695 4/28/1936 What Kind of Shoes Do the Angels Wear 19146=1 30072
Conqueror 8769 4/28/1936 What Kind of Shoes Do the Angels Wear 19146=1 ME61253
Melotone 6-12-53 4/28/1936 What Kind of Shoes Do the Angels Wear 19146=1 CQ8769
Columbia 37694 4/28/1936 What More Can Jesus Do 19147=1 30071
Conqueror 9416 4/28/1936 What More Can Jesus Do 19147=1 ME60758
Melotone 6-07-58 4/28/1936 What More Can Jesus Do 19147=1 CQ9416
Conqueror 9416 4/28/1936 Who Was John? 19152 ME60758
Melotone 6-12-54 4/28/1936 You Rise Up 19149=2 -
Melotone 7-01-71 4/28/1936 You See the Sign of Judgement 19150 -
Conqueror 8872 4/29/1936 Come on Ezekial Let's Go 'Round the Wall 19153=1 ME70572
Melotone 7-05-72 4/29/1936 Come on Ezekiel, Let's Go 'Round the Hall 19153=1 CQ8872
Melotone 7-05-72 4/29/1936 Count Out the Angels 19154=2 CQ8872
Vocalion 03016 4/29/1936 Count Out the Angels 19154=2 CQ8872
Melotone 6-12-54 4/29/1936 Go Ye Prodigal Son 19155 -
Vocalion 03024 4/29/1936 Lord, I Can't Turn Back 19151 ME60962
Columbia 30073 4/29/1936 Out on the Ocean Sailing 19156=1 CO37696
Columbia 37696 4/29/1936 Out on the Ocean Sailing 19156=1 30073
Melotone 7-03-62 4/29/1936 Out on the Ocean Sailing 19156=1 VO3099z
Vocalion 03074 4/29/1936 What Kinda Shoes Do the Angels Wear? 19146=1 -
Columbia 30071 4/29/1936 What More Can Jesus Do 19147=1 CO37694
Columbia 30071 4/29/1936 Who Was John 19152=1 CO37694
Columbia 37694 4/29/1936 Who Was John 19152=1 30071
Melotone 6-07-58 4/29/1936 Who Was John 19152=1 CQ9416
Vocalion 03015 4/29/1936 Who Was John 19152=1 ME60758
Melotone 8-01-67 8/10/1937 Hide Me Oh Lord 21483 VO3279z
Conqueror 8929 8/10/1937 I Swore to the Lord 21486=1 -
Melotone 8-01-67 8/10/1937 I Swore to the Lord 21486 VO3279z
Vocalion 03279 8/10/1937 I Swore to the Lord 21486 ME80167
Vocalion 04055 8/10/1937 I Want Somebody to Tell Me 21482 -
Columbia 30091 8/10/1937 I'm Praying Humble 21485=2 CO37789
Columbia 37789 8/10/1937 I'm Praying Humble 21485=2 30091
Conqueror 8928 8/10/1937 I'm Praying Humble 21485=2 ME71159
Melotone 7-11-59 8/10/1937 I'm Praying Humble 21485=2 CQ8928
Columbia 30092 8/10/1937 Jesus Christ of Nazareth 21489=1 CO37790
Columbia 37790 8/10/1937 Jesus Christ of Nazareth 21489=1 30092
Conqueror 8929 8/10/1937 Jesus Christ of Nazareth 21489=1 ME71259
Conqueror 8945 8/10/1937 Jesus Christ of Nazareth 21489=1 VO3235z
Melotone 7-12-59 8/10/1937 Jesus Christ of Nazareth 21489 CQ8929
Columbia 30074 8/10/1937 Walkin' With My Savior 21488=2 CO37697
Conqueror 9001 8/10/1937 Walkin' With My Savior 21488=2 ME80355
Columbia 37697 8/10/1937 Walkin' With My Saviour 21488=2 CO30074
Melotone 8-03-55 8/10/1937 Walking With My Savior 21488=2 CQ9001
Vocalion 03318 8/10/1937 Walking With My Savior 21488=2 -
Columbia 37697 8/10/1937 We Want to Have a Talk With Jesus 21487=2 30074
Conqueror 9001 8/10/1937 We Want to Have a Talk With Jesus 21487=2 ME80355
Melotone 8-03-55 8/10/1937 We Want to Have a Talk With Jesus 21487=2 CQ9001
Vocalion 04055 8/10/1937 Yes My Lord I Done Done 21490 -
Vocalion 04176 8/10/1937 You Got to Make a Change 21484 -
Columbia 30092 8/11/1937 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 21499=1 CO37790
Columbia 37790 8/11/1937 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 21499=1 30092
