May the Circle be Unbroken

The Gospel Musical “MAY THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN” presents a selection of vignettes that reveals the historical moments of the gospel greats among female and male singers in the 1940's to the present.

Clara Ward started singing publicly at the age of eight in the Baptist Churches.  She later became a National Star with her group known as “The Famous Ward Singers” who performed at clubs, Jazz festivals, on national television, radio and in foreign countries.  As a song writer composing many gospel hits, she established her own publishing firm.  Clara was known for her sporting wigs and ravishing robes.

Ruth Davis and The Davis Sisters is a legend in today’s gospel world.  They were one of the most intriguing and exciting groups that gospel music has ever heard.  The Davis Sisters were beginning to rise to prominence when tragedy struck their family.  No less than four of the group’s singers met with untimely deaths.  Ruth, known as “Baby Sis,” was innocent, vulnerable but yet powerful, but sadly, was driven down physically by diabetes, kidney and liver disease.

Dorothy Love Coates was a child prodigy who studied piano on her own.  Life for her became a struggle.  After her mother’s death, she had to quit high school and work to survive.  Later, she became the organizer of the group, The Gospel Harmonettes, recording on the RCA label from out of Birmingham, Alabama. In the 1950's, she composed many gospel songs that were a hit on gospel stations as well as country music stations throughout the United States. Dorothy became a historical figure in the Civil Rights movement.

The Caravans, composed of James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, and Shirley Caesar, was one of the top groups that became rising stars in the 60's.  They broke gospel charts throughout the U.S.A.

Gospel music contests were one of the 60's through 70's most exciting festivities in the cities.  Groups from everywhere would come for the battle of the season just to compete for the prize.  The battling scene is composed of such groups as The Barrett Singers and The Roberta Martin Singers.

The last act which features songs of several contemporary artists and today’s gospel Rap Music illustrates how gospel music presently has made a great transition from the past.

The conclusion tells of these women and men who’ve written compositions that tell of life struggles, justice and peace, songs of the good times and bad, songs of worship and of praise, moments of happiness and sadness, and how their lives have been part of the Unbroken Circle.