Rev. James Moore a GIANT IN Gospel music.
Born in the gospel "hotbed" of Detroit, Michigan, Rev. Moore gave an inking of what was to come when at the ripe old age of seven he gave his first performance.
Many people can be credited with helping him up the Gospel music ladder, but two in particular were there in the beginning- Elma Hendricks and Mattie Moss Clark. He credits Ms. Hendricks with directing him into the Church of God in Christ where musically and spiritually he began to flourish. She also introduced him to Mattie Moss Clark - one of gospel music's matriarchs - who helped him up the first few rungs of the ladder. In addition to the aforementioned, Rev. Moore acknowledge the profound influence of Rev. James Cleveland, Rev. Richard White and Frank Williams.
Rev. Moore's professional break came in 1974 at the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America held in Chicago, Illinois. It was here that he received the Thurston Frazier Scholarship Award. That same year he recorded his first album, "I Thank You Master" with Savoy Records which garnered moderate success. After three more recordings, "I'll Be Praying For You" on Luminar-Light Records; "God Can Do Anything" on Secret Records; and "Something Old, Something New" on Sound of Gospel Records, Rev. Moore returned to Malaco/Savoy to record "Rev. James Moore Live". This album reached the top ten of Billboard and Cashbox Magazine's top forty Spiritual charts. Selections such as "Bread of Heaven" and "He Was There All The Time" garnered him a Stellar Award in 1989 for Best Solo Performance-Male Vocalist, Traditional. This same album received a nomination from the GMWA Excellence Awards. His guest appearance on the Mississippi Mass Choir's debut album certainly contributed to the phenomenal success it achieved - forty-eight weeks at number one, four Stellar Awards, three GMWA Excellence Awards, three Dove Nominations, and one Soul Train Award nomination.
It's been said that turnabout is fair play. With the Mississippi Mass Choir's reciprocating appearance on his album, "Live with the Mississippi Mass Choir", turnabout turned in to great-play; as in air-play. Songs like "Joy", "We Worship Christ the Lord", and "God Will Take Care Of You" certified this project as a classic.
In March of 1991 Billboard Magazine confirmed that the album had achieved the #1 position in the country. This project also garnered Rev. Moore a Dove nomination and a Stellar Award for Best Gospel video.
The "Live In Detroit" project, recorded in his hometown, reached the no3 position on Billboard Magazine's Top 40 Gospel chart. It featured such classics as " I Stood on the Banks of Jordan" and "Old Rugged Cross".
Rev. Moore's 4th project, "I Will Trust in the Lord" reached the no. 4 postion on Billboard's Top 40 and received a Grammy nomination.
"Live at Jackson State University with the Mississippi Mass Choir", continues the tradition. Highly anticipated, it debuted on Billboard's Top 40 at no.4, and is laden with hits such as "One More Time", "Lift Him Up", "Victory Shall Be Mine", and the Frank Williams penned "If Jesus Can't Fix It". another classic release from gospel's top male vocalist
One of his last albums Family & Friends was recorded in 2000 which featured Vanessa Bell Armstrong and many other featured gospel giants. He went home to be with the Lord in 2000 and left a musical legacy that will never be duplicated again. He is reguarded by many as the "Greatest Male Gospel Singer of All Time".
His Homegoing service was held at the Historic Bailey Cathedreal Church of God In Christ on 7045 Curtis Ave in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.
WE ALL LOVE REV JAMES MOORE. THE GREATEST GOSPEL MALE VOCALIST OF ALL TIME!
