Violinaires

  • The Violinaires were formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1952 when Willie Banks of the Evangelist Gospel Singers of Alabama moved to the Motor City and met Isaiah “Lil’ Shot” Jones, Wilson DeShields and Leo Coney. Seeking to organize a quartet in the style of the Evangelist Gospel Singers, the foursome added Providence Thomas of the Singing Sons and began appearing locally as the Violinaires (from the Malaco website). Bob Beatty and Calvin Fair joined the group a little later on, replacing Leo Coney (?) and in this line-up they recorded their first sides (for Drummond). The group continued to record for labels such as Gotham, Checker, Jewel and Malaco and they’re still active today.
  • All dates are recording dates.
  • This page lists all known recordings by the Violinaires, recorded between 1953 and 1971. Their later recordings are omitted from this discography.

 

 

 

 

Detroit, MI, c. 1953

302Another Soldier GoneDrummond 4000
303Joy In The Beulah LandDrummond 4000

  • Released as by the Voilinaires (typo).

 

Detroit, MI (?), c. 1954

---Another Soldier GoneSwing Time 346
  • Released as by the ? Marks.
  • Different recording than “Another Soldier Gone” on Drummond.
  • The reverse side is by the Hollywood Flames (but also listed as by the ? Marks).

 

Detroit, MI (?), c. 1955 (?)

PC-102-AWalk Through The StreetP-C 1090
PC-102-BI Woke Up This MorningP-C 1090
  • Released as by the Violinaires of Detroit.

 

Detroit, MI (?), c. December 1957

VID 1Sign Of The JudgementGotham 776
VID 2My Work Will Be DoneGotham 776
---Somebody's GoingCollectables CD 6000
---Someone Is Waiting For MeKrazy Kat LP 812
---Someone Is Waiting For Me (alt.)Calvin CD 241
  • Krazy Kat LP 812 is titled “Gotham Gospel, Vol. 1” remaining titles are not by the Violinaires.
  • Calvin CD 241 is titled “Songs Of Unity”; remaining titles are not by the Violinaires.
  • Collectables CD 6000 is titled “Good Lord I’ve Been Saved”; remaining titles are not by the Violinaires.

 

Detroit, MI, c. April/May 1964

13192Tell Mother There Will Be No Separation NowChecker 5002
13193Things That Worry MeChecker 5002
13206I Done Laid My Burden DownChecker unissued
13207Answer The PrayerChecker unissued
13208I Have Had It HardChecker unissued
  • The labels of Checker 5002 mention “J.V.B.”, which may indicate that these sides were recorded prior to the above date

 

Chicago, IL, February 5, 1965

13801ConditionChecker LP 10011
13802Dark Thursday EveningChecker LP 10011
13803Vacation In HeavenChecker LP 10011
13804Feel Just Like My Time Ain't LongChecker LP 10011
13805ShadrackChecker LP 10011
13806Coming Up Through The YearsChecker LP 10011
13807Stand By MeChecker LP 10011
13808Show Me The Way To Go HomeChecker LP 10011
13809Shout When You're Feelin' BlueChecker LP 10011
13810Glory HallelujahChecker LP 10011
13811Jesus I Love YouChecker LP 10011
13812MemoriesChecker LP 10011
  • Checker LP 10011 is titled “Stand By Me”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, February 23, 1966

14530I'll Never Stop Loving GodChecker 5021, LP 10017
14531I'm Going HomeChecker LP 10017
14532Old Time ReligionChecker 5013, LP 10017
14533My Mother Used To Hold MeChecker 5013, LP 10017
14534Children Are You ReadyChecker 5021, LP 10017
14535Precious MemoriesChecker LP 10017
14536If We Never Meet AgainChecker LP 10017
14537I'm SatisfiedChecker LP 10017
14538Meet Me Over YonderChecker LP 10017
14539My God Called Me This MorningChecker LP 10017
14540Nobody KnowsChecker LP 10017
14541Lift Him UpChecker LP 10017
  • Checker LP 10017 is titled “The Fantastic Violinaires”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, December 1966

15399Three Pictures Of The LordChecker 5025, LP 10020
15400Trying To Get ReadyChecker LP 10020
15401It's Getting LateChecker LP 10020
15402I'm Going To Serve The LordChecker 5025, LP 10020
15403If I Had A ChanceChecker LP 10020
15404Freedom After WhileChecker LP 10020
15405I KnowChecker LP 10020
15406I've Come Too FarChecker LP 10020
15407Another YearChecker LP 10020
15408Why Not TonightChecker LP 10020
15409Thanks For My Travelin' ShoesChecker LP 10020
15410He Heard My CryChecker LP 10020
  • Checker LP 10020 is titled “I’m Going To Serve The Lord”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, c. June 1967

15934What He Done For MeChecker LP 10030
15935Mother's Last PrayerChecker 5035, LP 10030
15936Wicked ManChecker 5035, LP 10030
15937Glad To Be In ServiceChecker LP 10030
15938He Gave It To MeChecker LP 10030
15939Standing For JesusChecker LP 10030
15940Move On UpChecker LP 10030
15941The Zion ShipChecker LP 10030
15942You Go To Your ChurchChecker LP 10030
15943ForevermoreChecker LP 10030
15944It's Hard To Get AlongChecker LP 10030
15945You've Been So GoodChecker LP 10030
  • Checker LP 10030 is titled “Move On Up”.

