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The Pilgrim Travelers were a gospel group founded in Texas in the 1930s, who modelled themselves on groups like The Soul Stirrers and Golden Gate Quartet. They achieved popularity after moving to Los Angeles in 1942, where their new manager, J. W. Alexander, helped fashion a new style influenced by the likes of The Soul Stirrers and The Golden Gate Quartet. Under the direction of Alexander, they developed their own style known as “Walking Rhythm”, with the microphone picking up the percussive sound of their foot-tapping, to go along with their extrovert “church-wrecking” style of ‘live’ performances. The Travelers traded the lead between Kylo Turner, a baritone with the same facility as a note-bending falsetto as R.H. Harris of The Soul Stirrers, and Keith Barber who changed from being a sweet-voiced tenor to a hard gospel shouter under Alexander's direction. They added Jesse Whitaker as a baritone in 1947. This 56-track 2CD collection comprises selected A and B sides of their releases on the Specialty label during this era, and features many of their most renowned recordings, including Now Lord (Yes, My Lord), Jesus, Thank You Jesus, Jesus Met The Woman At The Well, Mother Bowed and Wonderful Time Up There. At the peak of their success, Barber was involved in a 1950 auto accident which left his voice ravaged and they gradually fell apart in the 1950s. While the group continued to tour and record, their popularity waned, however a version of the group still remains active today. This collection, which spans the era when they were at the height of their powers, captures the spirit and style of their very particular and distinctive approach to gospel performance.
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