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  Minne Gracie Gadson March 2013 Interview

  Minnie Gracie Gadson

  Minnie Gracie Gadson was born February 5, 1947. She fell in love with her Gullah Praise House, and became a singer for the group through her teenage to late adult years. In this interview given by Eric Crawford, Gadson talks about her Grandmother and Grand Uncle and how the both of them inspired her. Throughout the interview Mrs. Gadson is talking about how people lived day by day and how music was a big part of lots of people’s lives. Mrs. Gadson can be heard singing many old Gullah spiritual songs in the records and talking about cultural habits and traditions. Mrs. Gadson’s songs have a wide range of energy. From very upbeat and active songs to low and softer sad ones. All of them she sings with full emotion and all her heart. A few of the spirituals sung in the interview range in tempo. “I Was Standing" (tape 38) Is a rather slow and low tempo song. Songs with a more upbeat and loud tone include “You Outta Been There” (Tape 15) .

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  Minnie Gracie Gadson August 2013 Interview

  Minnie Gracie Gadson

  Minnie Gracie Gadson speaks to a group of faculty and students inside the recording studio of Coastal Carolina University as part of the orientation for the working group of Gullah: The Voice of an Island. The session is led by Matt White, professor of music. Gadson discusses her connection to the praise house and performs a number of songs, including some which were included on her solo portion of the resulting project: "I Promised de Lawd," "Adam in de Garden," "Were you There?," "No Rain Gonna Wet Me," "Oh de Blood," "By and By," "Sun Goin' Down," "Satan de Camp on Fire," "Have you been to the river," "Somewhere to Lay My Head," "Lay Down our Life," "I Saw the Light," "For My Lord," "Aye Bonnie," and "Ride dis Train."

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  Mother Givens Interview

  Mother Givens

  Mother Givens is interviewed in her home by Matt White and Eric Crawford as part of fieldwork for Gullah: The Voice of an Island. She owns the home where her grandfather was enslaved, and she recalls pieces of the stories that he used to tell her. With some persuasion from Crawford and White, she sings a few old songs, such as "Stay in the Field," "In Jerusalem," and "Ole Ship Maria."

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  Rosa Murray and Joseph Murray October 2013 Interview

  Joseph Murray and Rosa Murray

  Rosa Murray and Joseph Murray are interviewed by Eric Crawford in October of 2013 in the Murrays' home in Beaufort as part of the Gullah: The Voice of an Island project. Rosa Murray was born on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, and Joseph Murray was born in Beaufort. Their marriage to one another is their second marriage, and they are leaders at their church. Most of the interview is with Joseph Murray, who also serves as a deacon, but the latter songs Rosa joins in with Joseph. The interview also provides a discussion of the history and procedures of the Watch Night service. Spirituals include "Stand Up," "I Wonder," "When You Come," "Kumbaya or Come by Here," "Send Em On Down, Lord," "Til We Meet Again," "Hold the Wind," "A Few More Days," "Watchman," "Aye Neva," "In His Hands," and "Guide Me."

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  Anita Singleton Prather Interview

  Anita Singleton Prather

  Anita Singleton-Prather is the founding director of ASE Gullah Education and the Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theatre. Her main stage character is Aunt Pearlie Sue. She grew up in Beaufort and Saint Helena Island, attended Penn School, and then went on to attend Howard University in Washington, DC. She sings the following songs in her interview: "Lowdown, Let Me Ride," "If you Pray Right," "Won't Turn Back," "I'm a Soldier in the Army," "Please Lawdy, Don't Leave Me," "That's Alright," "Get Right with God," "Do You Wanna Go," "Holy Spirit," and "Oh Zion, What's the Matter."

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  Deacon James Garfield Smalls Interview, November 2013

  James Garfield Smalls

  James Garfield Smalls was born on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. He attended the Penn School and learned to conduct choirs and performed with B.H. Washington's community choir, The Hundred Voices. For a time, he was also a blues player. He served in the US Navy Seabees, serving in the US Pacific. Upon returning home, he served as a director for the senior choir at his home church, St. Joseph Baptist Church. Smalls also served as a leader for the Croft Praise House, which held joint services with Jenkins Praise House. The interview was conducted on the back of his truck on his farm with the cows that he managed lowing in the background. Smalls explains hymn lining, and the structure of a praise house service. When he sings, he often will switch between multiple parts in singing, giving his audience a sense of the harmonies of that particular song. In this session, he sings "I Heard the Voice" in long and short meter, "I'm Leaning on the Lord," "Too Late Sinner," "In that Great Getting Up Morning," "Old Sheep Done Know the Road," "Old Ship Maria," "Fisherman Peter," "Nobody Know," "I Know You Got to Run," "Roll, Jordan, Roll," "Ride on Jesus," "Everytime I Feel the Spirit," "Hold Up the Light," and "Drinking of the Wine."