Conqueror 8945 8/11/1937 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 21499=1 VO3235z
Melotone 7-12-59 8/11/1937 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 21499 -
Vocalion 03235 8/11/1937 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 21499 CQ8945
Columbia 30091 8/11/1937 I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body 21501=2 CO37789
Columbia 37789 8/11/1937 I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body 21501=2 30091
Conqueror 8928 8/11/1937 I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body 21501=2 -
Melotone 7-11-59 8/11/1937 I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body 21501=2 -
Vocalion 03180 8/11/1937 I Don't Care Where You Bury My Body 21502=2 -
Conqueror 9029 8/11/1937 I Got to Go to Judgement 21502=1 -
Melotone 8-04-57 8/11/1937 I Got to Go to Judgement 21502=1 -
Conqueror 9080 8/11/1937 My Lord I'm Trampin' 21503 -
Vocalion 04122 8/11/1937 My Lord I'm Tramping 21503=2 -
Columbia 30075 8/11/1937 My Lord, I'm Trampin' 21503=2 CO37698
Columbia 37698 8/11/1937 My Lord, I'm Trampin' 21503=2 30075
Conqueror 9029 8/11/1937 My Mother Had to Kneel Down 21498=1 -
Melotone 8-04-57 8/11/1937 My Mother Had to Kneel Down 21498 -
Vocalion 03409 8/11/1937 My Mother Had to Kneel Down 21498 -
Columbia 30075 8/11/1937 My Time Ain't Long 21500=1 CO37698
Columbia 37698 8/11/1937 My Time Ain't Long 21500=1 30075
Conqueror 9080 8/11/1937 My Time Ain't Long 21500 -
Vocalion 04122 8/11/1937 My Time Ain't Long 21500=1 -
Columbia 30074 8/11/1937 We Want to Have a Talk With Jesus 21487=2 CO37697
Vocalion 04913 7/6/1938 Jesus Hear Me Praying 23193 -
Columbia 30076 7/6/1938 My Mother's Gone to Glory 23192=1 CO37699
Columbia 37699 7/6/1938 My Mother's Gone to Glory 23192=1 30076
Conqueror 9081 7/6/1938 My Mother's Gone to Glory 23192=1 -
Vocalion 04273 7/6/1938 My Mother's Gone to Glory 23192 -
Conqueror 9159 7/6/1938 While He's Passing By 23194 -
Vocalion 04472 7/6/1938 While He's Passing By 23194 -
Conqueror 9159 7/7/1938 Brother Come on In 23205=1 -
Vocalion 04472 7/7/1938 Brother Come on In 23205=1 -
Vocalion 04844 7/7/1938 Drinkin' of the Holy Wine 23200 -
Columbia 30094 7/7/1938 I Got a Letter From Jesus 23197=1 CO37792
Columbia 37792 7/7/1938 I Got a Letter From Jesus 23197=1 30094
Conqueror 9417 7/7/1938 I Heard the Preachin' of the Elders 23202=1 -
Conqueror 9359 7/7/1938 I Need to Be More Like Jesus 23206 -
Vocalion 05097 7/7/1938 I Need to Be More Like Jesus 23206 CQ9359
Columbia 30093 7/7/1938 Jesus Goin' to Make Up My Dying Bed 23203=1 CO37791
Vocalion 04357 7/7/1938 Jesus Goin' to Make Up My Dying Bed 23203 -
Columbia 37791 7/7/1938 Jesus Gonna' Make Up My Mind 23203=1 30093
Columbia 37699 7/7/1938 Judgement Is Comin' 23204=1 30076
Columbia 30076 7/7/1938 Judgement Is Coming 23204=1 CO37699
Conqueror 9081 7/7/1938 Judgement Is Coming 23204=1 -
Columbia 30094 7/7/1938 Lord Have Mercy 23195=1 CO37792
Vocalion 04418 7/7/1938 Lord Have Mercy 23195 -
Columbia 37791 7/7/1938 Saints Are Marching 23196=1 30093
Columbia 30093 7/7/1938 The Saints Are Marching 23196=1 CO37791
Conqueror 9417 7/7/1938 Up on the Mountain 23198=1 -
Vocalion 04593 7/7/1938 Up on the Mountain 23198=1 CQ9417
