Gospel Friend


In 1976, Jonas Bernholm and Per Notini started Route 66 Records, which came to involve a renaissance for black rhythm & blues music in Europe and USA. In the year of 2002, they founded a new record label, Gospel Friend. With this, they wish to give the world the possibility to rediscover a probably even more important but overlooked music genre.

A Disturbing Kind of Joy

Gospel music often conveys positive messages like LOVE or VICTORY. The latter may refer to the victory of light over darkness, the victory of peace over violence and war, and the victory of life over death. JOY is another central concept, but it is a disturbing kind of joy that the gospel singers dispense. Because gospel "...can hardly be tagged as entertainment, though itıs often more entertaining than blues or soul or jazz or r & b...Gospel is altogether more extreme in its depths and in its heights...This is after all a religious expression about life and death." (Viv Broughton: Black Gospel ­An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound; 1984)

Gospel Friend Records deals with "The Golden Age of Gospel" which comprises the approximate period 1945-1965. All possible styles are presented, including quartets, groups, individual soloists and choirs, with male as well as female performers.

What the press says about GOSPEL FRIEND:

"...the notes to these CDs, penned by Notini, are of high quality, and the 10- page booklets feature well-produced vintage photos..." [Scott Baretta, Living Blues nr. 168, USA]

"Gospel Friend...knows how to present the material: good playing time, great sound, beautifully reproduced photographs and notes by experts in the field." [Keith Briggs, Blues & Rhythm/The Gospel Truth nr. 185, England]

"After such an impressive recent start to their Gospel Friend label, Jonas Bernholm and Per Notini have done it again with two more great CDs." [Seamus McGarvey, Juke Blues nr. 55, England]

Marie Knight (1946-51) - Hallelujah What a Song  PN-1500: 

"Gospel fans will love this. It is a CD absolutely stuffed with great performances." (Red Lick Records, England)

"...this is an excellent CD, great notes from Per Notini...and highly recommendable to gospel fans, and others." [Juke Blues nr. 53, USA]




Prof. J. Earle Hines & His Goodwill Singers/St. Paul Baptist Church Choir of L.A. (1947-51) - Jesus Steps Right in  PN-1501: 

"He is a powerful and pleasing singer who avoids pyrotechnics in favour of commitment." (Keith Briggs, Blues & Rhythm/The Gospel Truth, nr.174, England)

"I found this a highly enjoyable compilation with lots of exciting sounds. I think gospel fans will love it." [Seamus McGarvey, Juke Blues nr. 53; USA]

"Professor James Earle Hines was my first and heaviest musical mentor..." [Etta James]

Clara Ward & the Ward Singers (1949-52) ­ I Feel the Holy Spirit  PN-1502:

"...if you add the remarkable piano playing, almost everywhere by Clara Ward herself, and other instruments like organ and drums...you easily understand that such a compilation rightly deserves such an honour (5 of 5 stars)" [Jacques Demêtre, Soul Bag nr. 173, France]

"Continuing their run of consistently outstanding CDs, Gospel Friend has now produced a disc by one of my personal favourites...Itıs almost impossible to say anything about Clara without mentioning her influence on Aretha Franklin..." [Keith Briggs, Blues & Rhythm/the Gospel Truth, nr 185, England]

The Dixie Hummingbirds (1939-52) ­ Jesus Has Travelled This Road Before PN-1503:

"There were a lot of great hard gospel quartets that followed in the ŒBirdsı train, but as this collection shows, no one ever did better." [Duck Baker, Dirty Linen nr. 57, USA]

"...itıs the blends, leads and vocal arrangements that make this collection so wonderful, down to sheer style and quality." [Seamus McGarvey, Juke Blues nr.55, England]


Due for release on Gospel Friend, fall 2004:

The Georgia Peach (1930-60) ­ Pure in Heart PN-1504:

For information about future productions, please contact

Per Notini
Dammtrappgatan 43-45
120 47 Enskede Gċrd, SWEDEN

e-mail: per.notini.gospel-friend@hem.utfors.se or per.notini@maria.stockholm.se

The artwork for all Gospel Friend CDs is done by Swedish top designer Johan Lindberg

GOSPEL TREASURES RECORDS is a specialist label, which is exclusively distributed by Jonas Bernholmıs Mr R&B Records. So far, two CDs have been released:

The Stars of Bethlehem ­ Above My Head  OLN 2000:
12 songs with forthcoming members of the Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy (1960) and 2 sides (1954) including Little Johnny Taylor. Will appeal to the fans of Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers.

