In the 1940s and `50s, the black gospel circuit provided a living for a number of male a cappella groups, whose soulful sounds reverberated throughout churches, school auditoriums and other venues in the black community. One of these groups was the highly acclaimed Pilgrim Travelers, who achieved major success on the gospel scene during those decades despite a frequently shifting lineup.
One such personnel change occurred in 1957, when the Travelers` two lead singers tired of the rigors of life on the road and tenor-manager J.W. Alexander had to come up with a pair of replacements. One of them was a young Chicago singer named Lou Rawls, who today is far better known for his secular soul and pop hits. As with countless other soul singers, however, Rawls` roots are planted firmly in gospel music, and his work with the Pilgrim Travelers reflected a passion that he would later bring to his secular career. ”Stand Up & Testify!” reprises some of Rawls` and the Travelers` most stirring traditional spirituals and gospel quartet standards, including ”Jesus Met the Woman at the Well” and ”Motherless Child,” along with ”Why,” a secular attempt at pop success (which eluded them). The album is of interest both for its spirited old-time gospel and as yet another reminder of soul music`s debt to the church.
