The first gospel drama playwright, producer and composer, whose compositions were the first million-record sellers in gospel music.

Song List

  • Golden Gate Quartet, "Wade in the Water"
  • Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, "Surely God is Able"
  • Mahalia Jackson, "Move on Up a Little Higher"
  • Five Blind Boys of Alabama, "Lord, I Tried"
  • Brewsteraires, "Book of the Seven Seals, Pt. 1"
  • Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, "How Far Am I from Canaan"
  • Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, "Surely God Is Able"
  • Clara Ward, "The Old Landmark"
  • Aretha Franklin, "How I Got Over"
  • Brewsteraires, "So Glad I've Got Good Religion"
  • Queen C. Anderson, "Jesus, the Perfect Answer"
  • Horace Clarence Boyer, "Move on Up a Little Higher" (NPR Recording)
  • Mahalia Jackson, "Move on Up a Little Higher"
  • Sweet Honey in the Rock, "I Feel Something Drawing Me On"

Wade in the Water is a 26-part series, originally released in 1994, that celebrates African American sacred music and traditions. To learn more about the series, click here. For more episodes click here or listen on the go with the NPR One app.

This series was produced by Judi Moore Latta and Sonja Williams.


Stream The Playlist

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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