Johnson Family Singers: We Sang for Our Supper

by Kenneth M. Johnson

Book Overview

The Johnson Family Singers, a gospel group from North Carolina, rose to national acclaim during the 1940s and 1950s. This memoir was written by one of the three sons who sang with them. It focuses not only upon family singers who became famous on popular radio but also upon American gospel music. Although neglected by scholars and historians, it is loved by aficionados and is cherished by many devoted Christians everywhere.

Here, in a frank,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578060044
• ISBN13: 9781578060047
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Length: 158 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Johnson Family Singers

I'm enjoying reading this especially since I'm aquainted with the author of the book. This is a true story of real people.

Nostalgia and Americana at its best

Growing up in the golden age of radio, long before TV,CD's or even LP records, one remembers the sheer joy of that medium as a connection to a world of performing artists, singers and musicians. Gospel music in the South was exemplified by a small number of groups, often comprised of members of a family. In Charlotte, NC, the Johnson Family Singers was a byword on WBT radio for many years beginning in the early 40's. Ma and Pa were accompanied by Betty, the twin boys, and Kenneth, who authored this book. There music was mostly gospel until they stretched their wings into some more secular music at the encouragement of their talented pianist-accompanyist, Larry Walker. There is a charming story with many interesting anecdotes behind the scenes of this well scrubbed and wholesome family, who worked hard to make a living with their music. There were struggles and challenges abounding in this pursuit, which like so many other public exposures of the day, including professional sports, big bands, and singers of national prominence,were a result of compensation that in no way compares to that of today's entertainers and athletes. Kenneth writes of these challenges in a candid and straightforward manner that captures the interest of anyone who wants to remember or discover what life in those times held for struggling musicians. There were log cabins, primitive but wholesome facilities, and a rural life that entailed gardening duties and other activities to supplement and make possible the musical careers. Kenneth explains well how the busy life with gospel music, always looking for new songs to introduce, did not always leave enough time for the family's own spiritual sustenance. In later years, achieving national notoriety, and at the same time with the children following their own instincts to spread out to other locations and pursuits,the family faced the forces that tend to spread families apart. The Johnson family survived these times with stronger faith in God and a unifying force that kept the family together in spirit as Betty, Ken, and the twins went their own ways. Ken became a minister and Betty achieved fame with her music, placing several records on the charts and becoming a regular on morning and tonight show ventures such as Don McNeil and Jack Paar. Ken draws attention and interest to the individual roles of the family members as they found a cohesion and team approach to the music business. They were favorites of mine and thousands in the South during two decades. Betty now records with her two grown daughters in a rennaisance of the Johnson family's tradition, applied to more contemporary music. Once reading this book, a person, whether familiar or not with their music, will surely want to hear the accompanying CD and pursue the many others available today with samples of the old and the new songs...music of three generations that represent the very best of American talent.