LA062 Interview: Reverend C.J. Smith (LA062Abbott_Side1)
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Description
Side 1: Interview with Reverend C.J. Smith of the Heavenly Gates on 1982-10-30. Abstract for Smith: [00:00-31:28] Asked about his earliest experience with quartet singing, Rev. Smith tells about forming the Second Zion Wonders with friends at Second Zion Baptist Church on Claiborne Avenue; he identifies their instructor as Gilbert Porterfield - 01:17. His favorite quartet of the time was the Golden Gates, "a rhythm group that had time, harmony and articulation, and that's what Porterfield liked"- 02:20. He describes Porterfield's method; then explains how his second quartet, the Heavenly Gates, grew out of the Second Zion Wonders, with Frank Davis singing baritone. He relates that Davis left to join the Navy; then went on to New York and became a soloist with the Frank Waring Show – 10:58. Smith tells how the Heavenly Gates had brought in a fifth singer to sing "buck lead" - 12:30. He talks about how they would "feel out" an audience – 15:30; and explains how they booked programs, etc. – 16:31. Asked about Frank Davis's rise as a soloist, Smith relates that Davis had gotten classical training at Xavier University, singing solos in operettas – 19:45. He describes the competitive nature of the local quartet scene and how they fared in the mix: "We didn't bar any group when it came down to singing"- 21:22, and recalls how contests were judged: "Now harmony was the number one thing" - 23:23. He relates that, before he started singing with quartets, he had gotten some training in the Glee Club at Hoffman School, under Walter Barker - 25:40. He says the Heavenly Gates sang all around town, "over the River," and as far away as Jackson, Mississippi – 26:45. He describes quartet singing as "part of our Christian life" - 27:35. [00:00-20:40] On LA062Abbott_Side2, Smith returns to the subject of Gilbert Porterfield and "that four part harmony" – 00:15. He shares the observation that many quartet lead singers turned to the ministry – 01:00. After noting that he sang in the Radio Choir of Historic Second Baptist Church before he was ordained, he names six local quartet singers who became preachers – 01:55. He notes the whereabouts of the old members of the Second Zion Wonders/Heavenly Gates, and mentions he recently got together to harmonize and talk about the old days – 09:15. He touches on Herman Pierre's reputation as a gospel soloist. He recalls the camaraderie that his quartet experienced: "We were together whether it was singing or not" – 12:13; and he credits Gilbert Porterfield for instilling a "brotherly" feeling in quartet culture – 13:17. He briefly recalls another quartet "from Porterfield's time," the Tyson Four - 19:10.