"The historic value of this collection can not be denied" [Jazz Classique, nr.28, France]

"A guaranteed pleasure to listen to from start to end" [Robert Sacré, Rollin & Tumblinı, nr. 28, Luxembourg]

King Louis H. Narcisse ­ Itıs So Nice to Be Nice  OLN 2001:
22 outstanding recordings (1949-1962) by notorious Oakland preacher-evangelist and cult-leader, who is also one of the most powerful male post-war gospel singers.

"This ostentatious man could sing his fool ass off. You ainıt never heard of such singinı! Want to get your spiritual socks knocked off by one of the most gifted singers ever to invent a religion? Buy this CD!" [AC ­Sing Out! Magazine, winter 2004, USA]

"Narcisse was a personality outside the ordinary and a highly gifted singer and piano player...It is a lovely celebration dedicated to a great gospel singer.." .[Robert Sacré, Rolling & Tumblinı, nr. 28, Luxembourg]

GOSPEL JUBILEE RECORDS (available on vinyl only)

RF 1400: The Four Internes ­ Iım Troubled (1951-53)
RF 1401: The Trumpeteers ­ Milky White Way (1947-54)
RF 1402: Archie Brownlee & the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi ­ You Done What the Doctor Couldnıt Co (1948-59)
RF 1403: Wilmer "Little Axe" Broadnax ­ So Many Years (1939-54)
RF 1404: The Spirit of Memphis Quartet ­ When Motherıs Gone (1949-58)
RF 1405: The Dixie Hummingbirds ­ In the Storm Too Long (1939-49)
RF 1406: The Southern Sons ­ When They Ring Them Golden Bells (1941-44)
RF 1407: The Charioteers ­ Jesus is a Rock in the Weary Land (early Œ40s)

Still available: 180 different R&B, Blues, Doo Wop, Gospel and Jazz LPs with vintage recordings on the following labels: Route 66/Mr R&B/Stockholm/Blues Boy/Crown Prince/Saxophonograph/Jukebox Lil/Whiskey Women And.../Dr Horse/Earth Angel/Gospel Jubilee/Clanka Lanka/Jazz Information Records. Send 2 US $ (or Euro) for catalogue with complete track-listing.

Full info about prices and conditions from:

Jonas Bernholm
Blekingegatan 25
118 56 Stockholm ­ Sweden

jonas.bernholm@chello.se



GOSPEL FRIEND RECORDS ­ a division of Mr R&B Records

NEWSLETTER - July 2004

Gospel Friend was there!
On October 1st 2003, there was a tribute concert to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, "Shout, Sister, Shout" at the Bottom Line Club in Greenwich Village in New York City. When I heard the rumour of this coming event, I immediately booked a flight ticket to the Big Apple. To be honest, I was a little nervous, because I had not been in the US since 1967, then exploring the live blues scene in Chicago. But everything went more than well, and I was treated to a tremendous concert by some of the living legends of black American gospel music. On the programme were the Dixie Hummingbirds, The Holmes Brothers, Maria Muldaur, Odetta and, last but not least, Marie Knight, who, at 85, gave a powerful and heartfelt performance, that the audience loved.

I also had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing gospel expert Anthony Heilbut, author of the pioneering work, "The Gospel Sound ­ Good News and Bad Times". He was a great host and brought me in contact with some real gospel people of the old school, among them Willa Ward, Clara Wardıs older sister, whose captivating autobiography, "How I Got Over" (together with Toni Rose) about Clara Ward and the World Famous Ward Singers I had recently read. 

Getting in personal contact with these great gospel singers, has been a prerequisite for me to be able to continue my endeavour to present and revive their wonderful music through Gospel Friend Records for the CD generation.

Per Notini,
Producer for Gospel Friend



Voices from the History of Rock


"Really gospel is what got me over, especially after I went to prison." (James Brown)

"All of my inspiration comes from above ­ I owe everything to gospel music." (Al Green)

"I like gospel. By the way, I started to be a gospel singer, not a blues singer." (B.B. King)

"What makes gospel so dearly endearing to me is that you have to live what you preach." (Little Richard)

"It more or less puts your mind at ease. It does mine." (Elvis Presley)