A TRIBUTE TO SULLIVAN PUGH, GOSPEL SINGER (of THE CONSOLERS)
Eric LeBlanc-CISTI
NASHBORO 4502 : THE CONSOLERS - BEST OF
===============================================================================
Today is Sullivan Pugh's 71th birthday, and what better way to celebrate it
than to listen to THE CONSOLERS, a duo he & his wife Iola first formed in 1952.
Sullivan Pugh, born October 1, 1925, Morehaven, FL., first met Iola Lewis in
March 1949, just after his Navy service when he came to Miami. Her sister &
father had just moved to Florida from Columbus, GA., and during one of those
sunday afternoon 'gospel tent' meetings, she met Sullivan. By November 1950,
they were married, and started their 40+ year journey on the gospel highway,
first as members of The Miami Soul Stirrers (Deluxe/Glory Records, 1952/53),
then with the financial help of Iola's father (Enel Lewis), they formed The
Spiritual Consolers, recording for Deluxe Records (1953). They joined Nashboro
Records in 1955, by this time they were known simply as THE CONSOLERS. With
Sullivan as manager, songwriter, guitarist & tenor vocalist, and Iola on
soprano, they would become one the most famous husband-wife gospel teams,
recording over 25 albums, performing a unique brand of downhome southern
gospel. A few of their songs - "Waiting for My Child to Come Home" ('65),
"Give Me My Flowers (While I Live), ('55)" and "May The Work I've Done Speak
for Me" ('65) - would become gospel favorites, some being recorded by
Shirley Caesar, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The (Sensational) Williams Brothers,
the late Rev. Julius Cheeks (1929-1981) and the late Rev. James L. Cleveland
(1931-1991).
Today, Sullivan is retired, living in Northwest Dade, FL. Iola Lewis Pugh
died at the age of 68, on October 11, 1994, Miami, Fl., survived by Sullivan,
her sister (Lenora Lewis Braden), a nephew "son" (Lawrence B. Hill) (which
they raised as their son) and stepmother Camilla Lewis.
Give this CD are try, you may just like their honest direct blues-type moans.
Contents
--------
1. Waiting For My Child To Come Home - 2. Give Me Flowers - 3. May The Work
I've Done Speak For Me - 4. His Child Is Aboard - 5. Thank God Things Are As
Well As They Are - 6. Somewhere Around God's Throne - 7. Lord Bring Me Down
8. Too Late - 9. Won't It Be Grand - 10. Don't Let Anything Shake Your Faith
11. Every Christian Mother - 12. Together We Will Stand - 13. Over Yonder
14. Since The Lord Laid His Hands On Me
For other Nashboro Gospel CDs, visit the AVI <www.avi-entertainment.com/#gospel>
and ACE <www.acerecords.co.uk> Web sites.
Another CONSOLERS CD
====================
ACE 425 : THE CONSOLERS - GIVE ME MY FLOWERS/HEART WARMING SPIRITUALS
Chris Smith
Eric wrote
(edit)
>
>Another CONSOLERS CD
>====================
>ACE 425 : THE CONSOLERS - GIVE ME MY FLOWERS/HEART WARMING SPIRITUALS
which would've had better notes if I'd had Eric's tribute (snipped) to hand
when I wrote them! Thanks for some good stuff to print out and put with it,
Eric!
Chris Smith (ch...@skerries.demon.co.uk)
'You don't need no engine to go downhill' (Guy Clark)