The Baptist preacher J.M. Gates was one of the most prolifically recorded black artists of the early century, with over 200 sides on wax between the mid-'20s and his death in 1940 (he once recorded 23 titles in a week, at just two sessions). His sermons and musical numbers appeared on a variety of labels (Victor, Bluebird, Okeh, Gennett), though... [+] Read More

The Baptist preacher J.M. Gates was one of the most prolifically recorded black artists of the early century, with over 200 sides on wax between the mid-'20s and his death in 1940 (he once recorded 23 titles in a week, at just two sessions). His sermons and musical numbers appeared on a variety of labels (Victor, Bluebird, Okeh, Gennett), though Gates often re-recorded his most popular sermons -- "Death's Black Train Is Coming," "Oh Death Where Is Thy Sting," "Goin' to Die with the Staff in My Hands" -- for multiple labels. Born in 1885, Gates ministerd at Atlanta's Calvary Church and first recorded in 1926. Beginning in April, he recorded almost 100 sides by the end of the year. Understandably, his output slowed slightly during the rest of the late '20s, and the advent of the Great Depression resulted in a four-year period off records. He returned in 1934, and recorded about 20 more sides until his death in 1941. Experts estimate that Gates recorded at least a quarter of all the sermons that appeared before 1943. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 at Wadowice, Poland. After studying in secret during the Nazis' occupation of his homeland, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1946, later serving at the Krakow diocese. Upon completing a six-year teaching tenure at the Krakow Seminary, in 1958 Wojtyla was appointed an auxiliary bishop... [+] Read More

Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 at Wadowice, Poland. After studying in secret during the Nazis' occupation of his homeland, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1946, later serving at the Krakow diocese. Upon completing a six-year teaching tenure at the Krakow Seminary, in 1958 Wojtyla was appointed an auxiliary bishop by Pope Pius XII; five years later, Pope Paul VI appointed him Archbishop of Krakow. Appointed a Cardinal of the Roman Church in 1967, he ascended to the papacy on October 16, 1978, adopting the name John Paul II; remaining in the position for the duration of the 20th century, he became the most travelled Pope ever, visiting all corners of the globe. In 1999 Sony Classical released Abba Pater, a collection of the Pope's inspirational messages set to musical accompaniment. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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