Canton Spirituals Walking By Faith CD

WALKING BY FAITH was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.

The wonderful thing about gospel music is that it's a good bet that the current generation of The Canton Spirituals surely sings the same lovely messages as the group did in 1943, when it was founded by Harvey Watkins Sr. For nearly 60 years, the ever-evolving group from Canton, Mississippi has been a force in the genre, and one of the top quartets in the country. Watkins' son, Harvey Watkins Jr, is currently the musical director. The timeless messages come through with a brassy, bluesy intensity, that sound like they came from up the road in Memphis -- especially on vibrant, bouncy clapalongs like "I Feel the Spirit" and deep, organ based proclamations a la "Church Is Gonna Make It." It's not all happy-clappy; the group reaches a little deeper on the emotional ballad "Softly and Tenderly," which speaks of the joy of belonging to God. Guest vocalist Genobia Jeter Jones adds a feisty feminine dimension to "Never Let Go," which adds variety and challenges the boys to keep up. You don't hear much rock guitar in traditional gospel, which makes the blistering "Holy Ghost Guitar" one of the more surprising and electrifying tracks. ~ Jonathan Widran

Additional personnel includes: Vince Massimino, Jacqueline Perry (violin); Mickey Davis (viola); Larry Panella (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Lee Kornegay (trumpet); Eddie Elsey (trombone); Ralph Lofton (organ); Victor Allen, Sr. (sequencing).

Live Recording

Recorded at Terminal Recording Studio, Jackson, Mississippi.

Producers include: Harvey Watkins, Jr., Cornelius Dwayne Watkins, Merlin Lucious.

Personnel: Harvey Watkins, Jr. (vocals, guitar, bass guitar, background vocals); Cornelius Dwayne Watkins, Genobia Jeter Jones, Floyd Johnson (vocals, background vocals); Merlin Lucious (guitar, drums, percussion, sound effects, background vocals); Randy Everett (guitar); Steve Bethany (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Vince Massimino, Jacqueline Perry (violin); Mickey Davis (viola); David Curry (strings, horns, organ); Bobby Rush (harmonica); Larry Panella (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Lee Kornegay (trumpet); Ralph Lofton (piano, organ); Nathan Barnes (piano); Thurston Cox (organ); Kurt Clayton (keyboards); Bryant Smith (bass guitar, drum programming); Randy Polk (bass guitar); Victor Allen, SR. (drum programming, background vocals); Theo Thompson (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Cornelius Dwayne Watkins; Harvey Watkins, Jr.; Merlin Lucious; Randy Everett.

Recording information: Huff Recording Studios, Forest, MS; Terminal Recording Studio, Jackson, MS.

Editors: Merlin Lucious; Randy Everett.

Arranger: Harvey Watkins, Jr.

The Canton Spirituals: Harvey Watkins Jr. (vocals, guitar, bass); Cornelius Watkins (vocals, various instruments); Merlin Lucious (bass, percussion, drums, sound effects, background vocals); Theo Thompson (background vocals).