Mighty Clouds of Joy


The Mighty Clouds of Joy are an American traditional gospel music quartet.

Career

The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1961 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon, Johnny Martin, Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough, Elmo Franklin, Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker.
Joe Ligon died on December 11, 2016, at age 80.
While reviewing the group's 1974 crossover LP It's Time, Robert Christgau wrote in , "You'd figure the showiest of all gospel groups would sell out with some flair, but the vocal transfigurations—that old Wilson Pickett unhh born again—aren't the only reason this is one of the best LPs ever to come out of Philadelphia. For once, the songs—many of them from producer Dave Crawford, whose spirit must have been moved—include virtually no filler, not even the one that takes off from the group's name. Nicest conceit: how hard it is to be soft in a 'Stoned World.'"
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Mighty Clouds of Joy among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

Discography

Albums