Previous Vocal Group Record of the Week
#635 (Week of 10/10/09 - 10/16/09)

SPOTLIGHT ON BILLY BUNN - PART TWO OF TWO

THIS WEEK'S SELECTIONS PROVIDED BY
BECKY NUGETRE AND PETER ASYDNERG

"The Little Wooden Church On The Hill"/
"Thank You Lord Jesus"
by The Gospel Harmonaires
Featuring Billy Bunn
Atlantic Gospel Series 3002
released in 1952


Above: (Left) Photo of Billy Bunn (Wilton L. Bunn). (Right) Atlantic Gospel Series clipping from May 1952.

The Gospel Harmonaires were the same personnel as Billy Bunn And His Buddies, but with the addition of John Lee Branch. From Atlantic company files... Wilton "Billy" Bunn, Robert Johnson, Bernard Hughes, John Lee Branch, James Brown (vocal), Oliver Mason (vocal, guitar) (Atlantic Studios) NYC, November 10,1951. After the two releases on RCA Victor and the one record on Atlantic, Bunn, with a promising recording career, apparently was never heard or heard from again.

Atlantic Starts Gospel Line:
NEW YORK, March 29, 1952 — Atlantic Records, the indie plattery which up to now has specialized mainly in the r.&b. field, is starting a new gospel label, dubbed Atlantic Gospel Records. New line, which will be on the market in a few weeks, will carry a newly designed label. Artists set to record for the firm include the Rosettes, spiritual group formerly sang with Sister Rosetta Tharpe on Decca, and Billy Bunn and his Gospel Harmoneers [sic], of Richmond, Va. Bunn has cut a number of sides for RCA Victor.

Notes from the R.&B. Beat - May 1952:
Warbler Billy Bunn has a unique arrangement with two recording companies. Last week RCA Victor released Billy's "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" as a pop disk and this week Atlantic offered Bunn and His Gospel Harmoneers [sic] doing two spirituals, "Thank You Lord Jesus" and "The Little Wooden Church on the Hill." A call to the source reveals Bunn has a contract with Victor to do pop material and one with Atlantic to perform religious numbers....

Click HERE for an article about the Atlantic Gospel Series.
(Above link will open in a separate window)



Above: Label image of Atlantic Gospel Series 3002. This was The Gospel Harmonaires only Atlantic release. There were a large number of Bunn's Gospel Harmonaires sides that Atlantic decided not to release.

The "3000" series went from 3001 - 3009 (1952-55) consisting of one release by The Gospel Harmonaires, three by The Rosettes, one by The Jackson Gospel Singers, two by The Booker Gospel Singers, one by The Fountain Of Life Singers, and closing out with one by Rev. H.B. Crum And The Golden Keys.

Listen to this week's selections by The Gospel Harmonaires on Atlantic Gospel Series 3002 from 1952: [Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

     A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...
 
          1. The Little Wooden Church On The Hill
          2. Thank You Lord Jesus
 
          BOTH played in sequence
          BOTH + FOUR RCA Victor sides

     B. Download RealAudio...
 
          1. The Little Wooden Church On The Hill
          2. Thank You Lord Jesus

     C. Stream/Download Media Player...
 
          1. The Little Wooden Church On The Hill
          2. Thank You Lord Jesus


           [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

Click HERE for SPOTLIGHT ON BILLY BUNN - PART ONE.
(Will open in a separate window)


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