Songs of Praise - Pueblo Style (Part Two)

Continuation of the various Pueblo gospel albums unearthed on my last trip back home. Again, if you can share any information on these LPs, let me know.
Happy Holidays!

1966 Choirs of Ascension Episcopal Church

(Century Records 24952)

Miss Janet Hall - Organist and Choirmaster
James Clark - Assistant Conductor
Doyle Muller - Tenor
Terry Newton - Treble
Stewart Abbot - Treble
Sarah Mullennix - Soprano
Harvetta Woolverton - Soprano

Listen to "Away in the Manger"
Stewart Abbot - Solo

In the fall of 1964, the Junior Choir Ascension Church, which had developed strength over a period of years, separated into two groups and chose the names of St. Cecilia and St. George for their new organizations. With the addition of men's voices, St. George's Choir sang as a unit for the first time at the Christmas Eve midnight service, in 1964, and twice more in the Spring of 1965.

Miss Janet Hall, organist and choirmaster, has directed Ascension Choirs since 1957, and is a graduate of Smith College and Union Theological Seminary in New York, where she earned her Master's degree in sacred music. She is an assistant professor in music at Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo. James Clark, is a 1966 graduate of S.C.S.C., who has specialized in choral conducting. Doyle Muller is on the music faculty of S.C.S.C.

The Voice of Park Hill Baptist Church - Through it All
(Crusade 567)

It is with great joy that we of the Park Hill Baptist Church present this album for your listening enjoyment. Our church is a fundamental, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church which still subscribes to the "Old Fashioned Gospel." We believe in the universal need of mankind everywhere to accept Jesus Christ as his perfect, all sufficient Saviour.

Listen to "Through it All"

Pictured: Jim Baize, Youth; Bob Pentecost, Music; Mike Haley, Buses; Gary Brown, BBC Student; Al Workman, College and Career; Margaret Horn, Secretary, and Gary W. Grey, Pastor

The First Commandment - Extra Hear All About It
(no label information)

Recorded at Associated Recording, Oklahoma City.
Album production - Evergreen Records, Oklahoma City.
"Special thanks to Pueblo Christian Center for supporting this project and being home."

Let me introduce to you The First Commandment - not the singers heard on this album, but the principle of God that they live by. We are commanded by love - first God, then other people. Jesus referred to the law of love as the first commandment. - Larry Moore, Director of Music, Pueblo Community College

Listen to "What a Difference You've Made in My Life"
Solo - Greg Boyce

Sitting on floor: Steve Gowing
Sitting in/on chairs: Julie Bard, Mike Ruggieri,

Greg Boyce, Cassy Ross
Standing: Jerri Moore, Larry Moore, Lori Mendell

Songs of Praise - Pueblo Style (Part One)

On my last trip back home I picked up numerous Pueblo gospel LPs. Given the holiday season, I thought now would be a good time to share them.

Unfortunately, I can't offer much information on these recordings. If you can offer any help, please contact me.

Pinnacles of Praise - Willis and Velma Baldridge
Pinnacle Records LPR-1201 (no year) Pueblo, Colorado label

Willis offers a rich, classically-trained voice to these standard gospel songs. Accompanied by church organ and piano by Velma.

Listen to "If Jesus Came to Your House"

Having been reared in parsonage homes, Willis and Velma derived a love for music of the church early in life. This love led them to their church college where each was graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree.

The Baldridges have had a wide and varied background in gospel work - much of it in Christian radio including WMBI - Chicago, KFUO - St. Louis, KJLT - North Platte, and KFEL - Pueblo, Colorado.

They have directed the musical programs of several churches and were also connected with the Family Altar of the Air - a broadcast released over some 20 radio stations in the continental United States, Hawaii, and a missionary station in Haiti. Their own weekly radio broadcast "Pinnacles of Praise" is now in its third year.

(Author's note: Velma Baldridge was Professor Emeritus of Music, 1971-1995 at Nazarene Bible College, Colorado Springs.)

I Searched For Him - The Sounds of Life
John Law 730101 (no year)

Gospel standards with heavy four piece harmonies. Lots of piano here. The guitars pictured on the cover are almost nonexistent.

Listen to "Oh Happy Day"

The Sounds of Life will bless your hearts and your home as they sing a variety of gospel numbers inspiring your lives with the love of Christ, the joy of the Lord and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Their music will be a blessing to you as it has been to us and our church.

- Rev. and Myron Corser, Jr. - Pastor
Sunny Heights Foursquare Church, Pueblo

Holy Spirit, Speak to Me - The Sounds of Living Waters
Sons of God, Inc - Pueblo Colorado (no year)

Special thanks to Brother Roberto Nieves, whose love and concern helped us get started on our way, and to Brother Pat Blea for all of his encouragement and help, and may we add patience. We also want to thank our pastor, Brother Jess Fuentes, and Bethel Temple Church for all their encouragement and counseling.

Lead singer Carol Fuentes and the Sounds of Living Waters appear to be fresh out of high school. The group offers up gospel standards, and sound like they're having a pretty good time at it.

Listen to "Holy Spirit Speak to Me"

Carol Fuentes - Lead vocals
Rose Rivera - Keyboards
Henrietta Santiago, Carol Fuentes, Diane Martinez - Percussion
Donny Sepulveda - Drums
Diane Martinez - Bass
Henrietta Sanitago, Diane Martinez, Rose Rivera - Background Vocals


COMING NEXT POST: Songs of Praise - Pueblo Style (Part Two)