J. Robert Bradley
Encyclopedia
John Robert Lee Bradley (October 5, 1919 – May 3, 2007) was an American
gospel music
singer. He was the favorite singer of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was nicknamed "Mr. Baptist." Mahalia Jackson
once said he had the greatest voice she had ever heard, stating "Nobody need mess with 'Amazing Grace
' after Bradley gets through with it."
Born in Memphis, Tennessee
in 1920, his singing at age 12 caught the attention of Lucie Campbell
, who arranged for him to join her Good Will Singers quartet. After touring with them, he studied classical music in New York and London, where he lived for six years. For a number of years he gave classical concerts singing German Lieder, although he recorded none of his classical repertoire. He recorded his first record with Apollo Records
in 1950. Apollo 211's sides were "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" and "If Jesus Had to Pray." At the same session for Apollo, Bradley recorded the unreleased "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone," "Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow, Lord Hear my Plea," and a magisterial reading of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Twelve years later Bradley recorded lp's for Battle Records (1962), Decca Records
(1965) and Nashboro Records (1974). In 1997 he recorded several cuts for Tony Heilbut's collection All God's Sons & Daughters: Chicago Gospel Legends, which Heilbut's Spirit Feel label released in 1999. When Lucie Campbell died, he took her position as National Baptist Convention
director of music. In 1975, he was knighted in Liberia
.
Bradley died from complications of diabetes in Nashville, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer. He was the favorite singer of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was nicknamed "Mr. Baptist." Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
once said he had the greatest voice she had ever heard, stating "Nobody need mess with 'Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
' after Bradley gets through with it."
Born in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1920, his singing at age 12 caught the attention of Lucie Campbell
Lucie Campbell
Lucie Eddie Campbell was an African American composer of hymns.Lucie Eddie Campbell, the youngest of nine children, was born to Burrell and Isabella Campbell in Duck Hill, Mississippi...
, who arranged for him to join her Good Will Singers quartet. After touring with them, he studied classical music in New York and London, where he lived for six years. For a number of years he gave classical concerts singing German Lieder, although he recorded none of his classical repertoire. He recorded his first record with Apollo Records
Apollo Records
Apollo Records may refer to:* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - Belgian-based company* Apollo Records - US based company...
in 1950. Apollo 211's sides were "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" and "If Jesus Had to Pray." At the same session for Apollo, Bradley recorded the unreleased "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone," "Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow, Lord Hear my Plea," and a magisterial reading of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Twelve years later Bradley recorded lp's for Battle Records (1962), Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
(1965) and Nashboro Records (1974). In 1997 he recorded several cuts for Tony Heilbut's collection All God's Sons & Daughters: Chicago Gospel Legends, which Heilbut's Spirit Feel label released in 1999. When Lucie Campbell died, he took her position as National Baptist Convention
National Baptist Convention
National Baptist Convention may refer to:One of several historically African-American Christian denominations:*National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the oldest and largest denomination using this name, formed in the late 19th century...
director of music. In 1975, he was knighted in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
.
Bradley died from complications of diabetes in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
External links
- Photo of Bradley via Tennessee Technological UniversityTennessee Technological UniversityTennessee Technological University, popularly known as Tennessee Tech, is an accredited public university located in Cookeville, Tennessee, US, a city approximately seventy miles east of Nashville. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute , and before that as Dixie College, the...