Conqueror 9274 12/27/1938 Ain't Gonna Lay My Receiver Down 23876=1 -
Vocalion 04844 12/27/1938 Are You Living Humble 23880 -
Conqueror 9360 12/27/1938 Are You Living Humble? 23880 -
Vocalion 04783 12/27/1938 I Ain't Gonna Lay My Receiver Down 23876=1 -
Conqueror 9360 12/27/1938 I'm Gonna Do What My Lord Said 23875 -
Vocalion 04964 12/27/1938 I'm Gonna Do What My Lord Says 23875 -
Vocalion 04720 12/27/1938 My Poor Mother Died A-Shouting 23879 -
Conqueror 9285 12/27/1938 My Poor Mother Dies A-Shouting 23879=1 -
Conqueror 9285 12/27/1938 Rock My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham 23878=1 -
Conqueror 9359 12/27/1938 Way Down in Egypt Land 23881 -
Vocalion 05097 12/27/1938 Way Down in Egyptland 23881 CQ9359
Conqueror 9274 12/27/1938 Won't I Be Glad When I Get to Heaven 23877=1 -
Columbia 37483 8/6/1940 Bridegroom's Coming WC3216 30050
Columbia 30046 8/6/1940 Don't You Want That Stone? WC3232=A CO37479
Columbia 37479 8/6/1940 Don't You Want That Stone? WC3232 30046
Okeh 06081 8/6/1940 Don't You Want That Stone? WC3232 Co37479
Columbia 30045 8/6/1940 Famine in the Land WC3229=A CO37478
Columbia 30045 8/6/1940 Go Where I Send Thee WC3231=A CO37478
Columbia 30048 8/6/1940 I Want Jesus to Be Around WC3215=A CO37481
Columbia 37481 8/6/1940 I Want Jesus to Be Around WC3215 30048
Okeh 05948 8/6/1940 I Want Jesus to Be Around WC3215 -
Columbia 30047 8/6/1940 Lead Me On WC3218=A CO37480
Conqueror 9770 8/6/1940 Lead Me On C3218 -
Okeh 05995 8/6/1940 Lead Me On WC3218 CQ9770
Columbia 30048 8/6/1940 Lead Me to That Rock WC3214=A CO37481
Columbia 37481 8/6/1940 Lead Me to That Rock WC3214 30048
Okeh 05948 8/6/1940 Lead Me to That Rock WC3214 -
Columbia 37480 8/6/1940 Lead On WC3218 30047
Columbia 30046 8/6/1940 Take My Hand WC3217=A CO37479
Columbia 37479 8/6/1940 Take My Hand WC3217 30046
Conqueror 9770 8/6/1940 Take My Hand C3217 -
Okeh 06081 8/6/1940 Take My Hand WC3217 -
Columbia 30050 8/6/1940 The Bridegroom's Coming WC3216=A CO37483
Okeh 05786 8/6/1940 The Bridegroom's Coming WC3216 -
Columbia 30050 8/6/1940 Walk With Me WC3230=A CO37483
Columbia 30049 8/7/1940 Don't Drive Them Away WC3227=A CO37482
Columbia 37482 8/7/1940 Don't Drive Them Away WC3227 30049
Okeh 05835 8/7/1940 Don't Drive Them Away WC3227 -
Columbia 37478 8/7/1940 Famine in the Land WC3229 30045
Conqueror 9769 8/7/1940 Famine in the Land C3229 -
Okeh 06117 8/7/1940 Famine in the Land WC3229 Co30045
Columbia 37478 8/7/1940 Go Where I Send Thee WC3231 30045
Conqueror 9769 8/7/1940 Go Where I Send Thee C3231 -
Okeh 06117 8/7/1940 Go Where I Send Thee WC3231 Co37478
Columbia 30047 8/7/1940 Jesus Is Everything to Me WC3228=A CO37480
Columbia 37480 8/7/1940 Jesus Is Everything to Me WC3228 30047
Okeh 05995 8/7/1940 Jesus Is Everything to Me WC3228 -
Columbia 30049 8/7/1940 Kneel Down and Pray WC3237=A CO37482
Columbia 37482 8/7/1940 Kneel Down and Pray WC3237 30049
Okeh 05835 8/7/1940 Kneel Down and Pray WC3237 -
Columbia 37483 8/7/1940 Walk With Me WC3230 30050

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mitchell's Christian Singers Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

Other sources

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