Overview

At Christmas in 1966 fifteen year old Roger Baxter was given a tape recorder by his father, Johnie Baxter. These recordings are some of his first attempts at recording live performances ... and the original quality reflects his amateur efforts. But now, even though these old quarter-inch reel-to-reel tape recordings have seen many years of use including breaks and lost sections, they provide us with the sounds of some forgotten memories of live gospel singing performances by various amateur individuals and groups in the Rockford, Illinois, area from so long ago.

These recordings were originally made about 50 years ago during live performances in various churches between 1967 and 1970. They have all of the inherent defects found in live performances like crowd noises and babies crying. And, since they were originally created by a young amateur "recording engineer" just learning how recordings should be made, they suffer from poorly placed microphones, too frequent over modulation and distortion, and the use of whatever cobbled together sound systems that might happen to be in use at the various locations.

At the time no one could have dreamed of these recordings one day being used as archival recordings that have now been made publicly available world-wide on the Internet. So while great care has been taken to attempt to restore the audio you hear now to the original lustre of the live performances, you will still be able to detect some of those recording defects and tape hiss that are a part of these old recordings.

So we invite you to join us as we travel back in time to once again listen to these sounds recorded live in concert many, many years ago. We hope that you enjoy listening to these songs — even though most are performed by untrained amateurs — and that, if you were there at the time, good memories will come flooding back to you ... and, for everyone, that while you listen to these beautiful voices from long ago the messages of the songs will touch your heart as well!

If you recognize these voices — or are one of the voices presented here — please help us better identify the performers. And be sure to tell others who may have sang one of these songs, or may otherwise be interested in listening to these sounds once again, about the easy availability of listening to these recordings online here on my website.

And we would love to hear from you if you find these of interest to you. Maybe you can better identify some of the performers for us (since all we have to go on is any introduction that may have been given during the event, or our own fading memory). Or maybe you can just share with us your memory of one of these events, or about one of the performers.

Musical Notes

The Commanders Quartet - How Great Thou Art
Our apologies for the tape break (at some time in the distant past) about one third the way into this song has resulted in the loss of one verse that could not be restored.

Edith Gilmore - When They Ring Those Golden Bells
Our apologies for the tape defect about three quarters the way into this beautiful piano solo, but 45 years of age on the tape resulted in this 5 second problem that could not be corrected.

Unknown - There They Go
For those unfamiliar with what happens during this recording, sometimes, as in this case, brave (with more dedication to delivering their message than fear of humiliation) non-professional singers who did not have their own accompaniment would sing in public and some available and very talented musicians would pick up by ear the proper key and rhythm after the vocalists began singing.

Johnie Baxter & Congregation - It Is Mine
Our apologies for the overpowering bass guitar causing distortion of all the recordings at this singing which could not be completely restored. And, although this is not in any other way a significant song, I hope the casual listeners to these recordings will forgive my inclusion of this song ... since it features the cherished voice of the webmaster's father, Johnie E. Baxter, who lead congregational singing at various churches during my formative years and the comfort of its sound is now sorely missed.

Carla and Dan Williams - That Old Time Preacher Man
I am not sure of the performer's names, but since in the original program this song comes after one in which Carla and Dan were included, I have come to believe their introduction which sounds like "Carlton" was a slurring of the names "Carla and Dan" — listen to the introduction of this song and if you can help clear up this question please contact us.

Youth of Faith Tabernacle - Jesus Use Me
The introduction is by Barton Holifield the Youth Leader at Faith Tabernacel at the time. This rendention of this song will never win any awards — at least my part in it — so my only reason to include it is because these four young teenagers put forth a valiant effort that day practicing for this is one of the few occasions they ever sang together and I wanted to recognize each of them in particular for their whole hearted effort: Carla Williams (piano and first verse solo), Dan Williams (guitar and vocal), Connie Whitehead (vocal), and myself, Roger Baxter, (second verse solo). This was the only song in our repertoire.

Youth of Faith Tabernacle - Jesus Use Me
When Barton Holifield introduces this group he seems to mention the name of "Carlton", but I'm not sure who he means, or if this is a first name or a last name. If your recognized the name or voice, please let us know so that we can better identify these singers.

The Knights of Calvary
at that time of this 1970 recording was made up of Sister Edith Gilmore (alto & piano), Lester Sawyer, Jr. (bass singer), Jim Poe (lead), Dave Matson (tenor), Harold Gilmore (baritone), and Dan Williams was playing bass guitar for a short time. Later, when Dave Matson left, Jim's uncle, Bill Poe sang tenor. Special thanks goes to Sherry Janice' Poe for this information.