It’s safe to say that Los Angeles County can go toe-to-toe with such vaunted cities as Detroit and Chicago when it comes to gospel music, particularly when you consider some of the recordings that were emanating from the region’s studios in the ’70s and ’80s. Los Angeles had gained a population influx from these midwestern gospel hubs as many Black families moved further west as a continuation of The Great Migration—and their contributions were audible. LA brought its own sound to the pulpit, a west-coast glow rooted in the deep traditions of the gospel form while incorporating some of the glossier aspects of the commercial music being generated in the city.
With the advent of the era’s more advanced recording techniques and plentiful studios, LA positively blossomed in a 20-year period; that’s not to discount the contribution Los Angeles has brought to the Gospel fraternity in its entirety but it’s a concentration of what I would consider a “Golden Era” for artists recording and releasing music in LA here. One could argue that Detroit and Chicago’s golden era was the ’50s through the ’60s, even though truthfully, so much good music was released in decades on either side of those numbers. Many micro-ministries sprung up on all points of the compass around LA, some which grew into mega churches, while others remained relatively humble congregations. Pastors sometimes took to releasing their sermons on vinyl records, which helped spread the message as well as the locations of each church in the locale.
This trend took a big swing upwards in the 1960s thanks to James Cleveland, whose Big Choir Sound made a huge impact in Los Angeles and beyond by incorporating aspects of pop, soul, and jazz alongside more traditional gospel styles, thus broadening the music’s reach. With the city’s congregations being in such close proximity to the entertainment industry, it was also not uncommon to spot a Black church congregation, such as at Victory Baptist, appearing on television. And while Los Angeles has made significant contributions to the Gospel fraternity in its entirety, this article will highlight recordings from the ’70s and ’80s, as groups across the city began to incorporate disco, funk, and soul, into their spiritual expressions—genres more commonly associated with secular sounds while still being firmly rooted in the African and Black American experience.
Highlighted here, you will see churches that still exist to this day, as well as featuring LPs recorded for labels such as Birthright…, a beacon of LA gospel that shone so brightly within the community.
Let’s examine a few of those recordings, from passionate musicians that resided the length and breadth of LA, from Altadena to Long Beach and multiple locations in between.
Fay Hill
This Is A Blessing (WFL)
Created in 1981, you could argue that this gifted recording, most notably “I Don’t Know You,” hit the sweet spot for the California sound that we’re exploring here. By this time, Fay Hill had been recording music sporadically since 1971, linked with the Hill Sisters, who were produced by LA legend Miles Grayson. Fast forward to ’81 and this release on the WFL label out of Montrose, and the featured track linked to this narrative. Written by Michael Orr, he brought a signature sound that you can find on the superb Book of Life’s Love Will Rise LP. It features a Detroit-style sensibility embellished with the lush production sound that was thriving in LA at the time. Today, “I Don’t Know You” has been re-released a number of times, including as a 7-inch single, CD and LP by P-Vine in Japan (2021). A totally desirable tune that’s a fantastic example of gospel music in California at the time.
FLAG Agency, 1821 E. 124th St., Compton, CA 90222
Moments of Faith Singers
Miracles (Chocolate Johnson)
M.O.F.S. released two LPs, one entitled Live Volume 1 in 1985 and Miracles in 1980, both on the Chocolate Johnson Industries label. This particular set features the phenomenal metronomic drum work of soul legend James Gadson, who lifts the spiritual sound to dancefloor territory. The incendiary tune “Look Up” has become a much-sought-after groove for DJs around the globe. Recorded in the outskirts of Compton, it features a smorgasbord of local talent, bringing a punchy 4/4 groove that Gadson helped make famous. While the church itself has undergone several extensions and building upgrades since those halcyon days, it still plays a very active part of the community today, and Harold Johnson Sr. continues to reside as pastor, serving the people of Compton as he has for so many years.
Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, 4112 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90011
Serenity
…Like It Is! (Deep Roots)
Serenity were a quintet group and recorded the set that became …Like It Is! for the Deep Roots label at the Sunwest Recording Studios in Hollywood. The studio took its name from its location near the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Western Blvd., a site that over the years fostered much love for Californian soul. The LP was released in 1977 and featured a young 21-year-old Michael Wycoff on keyboards. He went on to have a solid secular career after Serenity, and he returned to gospel music before he sadly passed away in 2019. The LP featured here is a superlative example of wonderfully produced modern soul, skillfully played and executed at a variety of tempos. The featured cut, the self-titled “Serenity,” weaves a wonderful instrumental track to an impromptu vocal refrain for the verse. Great songwriting indeed, and sadly the only release by this talented group.
Deep Roots Records, 9255 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Kevin Burroughs Neeley
Born Again (Great Vision Productions)
Just north of Compton and west of Downey sits the city of Lynwood, where you’ll find the Great Visions Productions label. During its 10-year tenure from 1982 until 1992, the label issued a modest amount of records, totaling seven releases. The inaugural release was this perfect slice of CA modern soul, complete with a fabulous stuck image of a sunset on the cover, replete with California vibes. Perfect production washed over Kevin Burroughs Neeley’s “Born Again” set with that Cali sunshine sound that made ’80s-era gospel so rich and prevalent on the West Coast. These days, it’s a surefire desirable record for any collector of the sound. Sadly, this was Mr. Neeley’s only vinyl offering in his career. In 1990, he released a self-released, -played, and -produced CD, and then quietly exited the music scene altogether.