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  Collection of Choirs on Saint Helena Island

  The Athenaeum Press

  A series of visiting choirs performing at Brick Baptist Church at the Penn School on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina, including Dr. Eric Crawford's concert choir from Norfolk State University. The choirs perform many contemporary renditions of gospel songs, alongside some more traditional sea island spirituals. Songs include "I'll Go if I Have To," "May the Glory of the Lord," "One More Blessing," "I Just Wanna Praise Ya," "Everyday, Pray," "I'm Going Over Yonder," "Let it Shine," and several unidentified songs.

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  Community Sing at Bethesda Christian Fellowship

  The Athenaeum Press

  A community sing at Bethesda Christian Fellowship on the eve of Heritage Days on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. The service is organized and presided over by Reverend Kenneth Doe. This community sing was recorded by the Coastal Carolina University Athenaeum Press and recording studio. The service welcomes attendants from all over the island and surrounding Beaufort region, and the congregation organically leads or raises a song. Songs sung during this recording include "Are You Ready," "Walk with Me," "Leaning on the Lord," "Shoulder to the Weak," "Nobody Pray," "Comin' Afterwhile," "So Good," "Fare Ye Well" (led by Deacon Garfield Smalls), Hymn 449, "Leaning on the Lord's Side," "Adam in de Garden" (led by Minnie Gracie Gadson), "You've Been So Good," "Somebody's Calling My Name," "Trouble in My Mind," "Come this Far," "Heaven Belongs to You," a series of individuals catching the spirit and testifying, and concluding.

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  Praise Leaders at Bethesda Christian Fellowship

  The Athenaeum Press

  A group of elder praise leaders for a praise session, recruited by Reverend Kenneth Doe of Bethesda Christian Fellowship, on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. A praise session is where songs are offered up by a song leader among the group. The session begins with an introduction from Doe and Dr. Eric Crawford, one of the lead faculty members for Gullah: The Voice of an Island. Songs raised include "Way Down in Egypt," a prayer to bless the congregation, "Yes He Is," a discussion of spirituals during offerings, "Jordan River (One More River to Cross," "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door," a discussion on proper times to sing a spiritual, "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me," a discussion of "the old songs," "Jesus All the Time," "Every time I Feel the Spirit," a statement of appreciation for the group, "I Promised the Lord," and a closing prayer.

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  Rosa Murray November 2012 Interview

  Rosa Murray

  Rosa Murray was born on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina and is married to Joseph Murray. In this interview conducted by Eric Crawford, Rosa gives a brief overview of how church services use to be when she was growing up. Rosa then notes how Pastor Ritter of Ebenezer Baptist Church helped give her a new perspective on religion, and how it can help her through life. Rosa then explains how she wanted to preserve the old spirituals and some issues that still plague the church in present day. During the interview, Rosa sings "Give Me that Old Time Religion," "Can't Hide Sinner," "Mt. Zion," "It's Danger to Walk in the Dark," "What a Mighty God We Serve," "My God is an Awesome God," an unnamed song, "Got Another Yes Lord," "Mother's Song," "Jesus on the Main Line," "Lord, Do Something for Me," and "Oh, Neva."

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  Old Fashioned Prayer Service at Bethesda Christian Fellowship

  The Athenaeum Press

  The Old Fashioned Prayer Service, a traditional community sing, part of the Penn Center Heritage Day celebration. The old fashioned prayer service is held at Bethesda Christian Fellowship every year, where after an introduction and prayer, songs are raised by members of the congregation who feel the spirit move them to lead a song. The recording begins with an introduction from Reverend Doe. Songs performed include an unidentified spiritual, "Couldn't Hear," "Everytime," "First Song," "I Command," "I Love to Praise Him," "I'm So Glad," "Jesus All the Time," "Just Keep on Praying," "Just One More Time," "Marching to Zion," "Oh, Zion," a scripture reading with response, "Trouble," "Very Well," "Walk with Me," "When I Need," and "You Can't Make Me."