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James Phelps, a gospel singing great who enjoyed cross-over success in the world of R&B, died from complications of diabetes at the age of 78.
Born in Shreveport, La., Phelps moved to Chicago as a teenager and performed with several standout gospel groups, including the Gospel Songbirds, the Holy Wonders, where he performed with Lou Rawls and the Soul Stirrers, where Phelps sang with the legendary Sam Cooke.
Phelps was the founder and lead singer of the Clefs of Calvary and recorded his biggest hit "Love is a Five Letter Word" in 1965.
Despite his church background, Phelps sweet singing, reminiscent of a young Otis Redding, evoked images of smokey juke joints of the 1950s and '60s.
Phelps, though, saw his popularity begin to fall off by the mid-1970s as soulful balladeers like himself had trouble adjusting to the disco dance music that dominated black music.
Though Phelps never enjoyed the mainstream popularity of some of the singers he performed with, like Rawls and Cooke, Phelps will be remembered as a black music pioneer who wasn't afraid to bring his church-born music stylings to wider audiences outside the church doors.
Listen to "Love Is a Five Letter Word" here:
Comments: (2)
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By: SHANNLINWO on 10/29/2010 8:26AM
Wow lived some blessed long years. Don't know him and don't remember that song, but nice song.
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By: lee on 10/29/2010 5:18PM
i would love to know what else he made love the sound.
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