THE
WINGS OVER JORDAN SINGERS
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Wings
Over Jordan on tour in Japan 1953. Soloist Mildred
Pollard can been seen fourth from the right in the
back row. |
Wings
Over Jordan on tour in Korea 1954 Soloist Mildred
Pollard can seen front row far left. Founder Rev Glenn
T. Settle can be seen fourth from right. |
The
WINGS OVER JORDAN CHOIR (WOJC), a prominent African American
choir during the late 1930s and early 1940s, made broadcast
history with the first independently produced national and
international radio programs created by AFRICAN AMERICANS.
The group made
contributions
to choral music and the improvement of race relations. The
choir was founded in 1935 by the Rev. GLENN T. SETTLE ,
pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church on E. 30th and Scovill
Ave.
in Cleveland. Rev. Settle believed in using Negro spirituals
to spread Christianity. He promoted establishing a radio
program to address the Negro community and introduce the
non-Negro to the
Negro
experience. In 1937, the ensemble performed weekly on the
"Negro Hour" over RADIO station WGAR, a CBS affiliate.
It soon became a hit.
On 9
Jan. 1938 the group adopted the [Image][Image] name Wings
Over Jordan Choir and The Wings Over Jordan national broadcasting
began. WOJC Choir, ca. 1940s. WRHS. performed a decade long
series of weekly, sometimes daily, programs for CBS and
WGAR exclusively. WOJC was the first full-time professional
black choir in America. At its height, the choir performed
before sold-out, non-segregated audiences in over 40
states, 5 European countries, Canada, and Mexico. During
WORLD WAR II, under USO sponsorship, WOJC toured Army camps
in Europe. WOJC's fame resulted in the publication of a
songbook and record album, a movie contract, performances
with major symphony orchestras, and an invitation to sing
at the White House. The choir received numerous honors,
including radio's prestigious Peabody Award. It was instrumental
in preserving authentic Negro spirituals and became the
universal voice.
SONGS
