If you want to see this fantastic group, you can catch them singing on Mother’s Day, May 13, at 4 p.m. at New Bethlehem Baptist Church.
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff reporter
The Gospel Travelers celebrated their anniversary on Easter Sunday at New Bethlehem Baptist Church located at 6504 Woodland Ave. This group of men has been singing since 1975 and has had the chance to sing all across the United States.
The group was formed by five men who all attended church together. After years of ministering in the Cleveland area, they retired for awhile. In 2009, they decided to get together for a reunion and have been going strong again.
The term Gospel quartet refers to several different traditions of harmony singing. Its origins are varied, including 4-part hymn singing, barbershop style, jubilee songs, spirituals, and other Gospel songs.
This great gospel quartet group sings in four-part harmony, featuring Rev. Michael Thompson, Deacon Dwayne (Sonny) Banks, Kevin Byous, and Aaron Banks. The musicians include Pastor Nathaniel Williams on organ, Minister Darnell Johnson and drums and Darin King on Bass.
The one and only Jae the Gospel Kidd served at MC for the evening that featured some very outstanding groups that included Anointed Vessel, The Christian Brothers, and Rev. Melvin Kenniebrew and the Sensational Saints.
The Gospel Travelers not only came out sporting a new look with their three piece suits, they came to have church with songs that moved the congregation. Their sound was so great it seem to blend the sounds while the lead singer took flight.
Cleveland has a rich history in the genre of gospel quartet music. A major portion of this history which included the Gospel Travelers. This group has song with such artists as the Rev. Al Green, the Jackson Southernairs, The William Brothers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Canton Spirituals, and the Gospel FOUR to name a few.
If you want to see this fantastic group, you can catch them singing on Mother’s Day, May 13, at 4 p.m. at New Bethlehem Baptist Church.
