Successful gospel group who fused the traditional quartet style with modern, R&B-influenced musical arrangements. The Mighty Clouds of Joy have shared the stage with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, andThe Rolling Stones. At his uncle's insistence, he agreed to enroll in the local high school. 2011. "Mighty Clouds of Joy Biography." . THE MIGHTY CLOUDS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! Thanks for the story. It was there that he met Johnny Martin in school. We are so sorry and sadden to hear about Richard Wallace passing. The other original members of the group were Johnny Martin, Elmo Franklin, Leon Polk and David Walker (aka Bunker Hill). The group's first break came when they caught the ear of a local gospel disc jockey, who agreed to produce several demo tapes. We lost another legend. Ligon died Sunday in Georgia, his manager, Isaac Lindsey, said. But when I heard Mr lLigon he also had that growl , which made me feel so much better about singing and Ive been trying to sing every since. Invited to join a vocal group formed by his cousins, he was persuaded by his mother to accept the invitation. December 20, 2020 at 12:16 a.m. Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act to ever appear on "Soul Train," which earned them criticism among traditional gospel music fans. He was 65; Elmeo Franklin died on May 7, 2008, in Los Angeles at the age of 71; Willie Joe Ligon died on December 11, 2016, in Los Angeles. It also reached no. Im not going to say goodbye but I will say see ya later! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. The funeral service will be: Odenton, MD 21113 View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro . The . Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Among Mighty Clouds of Joys most popular songs: Time, which crossed over to the R&B charts in 1974, and Mighty High, a 1975 disco hit. 69 on Billboard Hot 100. Another great one is gone but now they are all together again up there singing and praising the Lord! As a young man I didnt have that smooth voice like most young boys had My voice was always hard and rough, People would say I had a growl and sounded like I had rocks in my mouth when I sang. Im saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Wallace. Read Full Biography. Mr Bob as always your ability with the pen to speak to who and what are relative is amazing thank you for taking the time to honor and celebrate a life dedicated to gospel music when people think of Clouds they immediately think Joe Ligon, but Mr Richard Wallace booked, managed for many years, actually most of the years and made it possible for Mr Ligon to focus solely on singing they were brothers, they were friends, they were comrades, in gospel and in life, Richard Wallace is officially the last original who went on the road with the Clouds, making it the end of a long standing, era Now he joins the amazing cast of Clouds that proceeded him in Glory. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. This was when they came to South Carolina. 22 on the Billboard Soul Music chart and peaked at no. Their first recording was Build Me a Cabin in Glory on the Elko label in 1957. Format: Record. Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. 12/13/2016. My condolences to his family and many friends. Gods Grace and Mercy will carry you thru, To God be the glory. Hes some were around God Throne. $16.99. At age 14, Ligon moved to LA to live with his uncle. Reid Temple AME Church The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way. Joe died on December 11, 2016, at age 80. 1 on the Disco/Dance chart and remained charted for five weeks. While we mourn the loss of a very good and humble man, we also celebrate his remarkable life as one of the most successful Artists in Gospel Music History, said Ligons manager, Pastor Isaac Lindsey. More By The Mighty Clouds of Joy Pray for Me. Learn Religions. In 1979, The Mighty Clouds of Joy received a Grammy Award for the album Live and Direct. In the same year, they released the album Changing Times, which also earned them a Grammy Award. Jones, Kim. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Singing for God on the stage but not living for Him after I left the stage. Before his passing My group was privileged to have recorded a song with him that I will hold dear to my heart till that day I see him again in Glory. The resulting sound turned the Mighty Clouds of Joy into the most commercially successful gospel group. The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy who helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Formed 1955 in a Los Angeles high school by Willie Joe Ligon, born Sept. 11, 1942 in Troy, AL; original members were Ligon, lead, Johnney Martin, lead, Elmo Franklin, baritone, and Richard Wallace, bass; Ligon and Wallace continued with the group for the next forty years; added Paul Beasley lead singer of the Gospel Keytones 1980; current members The Death of Dottie Rambo, Southern Gospel Legend, American Idol Finalists Who are Christian, The World's Best Christian Hard Rock Bands, The 27 Biggest Female Artists in Christian Music, Top 16 Christian Contemporary Pop Bands and Artists. He moved to Los Angeles to live with his uncle when he was in his early teens. For more informaiton, visit the Mighty Clouds of Joy website. Therefore, at the time of his death, gospel singer Joe Ligon had an estimated net worth of $3 million. Traveling to California to visit an uncle, at the age of 14 Ligon remained in the city for a year. Such a loss to us all.. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1961 and started out in a tradition-based style. 32 on the Billboard R&B chart and 102 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart. Singer Joe Ligon, the dynamic frontman of the Grammy-winning gospel group Mighty Clouds of Joy, has died. Jones, Kim. 4. by Five Blind Boys Of Alabama Audio CD. Release Title:---Record Size: 7" Style: Classic R&B, Gospel. Material . He was born on October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, USA, as Willie Joe Ligon. The group has won three Grammy Awards, several Stellar Awards, Hall of Fame Inductions, Lifetime Achievement Awards, with more nominations and top selling hit albums along the way So sorry to hear of Richards passing. Nominated for numerous Grammy Awards, the group received Grammys for several albums, including Live & Direct in 1978, Changing Times in 1979, and Power in 1993. Rest easy mr. wallace. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way. The following year, the group recorded their debut album, Family Circle. Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. This item: Classic 3. by The Mighty Clouds of Joy Audio CD. He will be deeply missed by all of us. Nicest conceit: how hard it is to be soft in a 'Stoned World. I always remembered him from way back when I was a child. Let it play in the background as you study and immerse yourself in this topic! Their crossover success brought them added recognition, and they opened for the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. Johnny Martin - the founding member died in 1987 at the age of 46. They were influenced by R&B groups such as The Temptations, as well as the Rev. All Rights Reserved. The founding members were Willie Joe Ligon (October 11, 1936), Johnny Martin (February 2, 1941), Bass Guitarist Richard Wallace (June 9, 1940), and brother guitarists Ermant Franklin, Jr. (March 20, 1931) and Elmo Franklin (October 8, 1936). Thursday, July 24th Franklin, Willie Joe Ligon, Richard Wallace and Johnny Martin were the four founding members of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The Best of The Dixie Hummingbirds. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, CA as a traditional-based style group. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. Often immatated but never duplicatedl He is survived by his wife Valerie and three children, ages 8, 11 and 16. So inspirational and touched by so many hearts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American traditional gospel music quartet. Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy. See also. Greetings, dear Beliefnet readers! 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. . He was a people person. Cards can be sent to Valerie Cook, PO Box 273, Jessup, MD 20794. He added: And we got stoned for it.. The Mighty Clouds of Joy used declamations of traditional African American ministers and were one of the earliest groups to use an electrified rhythm section to enhance classic Gospel vocals. After 44 years and 35 albums, three Grammys and trophy-case full of almost every award imaginable; shows that have run a gamut from the church-house to the White House, and top-billings with a dazzling roster of superstar artists from nearly every genre of popular music (the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire, Luther Rest with the almighty my friend! Joe Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80. The Mighty Clouds' career stretches back to the early 60s, when the original members were Junior High School kids in LA, and still in their teenage years. The Mighty Clouds of Joy who often performed as Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy, was a gospel quartet established in Los Angeles, California in 1955. I would like to offer my condolences to the family. Attendees will also be treated to a short documentary titled, A Living Legacy, by David Ramsey, Rev. The group was influenced by The Temptations, an American vocal group that released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. 47 on the R&B chart. In a break with tradition, the groups sound incorporated Soul, R&B, and Rock; all of which flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material.