The group's current members are: James Gibson, Jr. (vocals), Morris LeGrande (guitar / vocals), Gerald Dayce (vocals), Clifton Gamble (keyboards/ vocals), and William Norwood (drums / vocals).
This group has a long proud history of music making founded by Joe Thomas, Sr. way back in the early 1960's. Over the year the group's lineup has changed but their music hasn't lost any of its luster.
They have recorded six release's, Route 66 To Heaven, Signs of Revelations, Steppin' Out, Taking Flight, Live In Paradise, and their latest compilation, Life Songs. In 1993, the Gospel Hummingbirds release Steppin Out earned them a Grammy Nomination in the category of "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album".
The groups taken their music to rock, blues and R&B fans, in nightclubs, blues and jazz festivals both in the U.S. and around the globe. Sharing the bill with well-known artists like, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Dixie Hummingbirds, John Lee Hooker, Little Milton, B.B. King, Etta James, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, The Persuasions, Commissioned, Huey Lewis and the News, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Pop Staples, and Joe Louis Walker.
Over the years some have suggested to the group that they perform other kinds of music, but the Gospel Hummingbirds remain true to their faith and true to what they call, 'R&G'.
The band gets their 'R&G' sound by taking traditional gospel and mixing it with contemporary and R&B styles of music.
Life Songs starts off with the upbeat foot stomping, hand clapping song, "Jump for Joy." A song filled with lyrics that talk about the wonderful feelings that you'll have when you have Jesus in your heart.
While the songs have nice instrumentation that's just gravy compared to the real meat of the band's music, their vocals. Their harmonies are rich and flow like slightly warmed honey in the songs.
The Gospel Hummingbirds are well known for their tight vocal harmonies, plenty of which can be found on Life Songs.
The group really let's those vocal harmonies loose on the last track, "America," an a cappella number that really hits home with all of the current tension in the world, much of which is pointed at the U.S. The song talks about the need to stand together and be strong. Not only doing this for yourself but for the future of the children.
The Gospel Hummingbirds music is good on so many different levels. Do yourself a favor and experience the music that Life Songs has to offer.
C.W. Ross is a freelance writer who enjoys both listening to and writing about music. You can learn more about him at: http://www.christianrockersonline.com
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