THE CARAVANS

Way back in 1952 when Mahalia Jackson was the reigning Queen of Gospel music and a new Queen was crowned in England, a future Queen was making history in Chicago. It was in that year and from within the inimitable incubator of 1952 Chicago Gospel music that Albertina Walker first organized and managed the legendary Caravans Gospel singing group. For more than half a century The Caravans have been an unwavering source of traditional Gospel music. With the founding of The Caravans in 1952, Albertina Walker soon became known as “Albertina Walker-The Star Maker.” Her unerring eye for extraordinary talent and her steadfast commitment to the Word led her to discover and launch the careers of such Gospel greats as Inez Andrews, Shirley Caesar, Cassietta George, Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, James Herndon, Josephine Howard, Delores Washington and the “King of Gospel” Reverend James Cleveland. Rev. Cleveland not only accompanied the Caravans on piano, but also narrated hymns, his relaxed monologues a stark contrast to the fervent group vocals behind him.Since their founding in 1952, The Caravans have gone on to produce more stars than any other singing group in the history of Gospel music. After 54 years of unsurpassed excellence as Caravans group members and as solo artists during the various permutations of the group over the years, The Caravans have reunited for their first new recording in 40 years. The Caravans, “Paved The Way” (Malaco Music Group) reunites four of the best-known, still living singers from the group.After Mahalia Jackson’s death in 1972, Albertina Walker soon became the “Queen of Gospel Music”, and is now reunited with her royal court of Gospel superstars from The Caravans; Dorothy Norwood, “The World’s Greatest Gospel Storyteller”, Deloris Washington, “The Sweet Songbird” of Gospel,” and Inez Andrews “The High Priestess” of Gospel Music” on the forthcoming Malaco CD, “Paved The Way”. This classic new release from the all-star edition of The Caravans includes 6 new songs and seven gospel standards, including The Caravan’s legendary hit: “Mary Don’t You Weep.”Although the fabulous ladies of The Caravans are now esteemed seniors in their “sensational seventies” (with the exception of the ‘baby of the bunch’ – Deloris Washington at 68) they sound as good as ever (and they look good too – always impeccably attired). The new CD was recorded at Chicago’s West Point Baptist Church, which brings things full circle … at least for Albertina Walker. West Point Baptist Church is Albertina Walker’s home church, where she first sang in the children’s choir at the age of 4. With the support and instruction of such giants of the genre as Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland (who was a childhood friend), Albertina grew ever stronger in her commitment to traditional Gospel and her love of the Lord, as well as developing an ever-deepening understanding of the Gospel music business, all without ever leaving Chicago!“All I have ever wanted to do was sing Gospel music and live in Chicago,” says Albertina Walker. “We paved the way. I’m not bragging or anything, but the Lord used us. He used us to lay the foundation for the future. Money wasn’t the thing. We did it because we loved the Lord. That is what I was taught and that is what I still believe. We were young. We were saved. And any way that He wanted to use us, we were willing to do it and that is the way it was and still is,” she says.The Caravans were reunited through the efforts of Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, who approached Albertina Walker with the idea of recording a new CD of The Caravans.“I thought that since there were four or five of us that had been members of The Caravans who were still doing well as singers and singing well, I realized there were still enough former members to reconstitute the group and do another recording as The Caravans,” says Dorothy Norwood.Albertina Walker said yes to Dorothy Norwood right away, quickly followed by Deloris Washington and Inez Andrews. Shirley Caesar was eager to join the ladies but was prevented to do so by a very busy schedule of prior commitments.Dorothy Norwood served as producer for the recording session, capably assisted by Reverend Milton Biggham. Some of Gospel music’s greatest musicians were assembled to play on the new CD recorded at Albertina’s church, the West Point Baptist Church. The all-star crew, dubbed by Norwood as the "Big Boys" included: Derrick Lee (of Bobby Jones fame), Richard Gibbs (son of Inez Andrews and regular accompanist for Aretha Franklin) and Al Willis. The West Point Choir, known professionally as “Just Friends” sang the background vocals. Artemis Gospel's Evelyn Turrentine-Agee was a perfect guest for the session. Her dramatically anointed vocals are in full effect on The Caravans' “No Coward Soldier.”“I learned early on that the musicians are the life of your session. You have to get the right musicians and the right songs. We didn’t come back to do all old songs. Because that’s old soup warmed over. We did do some classics, but we also have six news songs on the CD including "He Fixed It" (written by Milton Biggham) featuring Albertina leading and Deloris Washington taking the mic on ‘(Lord, Let Your Will) Be Done,’” says Dorothy Norwood.The Caravans have certainly paved the way and followed their path straight and true in traditional Gospel music for over 50 years. As a group and as solo artists the four ladies of the current Caravans have recorded well over 150 albums and received numerous honors, including abundant Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award nominations, many (RIAA) Gold records, a Grammy for Albertina Walker for Live in Memphis for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1995, a Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for the Grammy-nominated album, Let's Go Back - Live in Chicago in 1997 for Ms. Walker, a Stellar Award and a 2005 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best Gospel Album for Dorothy Norwood, as well as a collective group honor of having been inducted into the American Gospel Quartet Convention (AGQC) Hall of Fame this year.Ms. Walker’s personal and television appearances worldwide are too numerous to mention. However, she has sung for former United States President Bill Clinton and former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. In 2002, President George W. Bush honored Albertina for her contributions to Gospel music at a special ceremony held at the White House in recognition of Black Music Month.The Caravans have had their music recorded and emulated by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Al Green, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Hawkins Family and The Clark Sisters.And now the “girls” of The Caravans will be singing their own songs and six new ones on their new release “Paved The Way” (Malaco Music Group). Inez Andrews, “The High Priestess,” known for her high squalls and riffs, brings her unique and electrifying contralto voice to join with the dynamic soprano voice of Delores Washington, “The Sweet Songbird” and the soul stirring, vocal mechanics of Albertina Walker, “The Queen of Gospel”. Lastly, but certainly not least … and the catalyst for this reunion effort, Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, “The World’s Greatest Gospel Story Teller,” rounds out the quartet that provides the first new songs from The Caravans in 40 years.“When we started out, money was the last thing on our mind; we just wanted to lift up the name of Jesus, we wanted to praise Him. We were Christian women and men who wanted to praise the name of the Lord, to lift him up, not ourselves. I knew this is what the Lord wanted me to do – to recruit singers: take them across the country; let the world hear Gospel music; let the people enjoy Gospel music; let people be saved through Gospel music. It took a long time but I’m still here and I appreciate all of the good, nice things that the Lord has given me. The Lord is my keeper, He is my all in all and whatever good that happens to me – God did it,” Albertina says.