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1. Aretha Franklin Movie
2. Latest On Aretha Franklin
3. Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace Album
4. Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace Live
5. Amazing Grace Aretha Franklin 1972

Recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in January 1972, AMAZING GRACE: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS is a 4-LP set with more than double the number of tracks that it did upon its original release. We've extended the giveaway until Saturday, Feb 29. See the full track listing below! AMAZING GRACE: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS. Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings. Aretha Franklin. On Our Way (Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, January 13. Perhaps I've overlooked an entry, but I cannot find a submission for the vinyl version of ARETHA FRANKLIN - THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS. From what I've gleaned from various sources online it contains 4 records, packaged in a cool 'double' gatefold album, in other words, 2 double pocketed gatefold covers bound together.

Principally gospel music, arr. by Aretha Franklin.
Compact discs.
Program notes by David Nathan (27 p. : ill.) bound in countainer.
disc 1: Thursday night show (1/13/72). Organ introd. (On our way) (Ken Lupper) (1:34) -- Opening remarks (Rev. James Cleveland) (1:36) -- On our way / traditional (1:58) -- Aretha's introd. (Rev. James Cleveland) (2:14) -- Wholy holy / Marvin Gaye, Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson (6:55) -- You'll never walk alone / Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II (8:26) -- What a friend we have in Jesus / traditional (5:56) -- Precious memories / traditional (9:02) -- How I got over / Clara Ward (5:30) -- Precious Lord, take me hand / Thomas Dorsey ; You've got a friend / Carole King (8:37) -- Climbing higher mountains / traditional (3:01) -- Amazing grace / traditional (16:10) -- My sweet Lord (instrumental) / George Harrison (2:02) -- Give yourself to Jesus / Robert Fryson (5:19).
disc 2: Friday night show (1/14/72). Organ introd. (On our way) (Ken Lupper) ; Opening remarks (Rev. James Cleveland) (2:32) -- On our way / traditional (3:01) -- Aretha's introd. (Rev. James Cleveland) (2:59) -- What a friend we have in Jesus / traditional (6:18) -- Wholy holy / Marvin Gaye, Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson (5:46) -- Climbing higher mountains / traditional (5:25) -- God will take care of you / traditional (9:00) -- Old landmark / A.M. Bruner (2:56) -- Mary, don't you weep / Inez Andrews (8:21) -- Never grow old / traditional (15:27) -- Remarks (Rev. C. L. Franklin) (7:52) -- Precious memories / traditional (7:49) -- My sweet Lord (instrumental) / George Harrison ( :39).
Aretha Franklin, vocals, piano (5th & 24th works), and celeste (7th work) ; Southern California Community Choir ; James Cleveland, piano, vocals (8th work), choir director ; other instrumentalists.
Recorded over two days at Los Angeles' New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, AMAZING GRACE finds Franklin backed by her studio band and joined by a choir led by family friend and gospel icon James Cleveland.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

If You Haven’t Heard This, You Don’t Know Aretha submitted by robbo on August 29, 2018, 4:06pmAretha Franklin was not only the greatest Black soul singer, not only the greatest female soul singer, not only the greatest soul singer of all time, but the greatest gospel singer of all time.
This album is both a concert and recording center and a church service.
If you have a hang up about religiosity and church music, remember that this was part of the great heart and the musical legacy of the great Aretha Franklin.

May she rest in powersubmitted by redwood on August 5, 2019, 8:54pmAretha Franklin coming home. A must-hear.

James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel music, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating traditional black gospel, soul, pop, and jazz in arrangements for mass choirs. Throughout his career, Cleveland appeared on hundreds of recordings and earned 4 Grammy Awards. He was the first gospel musician to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1984.^[1] For his trailblazing accomplishments, he is regarded by many to be one of the greatest gospel singers that ever lived.^[2] He is best known for his gospel classics, 'Lord, Help Me To Hold Out,' 'Peace Be Still,' 'I Don't Feel No Ways Tired', “Where Is Your Faith,' 'The Love Of God,' 'God Has Smiled On Me' and his soul stirring rendition of Gladys Knight & The Pips 'You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.'

