Roberta Martin Singers - Marching to Zion

[Reese3391]

What are the words to the Chorus after that beautiful,  that wonderful, that glorious......???

[PrettyVillan]

Those deep bass notes are hot...one trademark of a "Roberta Martin song"

[jddrew1000]

Lead Eugene Smith

Tenor-Norsalus McKissick

Contralto-Roberta Martin

Mezzo-Bessie Folk

Soprano Delois Barret

[direfranchement]

@jddrew1000

Bessie Folk did not participate in this recording.

[jddrew1000]

@direfranchement Then who sang mezzo?

[direfranchement]

@jddrew1000

This recording was made with four voices.

Soloist: Eugene Smith

Tenor: Norsalus McKissick

Contralto; Roberta Martin

Soprano: Delois Barrett

Martin and Barrett easily drown out McKissick on this record. The RMS were criticized in gospel circles for singing like a group of five soloists (in this case four) as opposed to singing genuine quartet harmonies. Recordings like this support that criticism, but with Roberta singing like that, I ain't mad at her.

[jddrew1000]

@direfranchement Okay I didnt realize Roberta Martin's high contralto below Delois's soprano.

Wow man youre good

Where do you get this info?

[praizequeen]

@direfranchement That is very interesting information. I had never heard that said of the RMS but having so many strong soloist is what made the group a standout. This is a great post you don't get any better than Roberta Martin. Thanks a lot!

[JayEm86]

@direfranchement, are you sure about there being only 4 voices? I can hear a lower contralto singing lower than Roberta and higher than Norsalus. I think she may be Myrtle Scott. You can hear her trailing on the word "God" at 0:42.

[direfranchement]

@JayEm86

A very interesting observation!

[Nostalgia2AKA]

This takes me BACK! I can see the choir marching in...led by usher board #1, of which, my greatgranny was a member. :D

[jddrew1000]

I adore Eugene's strong tenor voce

[V334432]

Close your eyes and just think of that great number all dressed in white Marching Up to Zion. Oh what a day of rejoicing there will be!!!

[PrettyVillan]

Roberta is definitely decorating the end of the lines.

[em2729]

this song make me think of when I was a little boy and my mother marching into the choir loft and the choir singing this one day I will see my mother marching in heaven singing this song.

[V334432]

this brought tears to my eyes. My God, what a day that will be.

[newrefugenc]

can't you see the choirs marching in (and swaying from side to side) on sunday morning down the aisle...back in the day

[pluto17dre]

thats all i thought about listenin to this was the processional with the usher in the middle out with her hands out....lol

[fhu07]

Thank you so much for posting this...I have been looking for this version for years...it's my favorite version of Marching to Zion

[appetancy]

That's not Bessie Folk singing that strong contralto. It's the redoubtable Roberta Martin herself. Magnificent, like all four of these Martin Singers masterpieces.

[DaSourcespr06]

Ah man, everyone sung this song back then, i like this version alot tho!!