Willie Mae Ford Smith - What Manner Of A Man is This?

[dwalle2]

I love this version! I remember seeing "Say Amen, Someone!" and the sequence where Mother Ford Smith performs this was especially moving to and inspiring to me. I wore out the LP (that was back in the day). This is such a rich part of our American Heritage that we white folks have been deprived of, until fairly recently. What can I say? I sure wish we sang music like this in my dear old Episcopal Church!

[Gospeljdb]

I think the church she attended was Apostolic - Lively Stone I think ? St. Louis, Mo.

[ebufford]

It's something about this old sound that seemed to stick with your soul during the week more than the stuff that is out now!

[Bro2dolly]

""coming from boaz with dyed garments on""

[cupcake0071]

I must say, it is a pleasure to listen to" Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith". Each time I listen to her sing, it lifts my spirit when I'm down or up. I'm not being judgmental towards no other gospel singer....but the "Mother" was awesome in her time. I'm not holy-rolly, but I know within in my spirit she was real. Listening to her, would make a person want to learn the word of God. Most people now, only speaks of money, money, money...not how to save a soul as God would want most.

[radfordateryri]

Does anyone know the words Mother Smith is singing in the first verse --"...He had the world on his shoulder, he was walking all alone, he was seen coming from (where?) with his God garments on"? Mahalia Jackson seems to be singing, 'He was seen coming from Persia with his God garments on." (Maybe a reference to chapter 6 of the book of Daniel.)

[alphashed]

Early years-Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee as a child. She was raised in the Baptist church and began singing with her sisters in a family group known as "The Ford Sisters" after the family moved to St. Louis. The group, and Willie Mae in particular, achieved wider fame after an appearance at the 1922 National Baptist Convention.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri she was one of the early associates of Thomas A. Dorsey and an innovator in gospel style,

[alphashed]

She married in 1929 and, shortly after that, began traveling in musical revivals. Dorsey heard her in 1931 and asked to help him found the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, his organization devoted to spreading gospel music by training singers, choirs and composers. Smith became the principal singing teacher for the NCGCC as head of its Soloists' Bureau in 1936. Among her students were Brother Joe May, who gave her the affectionate name "Mother".

[uprayup]

This woman had such a stong voice.

Thank you for posting

[abilityrc]

Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith attended Lively Stone Church of God Apostolic Faith in St. Louis Mo.

[mrsrayndolph]

what year did Smith died?

[OlSkoolSaint]

She died in 1994

[elderfjj]

Do you know what church Mother Ford attended in St. Louis?

[OlSkoolSaint]

No I don't know what church Mother Ford attended in St. Louis.

[Oaktownrob]

Yes Indeed, Mother Smith! I grew up listening to her in those hot, humid sunday afternoon church sessions in St. Louis. You felt spiritually transformed, before she ever opened her mouth.

[Revd519]

i TRULY MISS MOMMA

THERE IS NOBODY ON EARTH WHO CAN SIN G LIKE HER

[trailmix816]

What a glorious voice Mother Smith had. Am always Blessed by it! Thanks for posting this.

[OlSkoolSaint]

You're welcome!

[upmostFL89]

This is my song! Nobody sings like this, none other than Mrs. Willie Mae Ford Smith!!!!!!

[OlSkoolSaint]

That's right!!! NOBODY!!!

[alphashed]

Wow, Sister Willie Mae Ford goes way way back. I've read that the Ford Family performed "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, Smith was born in 1906 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi and raised in Memphis; one of 14 children, she was the daughter of a railroad brakeman who relocated the family to St. Louis in 1918.

[PennTrafford]

She was the lady from St. Louis...