Early life and career[edit]

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church where Thomas A. Dorsey was minister of music and Roberta Martin was pianist for the choir. He strained his vocal cords as a teenager while part of a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. As a young teen he was a part of a Missionary group called Soul Winners For Christ, which was created by his teen aged friend Jessie Jimerson Phillips, who would go on in later years to write Roberta Martin's last recorded song: ('I Have Hope'), the Missionary team also included young Richard D. Henton. The Missionary Team was headquartered at Greater Harvest Baptist Church in Chicago, where Louis H. Boddie was Pastor. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger.

Musical career[edit]

The Gospelaires (The Early Years)[edit]

In 1950, Cleveland joined the Gospelaires, a trio led by Norsalus McKissick and Bessie Folk. His arrangements modernized such traditional standards as '(Give Me That) Old Time Religion' and 'It's Me O Lord'. After the trio disbanded, an associate of the group, Roberta Martin, hired him as a composer and arranger. The song made brought Cleveland tremendous fame was his rendition of Peace Be Still. In the 60s, Cleveland's singing of that song was viewed as ever so majestic.

Albertina Walker & The Caravans[edit]

Cleveland subsequently went to work with childhood friend Albertina Walker, popularly referred to as the 'Queen of Gospel & Starmaker' and founder of The Caravans, as a composer, arranger, pianist, and occasional singer/narrator.^[3] The Caravans also became the launching pad for today's Gospel legends, who are also former members along with Cleveland such as Shirley Caesar (known as the 1st Lady of Gospel), Cassette George (who co-wrote some of the group's best hits), Delores Washington, Josephine Howard (Mother to R&B artist, Miki Howard), Inez Andrews (who's song Mary Don't You Weep became a staple in the industry), Dorothy Nor wood (known as Gospel's Greatest Story Teller), James Heron, Loleatta Holloway (who became a legendary Dance recording artist in the late 70's), and many others. In November 1954, Albertina provided James the opportunity to do his very first recording. By staying out of the studio for a while, she convinced States Records to allow him to record with her group. He continued to record with The Caravans until States closed down in 1957.^[4]BONUS NOTE: Cleveland would later reunite with Albertina in the late 70's with 2 album releases; 'Reunion' released in 1977, and the iconic classic 'Please Be Patient With Me' released in 1979 with the Trinity All Nations Choir of Chicago (This album earned Albertan her 1st Gold Record).

Throughout this period, he recorded with other groups like The Gospel All-Stars and The Gospel Chimes, mixing pop ballad influences with traditional shouting.

In 1959, he recorded a version of Ray Charles' hit, 'Hallelujah I Love Her So', as a solo artist.

Aretha Franklin Movie

By 1960 Cleveland, who had incorporated blues riffs and what Heilbut described as “sheer funkiness” in his work, had become associated with a new tenor in gospel music. He became known by more than just the professionals within gospel music with his version of the Soul Stirrers' song, 'The Love of God', backed by the Voices of Tabernacle from Detroit, Michigan. The success and sensation of the song's recording led to a record contract with an historic label that would change his life forever.

Savoy Records, Inc.[edit]

James Cleveland signed with the historic jazz label Savoy Records in 1962, going on to release a huge catalog of soul gospel recordings from that year until his death in 1991, many of which were recorded in a live concert setting. The LIVE concert recording staple started with Reverend Lawrence Roberts, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Nutley, NJ (Home of the famous Angelic Choir). Roberts liked the idea of capturing worship in song LIVE on a recording where the listeners can feel and become of a part of the service. Working with Savoy's Executive Producer Fred Mendelsohn, Cleveland and the Angelic Choir of Nutley released two albums before recording the iconic masterpiece, Peace Be Still, in September 1963, which sold thousands of copies at that time and garnered his 1st Gold Album. 'Peace Be Still' also stayed on the Billboard charts for at least 15 years after its release.

