As he celebrates the landmark anniversary of sixty years of preaching (he began at the age of six) this year, legendary preacher Jasper Williams Jr. (known for two dozen best-selling sermon LPs and a handful of music projects since the 1960s) has recorded a landmark CD in many ways.
Aside from its title being Landmark, the CD marks Williams’ first musical CD in 20 years and the first release under his reactivated Church Door Records label. The project debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album sales chart making it the highest debut in Williams’ long and historic career.
The CD is also distinguished by its authentic old school gospel flavor that freshens such church standards as “Old Landmark,” “Born Again” and the dramatic ballad, “Calvary.” Backed by his Atlanta –based Salem Bible Church Choir, Williams raspy tenor is in a league alongside blues great B.B. King and Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The a capella radio single “Down Through the Years” is one of the Top 40 most played songs on gospel radio today and building momentum. “Every time I normally preach, I hit that song and everywhere I go people cling to it,” Williams smiles. “When I sing it, they grab it.”
Music critics are beginning to grab it as well:
“Williams brings it on this CD,” The Charlotte Post.
“He’s a dynamic singer. A leather-lunged low tenor, he invests his songs with chilling back-of-the-throat squalls, leaps of register, and occasional Sam Cooke-like yodels.” Living Blues Magazine.
“Landmark is a delightful project to hear and to watch, truly pleasurable, a reminder of how much good clean fun gospel music, and church can be,” The Black Gospel Blog.
Visit http://www.jasperwilliamsjr.com for more information.
