The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Gospel group the Mighty Clouds Of Joy formed at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California, USA, in 1959. Joe Ligon (b. Willie Joe Ligon, 11 October 1936, Troy, Alabama, USA; tenor), Johnny Martin (b. Los Angeles, California, USA, d. 1987; tenor), Richard Wallace (b. Georgia, USA; bass) and Elmo Franklin (b. Louisiana, USA; baritone) formed the group’s first line-up. After a series of small-scale gospel concerts in local churches, the group expanded to include Ermont Franklin, David Walker (b. 5 May 1941, Washington, DC, USA), Leon Polk and Jimmy Jones. The Houston-based label Peacock Records then recruited the group. Throughout the 60s the Mighty Clouds Of Joy recorded a series of albums for the label that all sold well in the gospel market, although later they would change tempo to adapt to the prevailing musical climate, leading them into soul, R&B; and rock ‘n’ roll. ‘Time’, on ABC Records, produced by Gamble And Huff, became a number 32 R&B; hit in 1974. ‘Mighty Cloud Of Joy’ also achieved minor success, but their highest chart placing came with the release of ‘Mighty High’ in February 1976. The single also broke into the mainstream pop charts. Despite supporting pop stars such as the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon, the glamour of the pop world never completely tore the group away from their religious beliefs, a fact confirmed by the title of their Grammy-nominated 1978 album, God Is Not Dead. The same year’s Live And Direct won a Grammy award, as did the subsequent Changing Times (produced by Frank Wilson, former Jackson Five associate). By 1980 the Mighty Clouds Of Joy had moved to Word Records and earned another Grammy nomination for Cloudburst, produced by Al McKay of Earth, Wind And Fire. At this time the group also included Paul Beasley (ex-Keynotes) and Michael Cook. None of this activity slowed their frenetic touring and recording pace, and two further Grammy nominations were awarded in 1982 for Miracle Man and The Mighty Clouds Above. When Johnny Martin died in 1987, first Dwight Gordon and then Michael McGowan stepped in. By the new millennium the Mighty Clouds Of Joy, led by founding members Ligon and Wallace, were still to be found performing hundreds of concerts a year, with over thirty albums to their name.