The Pilgrim Jubilees

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments When Houston, Mississippi, radio station owner Robin Mathis introduced me to the audience at the PilgrimJubilees' annual homecoming concert on June 5, 1999, he said: "He's come all the wayfromNew Zealand ... which is just about as far as you can go from here and still be in the world." The quip came during a ritual common at gospel music and church events in which out-of-town visitors are singled out for special mention; Auckland, New Zealand, was a hands-down winner in the distance-traveled-from stakes. It'salso at least a contender in any writing-at-a-distance-from-thesubject contest. But despite my geographical remoteness, this book was not written in a vacuum. I have been enormously assisted by friends from around the world, to all of whom I am greatly indebted. As with my last book, the list is led by my wife, Beverley, who now knows the PilgrimJubileesbetter than anyone else who has never met them. Itwas her idea that I should write another book, and she demurred not at all when the proposed new furniture turned into another expedition to the United States or when for the next year my time, the record player,and, to a probably excessive degree, my conversation were dominated by the Pilgrim Jubilees . Should I, as biographer, thank my subjects? Why ever not? The Pilgrim ix x Acknowledgments Jubilees were, I think, somewhat bemused when someone from the other side of the world arrived in Chicago to write a book on them. But Clay, Cleave, Major, Bobby, Ben, Michael, Eddie, and Fred received me graciously and cordially, set aside hours to talk with me, and accepted willingly the constant presence of me, my tape recorder, and my cameras. From them I learned a great deal, not only about their own lives and the life of their group but also about the world of gospel music—insights and information I could never have hoped to acquire otherwise. The test of their patience did not end when I left the United States. Over the followingmonths, a number of information gaps appeared, virtually all of which were filled through longdistance telephone calls. The vagaries of time zones meant many of these calls arrived in the United States around breakfast time; anyone willing to discuss in detail what they were doing in 1966 while cooking grits is really trying to help. The Pilgrim Jubilees made their first record in 1952 and have since recorded hundreds more songs. That I have managed to gather records or tapes of every one of them is to a large degree testimony to the generosity of other gospel music collectors. From England, Bob Laughton sent me recordings and information from his extensive collection and knowledge; from Belgium, Robert Sacre did likewise, also supplying many of the writer credits shown on the labels of the original issues. Although various electronic marvels make it easy for us to communicate, I have never met Bob or Robert, but I regard them as friends; certainly their responses to my requests came with the openhandedness and alacrity of friendship. The same applies to Chris Smith in the Shetland Islands, who gave me useful discographical and Internet pointers. From Oakland, California, Opal Nations—whom I have met—sent photographs and also gave me invaluable access to all takes of all the songs the Pilgrim Jubilees recorded for Specialty in 1955. In Houston, Mississippi, Robin Mathis extracted for me the Pilgrim Jubilees recordings in the extensive collection of his WCPC radio station and immediately copied to tape those I didn't have—including "Stretch Out," the Jubes* biggest hit, which until then had eluded me. In Jackson, Mississippi , the Malaco recording company's director of gospel, Jerry Mannery, was extremely generous with time, information, photographs, and recordings ; label owner Tommy Couch also made time in his busy schedule to provide valuable information. In Memphis, Tennessee, my friend (and series Acknowledgments xi editor) David Evans produced two more missing singles—and an enjoyable break from the rigors of the road as he and Marice once again showed their southern hospitality and once again indulged my passion for barbecue. Back in Jackson, the University Press of Mississippi has for the second time found my gospel explorations worthy of publication, and I very much appreciate its support and efforts. Senior editor Craig Gill was enthusiastic about this project before a word had been written...