Robert, throwing down on the keys, has been working in music for a very long time and can be seen on the organ every Sunday at Mt. Haven Baptist Church where the Rev. Michael Small is the pastor.
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
Coming in Cleveland, Ohio – in the 70’s and 80’s – you could hear some great singing every Sunday, somewhere. During that time, a group called Leviticus was gracing the city with their melodic style of music.
On November 30, they are having a reunion at Greater Tabernacle Church, 9417 Orleans Avenue, in Cleveland at 7 p.m. I would recommend you come out and hear these men sing for the Lord.
If you can picture Earl McElrath, David Crawford, Robert Crawford, Paul Hunt, and Dale Johnson, you can envision a mighty sound ringing across the city. No matter where they sing, they were lifting up the name of Jesus through song.
You could catch them during a weekend stance at the late Sonny Jones’ Your Alternative, a gospel night club on Kinsman Ave. No matter who was on the piano, Earl, David or Robert was always right on time with the fast hands of Andrus Murray.
Leviticus is a gospel male quartet that originated from four young men who wanted to express their love for the Lord. They could sing contempary music as well as that old school sound. Many of them were premier song writers.
Each member of the group can stand on their own in any setting. McElrath has played with Bishop Robert Hubbard and other national recording greats like Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Jean Austin, Jennifer Holiday, and American Idol’s vocal coach Debra Byrd.
David, who worked with many groups throughout the city, has always been found sitting in the music section of the Citadel of Hope Church on East 105th Street in Cleveland. He has written songs for the Weeden Family and others. He has a production company called Barge St. Entertainment where he works with primarily Gospel, Jazz, and Adult Contemporary styles of music.
Robert, throwing down on the keys, has been working in music for a very long time and can be seen on the organ every Sunday at Mt.HavenBaptistChurchwhere the Rev. Michael Small is the pastor. Other times you can catch him with the soulful sounds of Russell Thompson and Free Agent Band playing around the city.
Gospel music is music written to express ones personal or spiritual experience in creating a great sound. Leviticus had that sound and provided a flavor that many people like.
Like other forms of Christian music, the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace.
If you want to hear some good Gospel music then come out and be a part of this great reunion of voices.
