Of the galaxy of stars at Chess Records, the grandmaster of them all was Rev. C.L. Franklin, pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.
Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (1915-84) was one of the greatest black ministers of the post-war era, a civil rights activist, and a friend of Martin Luther King. Many consider him as gifted an orator as King, and the 57 lps he made for Chess form the most extensive collection of black American preaching ever recorded. A complex man of many talents, Franklin, the father of Aretha Franklin, was a fine singer in his own right, as the above clip demonstrates.
If you are lucky enough to come across any of his Chess sermons, don’t hesitate to pick one up. You’ll be in for an unforgettable experience.
For more sermons, go here.