Great Vision Productions, P.O. Box 1703, Lynwood, CA 90262
The Southern Baptist Combined Choirs
God Is So Wonderful (Marshal)
Here’s one of those live recorded LPs that’s started hurtling into legendary status. The reason? It contains an absolutely sublime gospelized cover version of Sister Sledge’s legendary disco soul cut “We Are Family.” As an interpretation, it almost surpasses the original in terms of delivery and raw energy, something most folks wouldn’t believe—until you actually hear it! Marshal Stereo Recordings was a micro label located in Monrovia, CA, in the San Gabriel Valley. The Southern Baptist Combined Choirs was formed by Rev. Ray L. Weaver Sr., and they recorded two LPs in their lifetime. Both of them are incredibly rare, but it’s God Is So Wonderful that is fast becoming a trophy piece among record collectors. While the label was located in North LA, the music was recorded live deep in the heart of Hollywood and is a prime example of the “divine disco” sound.
Southern Baptist Church, 246 E. 93rd, Los Angeles, CA
Spirit of Love
The Power Of Your Love (Birthright)
Birthright Records called Pasadena home and quickly established itself as a leading light in the crossover sound of modern soul and disco. In a relatively short time space, from 1977 to 1988, the label released essential LPs by Michael Orr and the Book of Life, East St. Louis Gospelettes, Rodena Preston, and Edwin Hawkins to name a few. Any one of the releases would represent Birthright beautifully, but here, I’ve selected an LP purely recorded and conceived in Los Angeles. Featuring the writing talents of one Mr. Calvin Bridges, the set takes a full choir into the studio for optimum production. Previously, sets such as these tended to be recorded live, and they suffered in audio quality because of it. Check the spiritually uplifting “Power Of Your Love” and “Fill Me Up” for prime-time examples of tunes that have crossed over and become desirable by DJs around the world today.
Birthright Records, 3101 S. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90018
Signs & Wonders
Touch (Saint Mark Productions)
Here’s a group that recorded their sole LP in 1984 and released it themselves on their Saint Mark Productions label. “Let Him Have His Way” is a perfect example of modern soul with that trademark west coast sound that came around in the mid ’70s to the late ’80s. Not much has been discovered by the group as a whole, save what was included on the sleeve notes on the back of the jacket. The sleeve itself is a hand-drawn work of art and is a wonderful addition to the music contained within. Bass player and lead vocalist (for “Let Him Have His Way”) Rommell Trotter can be linked to two other significant gospel releases to come out of LA: Fay Hill’s This Is A Blessing (mentioned earlier) and Brenda Holloway’s Brand New! for the Birthright label.
Saint Mark Productions, Los Angeles, CA
Stan Lee Revue
Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love (Gosco)
The Stan Lee Revue recorded for several labels during their tenure, including Birthright out of Pasadena, the nationally distributed “major” label Savoy, and Gosco. As a label, Gosco had a relatively short shelf life, based in Pasadena from 1976 until approximately 1980, releasing in the region of 10 LPs all recorded in the locale. Birthright laid claim to Stan Lee’s debut in 1976, and in 1978 he switched to fellow local label Gosco to release the fantastic boogie-style stepper Don’t Be Afraid. Savoy identified the talent and even groomed them for release as “James Cleveland presents….” to give them the positive push within the gospel community. Despite the connection with one of the industry’s almost mythical performers, Lee stepped away from recorded music. Sadly, it would appear Lee faded into obscurity after 1980.
Gosco Records, 3741 Stacker, Stacker Plaza, Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90008
The Singers And Musicians Of Washington High School Los Angeles, California
Peace Will Come (Dean Brown Productions)
Dean Brown Productions was a product of Long Beach resident Dean Brown and released a myriad of gospel recordings from 1969 to 1979. During their 10-year tenure, the label mainly focused on folk, country, Christian, and sacred music without veering far away from that formula. Cue 1971 to 1973, where they attempted to cross over delivering a few sermon LPs as well as this rather obscure LP. The Singers And Musicians Of Washington High School Los Angeles, California’s Peace Will Come set was to be the only release from this school ensemble, but the music contained within is really something to behold. The ethereal soulful jazz groove of “The Ladder” went on to be included on Jazzman Records’ 2015 compilation Spiritual Jazz 6: Voices, while the intense drum-break fueled funkiness of “Blue Peach” is positively astonishing.
Dean Brown Productions, Long Beach, CA
Prophecy
Take It To The Streets (Inner Light)
Inner Light Records opened its doors as a label in 1982 and plied their trade, releasing modern soul with a synth-filled boogie intensity that crossed over into proto-rap. Prophecy enjoyed the honor of being the label’s first release on the full-length LP format, while the fantastic single by Ronald Jerry, “Born Again,” was the inaugural release on 7-inch. Released in 1982, Prophecy’s one and only LP launched into the streets of Hollywood, the place of their birth. It would appear that not much is known about the group, but with the amazing tune “Take It To The Streets,” they’ve cemented their legacy with folks that love the modern soul sound as it was compiled by this writer for the compilation Greg Belson’s Divine Disco Vol. 2 (Obscure Gospel Disco 1979-1987) released on Cultures of Soul in 2019.
Inner Light, 6922 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 218, Hollywood, CA 90028
Greg Belson is a DJ, record collector, producer, curator and compiler of rare soul music you might not have heard before, specializing in the world of Gospel. Relocating to California in 2006, Greg began hosting a number of radio shows both in the US and UK with his flagship broadcast ‘The Divine Chord Gospel Show’ on Dublab.com now in its 15th year.
LA Phil Insight is generously supported by Linda and David Shaheen.