Search - Golden Gate Quartet :: Travelin Shoes

The most lovingly compiled introduction to the Golden Gate Quartet's refined, "jubilee"-style a cappella music, Travelin' Shoes concentrates on the group's artistic apex--recordings made between 1937 and 1939 for Bluebird. Formed out of a combined interest in popular glee-club-style singing acts such as the Mills Brothers as well as the slave-era spiritual and other folk-music forms, the quartet's unique, bluesy synthesis would later influence much of popular and sacred music. Their jazzed-up spirituals ("Motherless Child") and life-affirming secular selections ("My Walking Stick") featured intricately entwined, smooth but expressive vocalizing. The music remains enrapturing to this day. The bass voice's constant, bouncy tones propel the group forward ("Hide Me in Thy Bosom") as the others' voices lock in brilliant harmony ("Travelin' Shoes") and impersonate trumpets ("I Heard Zion Moan") or steam engines ("Golden Gate Gospel Train"). The Golden Gates were also consummate storytellers, as the revved-up, syncopated take on "Job" easily demonstrates. The group would later achieve widespread recognition--performing at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration (marking them the first African American group to appear at Constitution Hall). Like many of the United States' best black musicians, the quartet found a better reception in Europe and moved to the Continent permanently in 1958, continuing to perform with a selection of different singers up through the 1990s. By all means, check out Travelin' Shoes to hear the fascinating jubilee gospel act that so rocked FDR's boat. --Mike McGonigal