Uncloudy Days Simplifies Gospel Music History

Uncloudy Days chronicles the careers of over 650 gospel artists and personalities from 1900 to the present day. With a foreword by Edwin Hawkins and an introduction by Mavis Staples, this book is a treasure chest of fascinating profiles on all the influential names in gospel music, including Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, the Hawkins family, Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and the Winans. It also uncovers the histories of artists who may be unfamiliar to many gospel music fans.

The book’s 100-plus interviews reveal many stories for the first time. Author Bil Carpenter relates such fascinating tales as how Philip Bailey’s record label pressed him to make gospel music that sounded like his pop hit “Easy Lover,” how a sex scandal almost silenced the Boys Choir of Harlem, and how 615-pound Gloria Spencer— billed as the world’s largest gospel singer—suffered circus-like exploitation. The book also includes a glossary of gospel terms, trivia tidbits, and lists of the all-time best-selling gospel recordings, gospel songs that crossed over to R&B charts, and gospel Grammy, Dove, and Stellar award winners. The first true gospel music encyclopedia, Uncloudy Days explores the artists who profoundly influenced early rock ’n’ roll and soul music and provided inspiration for millions of the faithful


Accompanying the book is a new 14 song CD from the Nashville-based Artemis Gospel label, also titled "Uncloudy Days." Inspired by the book, and compiled by the book’s author Bil Carpenter. This rousing collection features new gospel music by Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples, BET’s Ann McCrary and former Malaco Records child star Bryan Wilson, as well as classics by Clarence Fountain & the Blind Boys of Alabama , Andrae Crouch, and Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family. Bil Carpenter has written extensively about pop, soul, and gospel music for the Washington Post, People, Goldmine, Upscale, Living Blues, Black Radio Exclusive, CCM, and Charisma. He has also worked extensively on PR projects with gospel artists such as the Clark Sisters, Vickie Winans, Edwin Hawkins, CeCe Winans, T.D. Jakes, the Staple Singers, and Kirk Franklin. Mavis Staples, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Legend, is known as the lead singer for the Staple Singers who have recorded classics such as "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself." Grammy winning choirmaster Edwin Hawkins is best known for dozens of acclaimed gospel hits, including the 1969 million-seller, “Oh Happy Day.”

 

"I love Bill and I am glad to see that he has taken time out to educate us all about the greatest genre of music - Gospel Music!"            
CECE WINANS, five-time Grammy Award winning vocalist