 

Chicago, IL, November 1967

16465He Touched MeChecker LP 10040
16466Come By HereChecker LP 10040
16467Please Answer This PrayerChecker LP 10040
16468That Blessed HomelandChecker LP 10040
16469There'll Be No SeparationChecker LP 10040
16470Call On HimChecker 5043, LP 10040
16471Spreading BrotherhoodChecker LP 10040
16472Move These ThingsChecker LP 10040
16473Come On Holy SpiritChecker LP 10040
16474Times Like TheseChecker LP 10040
16475God Is Not DeadChecker LP 10040
16476I Don't KnowChecker 5043, LP 10040
  • Checker LP 10040 is titled “Shout”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, March 1968

16890When I ComeChecker LP 10045
16891Just Go AheadChecker 5053, LP 10045
16892I'm On My WayChecker LP 10045
16893My Last TimeChecker LP 10045
16894The Ninth HourChecker LP 10045
16895Waiting For MeChecker LP 10045
16896Live The Right WayChecker LP 10045
16897Sunday Go To MeetingChecker LP 10045
16898It's Wrong To FightChecker LP 10045
16899Practice What You PreachChecker 5053, LP 10045
16900A Little Bit Of UnderstandingChecker LP 10045
  • Checker LP 10045 is titled “Live The Right Way”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, September 1, 1968

17406Children Are You ReadyChecker LP 10053
17407I'm Going To Serve The LordChecker LP 10053
17408My Mother Used To Hold MeChecker LP 10053
17409Old Time Religion, Pt. 1Checker LP 10053
17410Old Time Religion, Pt. 2Checker LP 10053
17411Stand By MeChecker 5063, Checker LP 10053
17412I've Come Too FarChecker LP 10053
17413You've Been So GoodChecker LP 10053
  • Checker LP 10053 is titled “The Fantastic Violinaires In Concert”.

 

Chicago, IL (?), c. October/November 1968

17271The Sound Of ChristmasChecker LP 10050
17272Remember What Day Is ThisChecker LP 10050
17273He's All You NeedChecker LP 10057
17274The Whole World Is WatchingChecker 5054, LP 10057
17275I'm Satisfied With JesusChecker 5065, LP 10057
17284Do You Know Him?Checker LP 10057
17285It Will All Be Over (After While)Checker 5065, LP 10057
17286When Jesus ComesChecker LP 10057
17287God's CreationChecker LP 10057
17288That Evening SunChecker 5054, LP 10057
17289The Man JesusChecker LP 10057

  • Checker LP 10050 is titled “A Christmas Dedication”. Other titles on this LP are not by the Violinaires.

 

Chicago, IL (?), c. February/March, 1969

17679Spinning WheelChess LP 50053
17680You Can All Join InChess LP 50053
17681I Shall Be ReleasedChess LP 50053, LP 10060
17682Games People PlayChess LP 50053
17683All My Hard TimesChess LP 50053
17684Labor And Hard SweatChess LP 50053
17685Keep On MovingChess LP 50053
17686A New WorldChess LP 50053, LP 10060
17687Salt Of The EarthChecker 5063, LP 10057, Chess LP 50053
17688Old Time ReligionChecker LP 10057, Chess LP 50053
  • Chess LP 50053 is titled “You Can All Join In” and was released in 1974.
  • Checker LP 10057 is titled “God’s Creation”, click here for scans.

 

Chicago, IL, September 26, 1969

18130JudgementChecker LP 10060
18131He's AlrightChecker LP 10060
18132He'll Let Me Come HomeChecker LP 10060
18133I'm Feeling GoodChecker 1240, LP 10060
18134A Simple PrayerChecker 1240, LP 10060

 

Chicago, IL, July 1, 1970

18728Our Father (Lord’s Prayer)Checker LP 10060
18729I’m At His CommandChecker 1249, LP 10060
18730Wait ThereChecker LP 10060
18731Coming Up Thru The YearsChecker 1249, LP 10060
  • Checker LP 10060 is titled “At His Command”.

 

Chicago, IL, 1971

1869Groovin’ With JesusChecker LP 10067
1870Let Us PrayChecker LP 10067
1871Put Your Hand In The HandChecker LP 10067
1872Let The Sunshine InChecker LP 10067
1873We Got To Live TogetherChecker LP 10067
1874Take MeChecker LP 10067
1875My Sweet LordChecker LP 10067
1876This Old World Can’t Last Too LongChecker LP 10067
1877No Back DoorChecker LP 10067
  • Checker LP 10067 is titled “Groovin’ With Jesus”, click here for scans.