Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers

[John Garst]

I have the following old 78 rpm disc.

Paramount 3152
Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers
Side A: LIBERTY (21121 2)
Side B: IN THAT MORNING (21123 2)
Vocal
Violin-Guitar
Organ Acc.

At the request of someone interested in tracking down the history of
Sacred Harp singing at the Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL), I've
recently had a tape made from this record. Neither I nor anyone else who
has listened to the tape hear any musical instruments at all. It sounds
like a male quartet singing a capella. Before each song, there is a
little banter, and the page number is called out, in the manner of a real
singing. The page numbers, titles, and music do not match any edition of
The Sacred Harp. Indeed, IN THAT MORNING has never appeared in The Sacred
Harp. The Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers are singing, on this record,
from The Christian Harmony, whose page numbers and music *do* match what
is on the record. Further, they sing do-re-mi (corresponding to Christian
Harmony notation), not fa-sol-la (Sacred Harp notation).

In private correspondence, I asked secret muse if he had this record and
if he knew anything about it or the Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers. He
replied that he did not have the record but that Paramount listings
indicate that this group is the same as the Dixie Crackers (C. E. "Ernest"
Moody, Phil Reeve, Claude Hopper, Gus Boas, ____ Worsham).

Does anyone else out there have any relevant information?
I'm particularly interested in finding other "old harp" recordings by the
Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers.
Also, did they have any connection with the Moody Bible Institute?
The information secret muse provided suggests that they might not have -
they might have picked that name merely to capitalize on name recognition.

John Garst ga...@sunchem.chem.uga.edu

[secret muse]

this group apparently has no affiliation with the moody institute,
but rather the georgia musicians that comprise its core:reeve/moody,
of duet,quartette,and even dixie cracker fame,yes.
pvc
--
"the blues ain't no cause for jumpin'...
- the blues is just by itself." -SON HOUSE
http://www.megasaver.com/page2/ad4.html

[Kerry Blech]

secret muse wrote:
>
> this group apparently has no affiliation with the moody institute,
> but rather the georgia musicians that comprise its core:reeve/moody,
> of duet,quartette,and even dixie cracker fame,yes.
> pvc

To add a bit to what Pat said, Reeve and Moody were members of the
Georgia Yellow Hammers, a popular old time string band who recorded (was
it Victor, Pat? My discographies are at home) in the '20s. There is an
extensive article in the now-defunct magazine from Britain, Old Time
Music, that I will check when I get home today. It includes an extensive
discography of Gordon County singers and musicians including these guys.

Of note, the Georgia Yellow Hammers recorded in 1927 with
African-American fiddler Andrew Baxter on one selection, "G Rag." Also
that same year, integrated country music sessions were held that
included Dennis McGee and Amede Ardoin (Cajun/Creole) and Taylor's
Kentucky Boys (Marion Underwood and Jim Booker are the biggie names here
for this old time band).

Regards,
kerry

> --
> "the blues ain't no cause for jumpin'...
> - the blues is just by itself." -SON HOUSE
> http://www.megasaver.com/page2/ad4.html

--
Blec...@WolfeNet.com
"When you get above the clouds, you can do just as you choose."
- The Rector Trio, Asheville, NC 1930