Uploaded August 2008 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Recorded 1947. Soloist : Roberta Martin
Vocal background includes"
Baritone - Eugene Smith
Tenor - Norsalus McKissick
2nd/Mezzo Soprano - Bessie Folk
1st Soprano - Delois Barrett
Piano: Roberta Martin
Recorded 1947. Soloist : Roberta Martin
Vocal background includes"
Baritone - Eugene Smith
Tenor - Norsalus McKissick
2nd/Mezzo Soprano - Bessie Folk
1st Soprano - Delois Barrett
Piano: Roberta Martin

![The Gospelaires - The Lifeboat is Coming
Recorded during her tenure as a member of the Gospelaires (James Cleveland, Norsalus McKissick), both of whose voices you can distinguish in the background.
In another era, she [Bessie] could have surpassed Aretha Franklin; she had the same portion of lyricism and drama.
~Anthony Heilbut, Ph.D., music producer, scholar and author of The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times. The Gospelaires - The Lifeboat is Coming](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kIZVJxI8R1U/mqdefault.jpg)








