The Sensational Nightingales is a traditional black gospel quartet that reached its peak of popularity in the 1950s, when it featured Julius Cheeks as its lead singer. The Nightingales, with several changes of membership, continue to tour and record today.
Musical career
The group was founded in 1942 by Barney Parks, who had formerly sung with the Dixie Hummingbirds. Julius “June” Cheeks joined the group in 1946. Cheeks left and returned to the group several times during its heyday, then left in 1960 to form his own group, “the Sensational Knights”, Charles Johnson becoming the new lead singer. In 1984, Charles Johnson was replaced by Calvert McNair.
The group presently consists of Joseph ‘JoJo’ Wallace, Larry Moore, Horace “Sug” Thompson, and guitarist Darrell Luster. Thompson is the grandfather of R&B singer Patrice Jones-Nickols (stage name PatriceLIVE), who credits her grandfather and his group as being one of her most influential mentors in areas including stage presence and “building” one’s show.
Discography
Songs of Praise (Peacock 101)
Glory Glory (Peacock 112)
Travel On (Peacock 118)
Prayed Too Late (Peacock 131)
Heart and Soul (Peacock 154)
It’s Gonna Rain (Peacock 175)
You and I and Everyone (Peacock 177) 1973 [2]
You Know Not the Hour (Peacock 197)
My Sisters and Brothers (Peacock 59209)
The Almighty Hand (Peacock 59219)
See You in the Rapture (Peacock 59227)
Jesus Is Coming (Peacock 59232) 1978
All About Jesus (Malaco 4368) 1980
Saints Hold On (Malaco 4373) 1981
Hymns (Malaco 4378)
He Is Real (Malaco 4380) 1982
I Surrender All (Malaco 4391) 1984
Church Let’s Get Ready (Malaco 4401)
Freedom After a While (Malaco 4411)
Victory Is Mine (Malaco 4427) 1988
Compilations
Wasted Years, 2001
Further reading
Boyer, Horace Clarence,How Sweet the Sound: The Golden Age of Gospel Elliott and Clark, 1995, ISBN 0-252-06877-7.
Heilbut, Tony, The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times Limelight Editions, 1997
