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The Sensational Nightengales
Whenever the Sensational Nightengales appear there's always a sign that reads "Standing Room Only. You ask why? The question can be answered with one word. SINCERITY. The sensational Nightengales live the life they sing about. What they sing about is their way of life. You Know Not the Hour, the title track, vibrates and these vibrations continue all through this new treasure chest of Gospel Jewels. Many of the selections in this recording are new, Jesus Took My Burden and Giving You A Warning. But the Nightengales give us a treat with old favorites. Love Lifted Me, Nothing Between and a beautiful rendition of How Great Thou Art. I know You Know Not The Hour, you will play this recording, but play it you will, again and again.
Originally formed by Barney Parks (one of the original Dixie Hummingbirds) in the late 1940's, the glory days of the "Gales" quartet harmony centered around a great central voice: The Reverend Julius "June" Cheeks. Discovered while singing on a bill that included the Nightengales and the Five Blind Boys, Cheeks' baritone was the epitome of a hard slashing lead in gospel - he literally shred his voice apart. Parks' original lineup for the group consisted of lead singer - Paul Owens, baritone - Howard Carroll (a future Hummingbird himself) and bass -- Carl Coates, with Parks on tenor and also handeling the group's management. Parks soon realised his forte' was more on the managerial side so additional vocalist Ernest James came aboard just as they were to begin cutting a few sides for the coleman label in 1949. More sides followed for the King label in 1950 followed and then Parks took the group to meet up with and begin rehearsals with a powerhouse voice from Spartanburg, South Carolina: June Cheeks.
The "Sensational Nightengales" rode along the crest of the "Gospel Highway" in both recording and touring. Very tight vocal arrangements and progressive innovations such as the occasional use of piano in place of the standard bass and guitar in rhythm accompaniment were fresh in gospel arranging. Cheeks was also interested and instrumental in using new tempos in his arrangements which allowed him to stretch out with improvisations as the lyrics progressed.
Various personnel changes took place in the next two years, with a third lead voice in Jo Jo Wallace joining and Bill Woodruff taking over the bass by the time the "Nihgtengales" first recorded for Peacock Records in 1952.
Throughout their career, even when soul music was absorbing gospel, and gospel, soul stylings, the Gales remained purists. Many soul artists, Wilson Pickett and James B. among them, credit Cheeks' influence.
June Cheeks left The Nightengales in 1960 and the group continued to record for Peacock and tour featuring Charles Johnson and sometimes Herbert Robertson on lead vocals. They produced many fine albums for Peacock throughout the 1960's and on into the 1970's.
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