Music for Grownups: Shirley Caesar
The gospel maven, a performer at the "AARP Songs of Soul and Inspiration" concert, "Caesar-izes" songs that "bless" her career.
By: Richard Gehr | Source: AARP.org | 2008-06-19
Richard Gehr is a veteran music critic based in New York City. His reviews for AARP.org appear every Tuesday; his columns on Thursdays.
AARP Presents Songs of Soul and Inspiration
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime line-up of female vocalists, including Yolanda Adams, Patti Austin, Shirley Caesar, Jamia, Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, CeCe Winans, and Ann Nesby appearing with Paris Bennett. They'll perform live and in concert June 21, Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Of the divas performing at “AARP Presents Songs of Soul and Inspiration” in Atlanta on June 21, none is more deeply rooted in gospel music than Shirley Caesar, who has been singing it since joining her siblings, the Caesar Singers, at the tender age of eight. Even as a youngster, she developed the powerful voice and electrifying stage presence that continues to inspire and excite audiences today. As the lead vocalist for the Caravans, she toured from 1958 to 1966; after that, she swelled her song with her own group, the Shirley Caesar Singers.
Caesar is pastor at the Mt. Calvary Word of Faith church in Durham, N.C., where she was born in 1938. Last November, she released "After 40 Years … Still Sweeping Through the City," her 41st album. I recently caught up with her for an interview.
How would you say your gospel style has changed over the years?
I try to do all kinds of gospel, which allows me to hang right in there with all those young folk. I try to do some of the kind they would do, and then I'll Caesar-ize it! A couple of years ago, I did a song with a rap in it, and it really turned out big for me. "I Know the Truth," with the rapper Tonéx, really blessed my career. I also recorded "Steal Away to Jesus" with Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child, and that really blessed us.
How does gospel music evolve alongside pop music?
You see, popular music, they steal from us. So we find ourselves goin' over there and getting what's ours. So of course we change. For example, I'm a Michael Jackson fan. I had the privilege of meeting him, and I'd have loved to have a son just like him. He is one of the most mannerable and finest boys I've had the privilege of meeting.
Have you seen Jackson recently?
No, not recently. I saw him two years ago. We were working on a song ["From the Bottom of My Heart"] together, along with some other R&B singers. He was going to take the monies from it and try to be a blessing to the Katrina victims. I was able to sing along with some of the others. I enjoyed the experience. I don't know what came of it.
Did soul music make gospel more soulful, or did gospel music make soul music possible?
All of it came out of gospel. They've tried to take our soul, which I would say is impossible, because we get ours from the Lord. I know I get mine from the Lord.
Who are your favorite contemporary gospel singers?
Wow, I got so many. Gospel is not going away so long as God lives, and God is never going to die. So long as we stay focused and not take Him out of it, gospel music will live forever, as long as there's life on this planet. But I have so many favorite gospel singers, like Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans. One close to my style is Beverly Crawford, and of course Dottie Peoples. All of these singers are wonderful. Dorothy Norwood and Albertina Walker are my favorites from my generation. Oh, and I've got to give you another favorite singer: Dorinda Clark Cole, of the Clark Sisters.
I'm not hearing a lot of male names.
Well, I guess that's because I'm a female. I thoroughly enjoy Jay Moss. Ah yes, and Smoky Norful is another one I like. But the ladies come out on top for me.
Looking back at your long career, would you have done anything differently?
In the early years of my career, I would have told the studios to produce us more professionally. I was very young when I was with the Caravans, and we didn't know any better. We went into a studio and did a whole album in an hour or an hour and a half.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on a CD that will bring praise and worship songs together. "Sweeping Through the City," for example, is a praise song, because we can dance and clap our hands and shout. Worship songs, like "Blessed Assurance" or "Amazing Grace," are not up-tempo, so it's all about the words that bring deliverance, where you just stand and lift your hands in adoration unto the Lord.
What songs of soul and inspiration do you plan to sing in Atlanta?
I'm going to do a little bit of "Sweeping Through the City," "Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name," and "Heaven."
Caesar is pastor at the Mt. Calvary Word of Faith church in Durham, N.C., where she was born in 1938. Last November, she released "After 40 Years … Still Sweeping Through the City," her 41st album. I recently caught up with her for an interview.
How would you say your gospel style has changed over the years?
I try to do all kinds of gospel, which allows me to hang right in there with all those young folk. I try to do some of the kind they would do, and then I'll Caesar-ize it! A couple of years ago, I did a song with a rap in it, and it really turned out big for me. "I Know the Truth," with the rapper Tonéx, really blessed my career. I also recorded "Steal Away to Jesus" with Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child, and that really blessed us.
How does gospel music evolve alongside pop music?
You see, popular music, they steal from us. So we find ourselves goin' over there and getting what's ours. So of course we change. For example, I'm a Michael Jackson fan. I had the privilege of meeting him, and I'd have loved to have a son just like him. He is one of the most mannerable and finest boys I've had the privilege of meeting.
Have you seen Jackson recently?
No, not recently. I saw him two years ago. We were working on a song ["From the Bottom of My Heart"] together, along with some other R&B singers. He was going to take the monies from it and try to be a blessing to the Katrina victims. I was able to sing along with some of the others. I enjoyed the experience. I don't know what came of it.
Did soul music make gospel more soulful, or did gospel music make soul music possible?
All of it came out of gospel. They've tried to take our soul, which I would say is impossible, because we get ours from the Lord. I know I get mine from the Lord.
Who are your favorite contemporary gospel singers?
Wow, I got so many. Gospel is not going away so long as God lives, and God is never going to die. So long as we stay focused and not take Him out of it, gospel music will live forever, as long as there's life on this planet. But I have so many favorite gospel singers, like Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans. One close to my style is Beverly Crawford, and of course Dottie Peoples. All of these singers are wonderful. Dorothy Norwood and Albertina Walker are my favorites from my generation. Oh, and I've got to give you another favorite singer: Dorinda Clark Cole, of the Clark Sisters.
I'm not hearing a lot of male names.
Well, I guess that's because I'm a female. I thoroughly enjoy Jay Moss. Ah yes, and Smoky Norful is another one I like. But the ladies come out on top for me.
Looking back at your long career, would you have done anything differently?
In the early years of my career, I would have told the studios to produce us more professionally. I was very young when I was with the Caravans, and we didn't know any better. We went into a studio and did a whole album in an hour or an hour and a half.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on a CD that will bring praise and worship songs together. "Sweeping Through the City," for example, is a praise song, because we can dance and clap our hands and shout. Worship songs, like "Blessed Assurance" or "Amazing Grace," are not up-tempo, so it's all about the words that bring deliverance, where you just stand and lift your hands in adoration unto the Lord.
What songs of soul and inspiration do you plan to sing in Atlanta?
I'm going to do a little bit of "Sweeping Through the City," "Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name," and "Heaven."
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