The Cleveland Singers[edit]

Cleveland moved to Los Angeles, California, to become Minister of Music at Grace Memorial Church of God in Christ where he attained even greater popularity working with keyboardist Billy Preston and the Angelic Choir of Nutley, New Jersey. He would then return to touring with the newly organized James Cleveland Singers which included Odessa McCastle, Georgia White, Eugene Bryant, and Billy Preston, among others.

In 1964, Cleveland re-organized The James Cleveland Singers which included Odessa McCastle, Roger Roberts, and Gene Viale (who became the 1st Latin American to integrate Soul Gospel, and sing with the Cleveland Singers).

In 1965, Cleveland added Clyde Brown and Charles Barnett to his group which by then was traveling extensively throughout the United States and abroad into the late 1960s, performing in all major venues. This collaboration produced such recordings as 'Heaven That Will Be Good Enough For Me', 'Two Wings', and 'The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now'.

Other singers were added in later years, such as Marva Hines and the renowned soprano soloist, Cleo Kennedy who were mainstays until his death in 1991.

The Southern California Community Choir[edit]

Cleveland capitalized on his success by founding his own choir, the Southern California Community Choir. After being nominated numerous times in previous years, James won his 1st Grammy Award with the Southern California Community Choir in 1975 for his 1974 Album release 'In The Ghetto'. He recorded several albums with SCC between the years of 1970 - 1990. Their most successful albums were the 1979 Grammy nominated release, 'Its A New Day' (featuring the industry's signature staple, 'God Is'), there 1981 release, 'Where Is Your Faith' among many others. His final Grammy Award was received as a posthumous award after his passing in 1991 for his final album with SCC entiltled, 'Having Church', which features Cleveland's iconic rendition of 1 of Tramaine Hawkins' signatures, 'What Shall I Do?', written and composed by Quincy Fielding.

Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church[edit]

In November 1970, Cleveland founded his own ministry and church, Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California, which grew from ten to thousands of members throughout the remainder of his life. His 1st album with the church choir, dubbed The Voices of Cornerstone, was released in 1980 which featured a wonderful rendition by Cleveland of 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul' and the title album track, 'A Praying Spirit' (written by Elbernita 'Twinkie' Clark and recorded by The Clark Sisters). The church choir's 2nd album, My Expectations, was released in 1981 with moderate acclaim. By the time of his death, church membership totaled over 7,000.

James Cleveland presents...[edit]

From the 1970s until 1990, Cleveland would bring together a number of artists to back him on appearances and records. He also continued to introduce, appear and record with some of the most notable gospel choirs and independent artists of the time; many of whom became legends in their own right, such as: The Donald Vails Choraleers (Detroit), The Harold Smith Majestics (whom he recorded the classic 'Lord, Help Me To Hold Out), The Los Angeles Gospel Messengers (the last choir to record with Cleveland before he passed), New Jerusalem Baptist Church Choir (Flint, Michigan), Henry Jackson, The Craig Brothers, The Salem Inspirational Choir (from Omaha, Nebraska with whom he recorded the iconic staple 'I Don't Feel Noways Tired'), Richard 'Mr. Clean' White, Bishop Albert Jamison & the Triboro Mass Choir, Issac Whittmon, Marva Hines, Debbie Austin, The Fourth of May, Quentella Caldwell, Sara Jordan Powell, The Philadelphia Mass Choir, The Houston Mass Choir, The New Jersey Mass Choir, and the award winning Charles Fold Singers ( from Cincinnati, Ohio with whom Cleveland recorded 5 Albums with, including the Grammy winning 1979 release, 'Make Me An Instrument').

Additionally, he himself backed other acts, contributing to the recordings of such well known artists as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Elton John just to name a few.

Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace[edit]

Cleveland also moved to Detroit in the 1960s to take a position as music director at the famed New Bethel Baptist Church where C. L. Franklin, father of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was pastor. In 1972, James collaborated with Aretha on her historic Grammy-winning and multi-million selling album Amazing Grace, which is known as the Greatest Gospel Album of All Time. Recorded live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, California with his Southern California Community Choir,^[5] his feature on the album and Aretha's success as a pop artist made the album an historic landmark in Gospel, and is still selling to this day, with a special CD re-release of 'The Complete Recordings' (the unedited album recording session of the Amazing Grace project). This historic recording was also filmed by director Sydney Pollack for possible documentary release, but due to a technical issue of not using a clapperboard to synchronize the audio with the video, the film was unusable, and was left shelved for the next 47 years.^[5] Before he died, Pollack authorized producer Alan Elliott to try to complete the film.^[5] Unaware of the synchronization problem, Elliot mortgaged his own house to buy the film negative from Warner Brothers, but was able to use modern technology to bring audio and video together.^[5] The completed documentary was finally released in April 2019 playing in select theaters across the United States, beginning with a premier at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church.^[5]

GOSPEL - The Motion Picture[edit]

The historic documentary film 'Gospel', released in 1983 features James Cleveland for the 1st time on Motion Picture screen, along with the Southern California Community Choir, Walter Hawkins & the Family, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Shirley Caesar, and The Clark Sisters. The film was directed by David Leivick and Frederick A. Ritzenberg. Excerpts from the film soundtrack was released on Savoy Records and became a top seller, with Cleveland having the majority feature on side 2 of the album.

Gospel Music Workshop of America[edit]

In 1968, Cleveland taught others how to achieve the modern gospel sound and preserve the industry's rich legacy through his annual workshop convention entitled, The Gospel Music Workshop of America (or, the GMWA), an organization that he co-founded with Albertina Walker and which now has over 150 chapters with 30,000 members. The GMWA has featured and produced the likes of Donald Vails, Issac Douglas, Myrna Summers, Sara Jordan Powell, Daryl Coley, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Donald Lawrence and Yolanda Adams just to name a few. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together singers from all over the country in order to perpetuate the art of gospel music. The workshops eventually attracted thousands of adherents and laid the groundwork for the popularity of gospel music. The last album Cleveland recorded with the GMWA was their 1990 release from the previous year's annual convention in New Orleans, which features

Gospel renditions of pop songs[edit]

Throughout his recording career, Cleveland started a trend and was famously known for taking some of the greatest Pop, R&B and Soul songs, and transforming them into Gospel anthems. Out of all the mainstream pop songs he rearranged for Gospel audiences, his most memorable are his classic rendition of Gladys Knight & The Pips 'The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me' which he changed to 'Jesus Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.' This rendition earned him a Grammy nomination when it was released in 1975 as his 1st recording with the legendary Charles Fold Singers of Cincinnati, Ohio. Another memorable Gospel rendition was of Pop music icon Barry Manilow's 'I Write The Songs', which he recorded on his 1977 Grammy winning album, 'LIVE At Carnegie Hall.' His last song rendition he presented was legendary Whitney Houston's classic, 'Didn't We Almost Have It All', known as 'Aren't You Glad You Know The Lord', which Cleveland recorded with the Northern & Southern California Choirs of the GMWA in 1989 on the album 'Breathe On Me' featuring Daryl Coley and current Savoy Records Executive Producer, Milton Biggham.

King James Records[edit]

From 1985 to 1988, Cleveland launched his own independent record label, King James Records, which was manufactured and distributed by Detroit's own Sound of Gospel/Nine Records, Inc. Under his label, he released 3 albums with the GMWA, 1 Solo Release, Billy Preston's 1st Gospel album, 2 albums with the Los Angeles Gospel Messengers (which includes their 1st most popular release, Praise 88), 1 album with his iconic Southern California Community Choir, and a resurgence of his James Cleveland presents series, which brought back The Craig Brothers, The Fourth of May and introduced The Harmonizing Four. Cleveland's record label folded after the closing of his distributor, Sound of Gospel Records.

