Music aficionados take note: The Dixie Hummingbirds are coming to the Avalon Elementary School for a concert on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The most revered singing group in the African-American Gospel tradition, the Dixie Hummingbirds are one of the few groups that span the evolution of that genre from 1928 to the present. It is safe to say that every form of American music had its birth in Dixie Hummingbirds’ style.
In the 1920s singing a capella style was a function of social and economic traditions, especially in segregated South Carolina. Not much money, jobs scarce, people lived in poverty–singing offered possibilities. There were few opportunities to learn how to play a musical instrument, all you had was your voice and you could take that with you anywhere.
Out of this place a group of young black teens began performing in churches and touring throughout the South. By the 1940s the group relocated to Philadelphia and not much later were appearing in New York clubs.
“In the beginning, mainstream (white) America wasn’t aware of Black American music until it burst out of gospel and was brought to a greater audience,” said Jerry Zolten in a recent interview.
Zolten, associate professor at Penn Sate University Altoona and author of “Great God A’ Mighty, The Dixie Hummingbirds celebrating the rise of Gospel Music,” has immersed himself in this musical genre and has first hand knowledge of the group. He spent many hours interviewing them and tracing their roots; documenting the domino effect of their music.
In 1938, legendary lead singer Ira Tucker (who passed away this June) joined the group. Tucker replaced “flat-footed” singing with showmanship. He danced, jumped off the stage, ran through the audience, or fell to his knees. This is the style later imitated by Jackie Wilson, James Brown and others. Ray Charles said Ira Tucker “had a voice that could knock a house down.”
B.B. King, Little Anthony, and Otis Williams, all had direct experience with the Dixie Hummingbirds. In fact, Otis Williams was tutored by them including their famous dance moves.
The Dixie Hummingbirds were always 10 years ahead of the popularity curve. They sang Doo-Wop in the 40s, it became famous in the 50s; in the 50s they were doing soul and Motown, it took hold in the 60s.
The most recognizable aspect of African-American Gospel music is the bass singer. For the Dixie Hummingbirds from the 50s to the 70s that sound came from William Bobo.
“One might suspect a bass guitar but it’s not; it’s the profound human voice of Bobo,” said Zolten. “In their concerts today, you will still hear the original sound, it has not been contemporized.”
“In the song “Christian Automobile” for the first time we hear electric guitar played by Howard Carroll. Great soulful licks, a good decade ahead of its time,” mused Zolten. Carroll is a mentor to guitarist Kevin Eubanks.
When the singing duo of Simon and Garfunkle broke up, Paul Simon started recording collaborations with other artists. For his first experience he worked with the Dixie Hummingbirds on the piece “Love Me Like a Rock.”
Simon referred to the group as his dream team and the song brought Dixie Hummingbirds their largest audience recognition yet. The group later recorded the hit without Paul Simon and it was that version that won them the Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance in 1973. In 2007, the group won a second Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album, “Still Keeping It Real.”
The Dixie Hummingbirds were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 for their 1946 hit “Amazing Grace” and in 2007 they were inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Celebrating 80 years of performing, the Dixie Hummingbirds are bringing their remarkable sound to Cape May County. The group still includes William Bright, baritone and bass singer Cornell McKnight. A few new voices round out the sound.
“Ira Tucker, is, of course, irreplaceable,” said Zolten. “But in the last few years, the focus had been shifting to Carlton Lewis, to take some of the weight off Tucker.
“Lewis has a uncanny ability to channel Ira and capture his sound. William Bright, who has been with the group the longest, will also sing lead.”
Jerry Zolten will introduce the legend of the Dixie Hummingbirds at the Avalon Free Library, Friday night, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. His is an entertaining presentation of rare audio and visual clips tracing the history of the group back to 1938.
“It’ll be fun; upbeat and interactive,” Zolten told me. “This is not just a religious tradition, it is an American art form; the bedrock of American secular music. Come for an experience of the arts.”
The Dixie Hummingbirds will perform on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Avalon Elementary School . Tickets are $15, free to Friends of Avalon Performing Arts Council (APAC), and are available at Avalon Community Hall, 30th and the beach, and the Avalon Chamber of Commerce. For further information call 609-967-3066.
