Shirley Caesar | A City Called Heaven

Shirley Caesar – A City Called Heaven

 

A few years ago, I had the utmost pleasure in witnessing a full-on church service as Shirley Caesar was administering the word of God to her audience.  I say the word administer as opposed to performing because Pastor Caesar’s business is wholeheartedly about giving God the glory.  And believe me, there is plenty of praise and worship strength within this singer/songwriter and pulpit minister.  During that concert, or should I again say on-fire church service, Caesar’s honesty and integrity was unquestionable in whatever she spoke about –a personal antidote or a scripture that someone could relate to.   Those signature gifts have translated successfully throughout a much decorated career of over fifty years since her days with the Gospel Music Hall of Fame female quartet The Caravans.   

 

With a loving family that spiritually supported her while growing up, Caesar survived many hardships along the way.  For starters, Caesar endured much racism, including in her home state of North Carolina.  Through it all, she pressed on with her unwavering faith and her shear love of gospel music.  Before she locked-in her career as a traveling musician and evangelist, Caesar sang with her father’s quartet for a few years and toured with Evangelist LeRoy Johnson.  While at NC Central College, she declared she would henceforth preach the gospel around the world.   About the same period, she was already enamored by the music of The Caravans.  Needless to say, she auditioned for the group founded by another gospel legend, Caesar’s mentor Albertina Walker.  After winning that audition, Caesar’s own legacy soon began starting in the late fifties.  Besides The Caravans, Caesar also recorded with another respected gospel figure, Reverend James Cleveland.   In 1966, Caesar took the first steps in her solo chapter by forming The Caesar Singers in 1966.

 

Caesar’s accolades are far too many to mention.  Yet if there were an award that was indeed historically special, it was her first Grammy in 1971 for her recording, “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man from Galilee” – a rarity for an African-American female gospel artist before the urban gospel scene exploded several years later.  But even with her music tours and outreach ministries, Caesar’s heart and soul belongs to saving souls.  To this day since 1983, she co-pastors with her long-time husband Reverend Harold Williams at the Mt. Calvary Holy Church in North Carolina.

 

With the wonderful marriage of God-breathed stories and energetic praise & worship, A City Called Heaven once again shows Caesar at her ministry best.  Somehow she is always able to paint various musical shapes and colors within her repertoire, including an edgy urban jam and a country flavored ballad.  

 

As for the highlights, I begin with “Celebration,” which takes the praise party to church and the Soul Train line.  The blues drenched “Cornerstone” features a high-spirited duet with fellow pastor Dorothy Glass, which Glass recently recorded on her independent disc – Cornerstone – with Caesar also by her side.   Obviously, Caesar appreciates songs that will transport listeners to the worship abyss.  Two examples are “In This Place” from a young but innovative songwriter Jonathan Dunn and the southern gospel favorite, “Can’t Even Walk (Without Him Holding My Hand).”   What sincerely struck a chord in me on City Called Heaven was “Playground in Heaven” with an intriguing narrative by Caesar about a little girl who lost her twin sister who envisions what heaven would look like. 

 

For the most part, it is hard turning down a Pastor Caesar recording (or concert for that matter) experience, including A City Called Heaven.  However, it did take awhile adjusting to the first single the PAJAM produced “Nobody” featuring J. Moss.  After trying to adjust to some opening electronically masked vocals, the song’s bridging of traditional and contemporary styles won me over.   Just remember when listening to any of Pastor Caesar’s music library, it is not about just an exciting vocal performance.   It is all about faith filled stories and an exuberant love for God’s goodness.     

 

 

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene