Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Sister Ernestine is best known to white jazz collectors because of four sides she made with the legendary George Lewis-Bunk Johnson jazz band in 1946. As this CD indicates though, the good sister wasn't really a jazz artist as demonstrated by the recordings here she made with renowned quartets The Dixie Hummingbirds and The Southern Sons. The music originally released on the 78s compiled here show why "the songbird of the East" was both popular and influential as she toured the Gospel Highway. There is much fascinating music here and particularly intriguing is "What Are You Raising Your Children For" where her husband, the Rev F D Washington, showing he was a gutsy preacher in the style of Rev J M Gates. 14 of the 27 sides on this album were recorded for New York label Manor. As the fascinating sleevenote reveals, at the same time that Sister Ernestine was cutting fiery tracks like "God Will Wipe All Tears Away" and "I'm Gonna Live The Life I Sing About" a record company was tempting Ruth Jones, vocalist with the Sally Martin Singers, to cross over and sing blues. Ruth became Dinah Washington and found fame and fortune, Sister Ernestine resisted the lure of the dollar and carried on singing gospel right up to the time of her death in the '70s. She lived the life she sang about in her songs indeed.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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