Death[edit]

On February 9, 1991, James Cleveland died in Culver City, California.^[6] He was 59. Some reports list the cause of death as congestive heart failure stating that the singer had fallen into a coma shortly before his death.^{[7][8][9][10]} He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.^[11][12]

Latest On Aretha Franklin

Controversy[edit]

Following Cleveland's death in February 1991, a number of controversies arose surrounding his estate which at the time was estimated to be worth between $4 and $6 million.^[13][14]

Andre M. Cleveland[edit]

In October 1991, music producer Andre M. Cleveland (then-aged 34) filed suit against James Cleveland's estate claiming to be Cleveland's adopted son.^[13]

Jean Ervin/LaShone Cleveland[edit]

Also in October 1991, Jean Ervin, a member of the Cleveland-founded Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church, claimed that she was the mother of Cleveland's only biological child, daughter LaShone Cleveland (b. 1965).^[13] Ervin also stated that she believed that Andre M. Cleveland was not adopted as he was claiming but was merely one of the many 'homeless' children that the late-singer took into his home over the years.^[13]

Christopher Harris[edit]

Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace Album

In February 1992, Cleveland's then-foster son, Christopher Harris (formerly Christopher Harris Cleveland), filed a lawsuit against Cleveland's estate claiming that Cleveland allegedly sexually abused him over a period of five years and infected him with the HIV virus which he claims Cleveland contracted through same-sex liaisons. The case was settled on undisclosed terms.^{[8][9][10][15][16]}

Grammy Awards[edit]

• Grammy Award won for Best Soul Gospel Performance 1974:
  James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir: In the Ghetto
• Grammy Award won for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional 1977:
  James Cleveland: James Cleveland Live at Carnegie Hall
• Grammy Award won for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional 1980:
  James Cleveland & The Charles Fold Singers: Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument
• Grammy Award won for Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus 1990:
  The Southern California Community Choir: Having Church

References[edit]

1. ^'James Cleveland'. Inductees Archive. Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
2. ^Cohen, Aaron (May 28, 2006). 'Gospel Festival to honor sounds and work of James Cleveland'. Tribune. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2007.^{[verification needed]}
3. ^Chicago Tribune, October 9, 2010
4. ^The United and States Labels Part II http://campber.people.clemson.edu/unitedstates2.html Accessed August 12, 2009.
5. ^ ^abcdeGrieving, Tim (April 7, 2019). 'Aretha Franklin's 'Amazing Grace' Gets LA Premiere In The Church Where It Took Place'. All Things Considered. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
6. ^Malcolm Venable (May 2003). 'The Moving Spirit'. City Limits Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
7. ^'James Cleveland, Gospel Voice'. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29.
8. ^ ^abGraham, Rhonda (October 23, 1994). 'And The Choir Sings On'. Sunday News Journal.
9. ^ ^abThomas, Stephen B., Ph.D., F.A.A.H.B. (January–February 2000). 'The Legacy of Tuskegee: AIDS and African-Americans'.
10. ^ ^abCobb, J. Matthew. 'Oh Happy Gay'. Prayze Hymn Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
11. ^'Cemetery and grave marker information for the Rev. James Edward Cleveland'. findagrave.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
12. ^'The official website for Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California'. inglewoodparkcemetery.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
13. ^ ^abcd'Man Seeks Share of the Rev. James Cleveland's Estate'. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
14. ^James Cleveland estate worth between $4 and $6 million. Jet magazine. 2 March 1992. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
15. ^James Cleveland Infected L.A. Youth With HIV, $9 Mil. Lawsuit Claims. Jet magazine. 2 March 1992. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
16. ^Graham, Rhonda (October 23, 1994). 'And The Choir Sings On'. Sunday News Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2014.

2019 Edits and Additional Historic Information by Miko Evans aka DJ Rev of Rev Productions (Atlanta, Georgia) / February 11–13, 2019

• James Cleveland (1983). Gospel (DVD). Golden Door Productions.
• 'Grammy Award Wins by James Cleveland'. Grammy.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
• Viale, Gene D (2010). I Remember Gospel: And I Keep On Singing. AuthorHouse. ISBN978-1-4490-7681-8.
• Boyer, Horace Clarence (2001). 'James L. Cleveland'. In Root, Deane L. (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Oxford University Press.‎

Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace Live

External links[edit]

• James Cleveland on IMDb
• James Cleveland discography at Discogs

Amazing Grace Aretha Franklin 1972