Dorothy Love Coates - Gospel Singer
Dorothy was the daughter of Lillar McGriff. She was raised in Birmingham, Alabama and had a hard early childhood. Her father, a Minister, left the family when she was six and subsequently divorced her mother. She quit school to work in Birmingham in the 1940's, scrubbing floors and working behind the counter in laundries and dry cleaners. She began playing piano in the Evergreen Baptist Church at age 10, then joined her sisters and brother in the McGriff Singers, who had a weekly live radio broadcast on WJLD and the Royal Travelers.
She joined the Gospel Harmonettes (later renamed the Original Gospel Harmonettes) in 1949. Along with Coates, the group featured piano player, Evelyn Starks, and featuring Mildred Madison Miller, lead singer and mezzo soprano who's down-home sound came to be a symbol of the group, Odessa Edwards, an alto whose sermonettes created fervor at performances, Vera Conner Kolb, the soprano whose high notes were imitated by other sopranos including Marion Williams and Willie Mae Thomas Newberry Garth, the deep-throated alto. Dorothy had a "raggedy" voice and preacher's fire and could out-sing most of the male hard gospel singers of the era. They had a regular half-hour radio show sponsored by A.G. Gaston, a local businessman and community leader. The group appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program in 1949. They made their first recording, including "In the Upper Room" and "Move on Up a little Higher", for RCA in 1949 without Dorothy. They recorded their first sides for Specialty Records, "I'm Sealed" and "Get Away Jordan" in 1951. They recorded for Andex in 1958 and Vee-Jay Records. The group disbanded in 1958 and Dorothy retired from 1959 until 1961.
A prolific composer, among her signature songs are composer, writing songs such as "You Can't Hurry God (He's Right On Time)", "99 and a Half Won't Do", "Holding On (And I Won't Let Go My Faith)" and "That's Enough".
She became active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. She reformed the Harmonettes in 1961 with her younger sister, Lillian McGriff, Willie Mae Garth, Mildred Howard and Cleo Kennedy. They recorded the "The Handwriting On The Wall" lp for Okeh Records in 1967. She then was under contract with Nashboro Records from 1968 until 1974. She started the Dorothy Love Coates Singers and signed with Savoy Records from 1978 until 1980. After 1980, she made occasional appearances but did not record again. She appeared in the films "The Long Walk Home" (1990) and "Beloved"(1998).
She was married to Willie Love (1925-1991), a member of The Fairfield Four on September 9, 1944, they divorced shortly thereafter. She was married to Carl Coates, a member of the Sensational Nightingales on September 24, 1959.
Survivors Included:
2 Daughters: Cassandra Madison and Carletta Criss.
CAUSE OF DEATH: HEART DISEASE
Dorothy was the daughter of Lillar McGriff. She was raised in Birmingham, Alabama and had a hard early childhood. Her father, a Minister, left the family when she was six and subsequently divorced her mother. She quit school to work in Birmingham in the 1940's, scrubbing floors and working behind the counter in laundries and dry cleaners. She began playing piano in the Evergreen Baptist Church at age 10, then joined her sisters and brother in the McGriff Singers, who had a weekly live radio broadcast on WJLD and the Royal Travelers.
She joined the Gospel Harmonettes (later renamed the Original Gospel Harmonettes) in 1949. Along with Coates, the group featured piano player, Evelyn Starks, and featuring Mildred Madison Miller, lead singer and mezzo soprano who's down-home sound came to be a symbol of the group, Odessa Edwards, an alto whose sermonettes created fervor at performances, Vera Conner Kolb, the soprano whose high notes were imitated by other sopranos including Marion Williams and Willie Mae Thomas Newberry Garth, the deep-throated alto. Dorothy had a "raggedy" voice and preacher's fire and could out-sing most of the male hard gospel singers of the era. They had a regular half-hour radio show sponsored by A.G. Gaston, a local businessman and community leader. The group appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program in 1949. They made their first recording, including "In the Upper Room" and "Move on Up a little Higher", for RCA in 1949 without Dorothy. They recorded their first sides for Specialty Records, "I'm Sealed" and "Get Away Jordan" in 1951. They recorded for Andex in 1958 and Vee-Jay Records. The group disbanded in 1958 and Dorothy retired from 1959 until 1961.
A prolific composer, among her signature songs are composer, writing songs such as "You Can't Hurry God (He's Right On Time)", "99 and a Half Won't Do", "Holding On (And I Won't Let Go My Faith)" and "That's Enough".
She became active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. She reformed the Harmonettes in 1961 with her younger sister, Lillian McGriff, Willie Mae Garth, Mildred Howard and Cleo Kennedy. They recorded the "The Handwriting On The Wall" lp for Okeh Records in 1967. She then was under contract with Nashboro Records from 1968 until 1974. She started the Dorothy Love Coates Singers and signed with Savoy Records from 1978 until 1980. After 1980, she made occasional appearances but did not record again. She appeared in the films "The Long Walk Home" (1990) and "Beloved"(1998).
She was married to Willie Love (1925-1991), a member of The Fairfield Four on September 9, 1944, they divorced shortly thereafter. She was married to Carl Coates, a member of the Sensational Nightingales on September 24, 1959.
Survivors Included:
2 Daughters: Cassandra Madison and Carletta Criss.
CAUSE OF DEATH: HEART DISEASE
Dorothy Love Coates - Gospel Singer
Dorothy was the daughter of Lillar McGriff. She was raised in Birmingham, Alabama and had a hard early childhood. Her father, a Minister, left the family when she was six and subsequently divorced her mother. She quit school to work in Birmingham in the 1940's, scrubbing floors and working behind the counter in laundries and dry cleaners. She began playing piano in the Evergreen Baptist Church at age 10, then joined her sisters and brother in the McGriff Singers, who had a weekly live radio broadcast on WJLD and the Royal Travelers.
She joined the Gospel Harmonettes (later renamed the Original Gospel Harmonettes) in 1949. Along with Coates, the group featured piano player, Evelyn Starks, and featuring Mildred Madison Miller, lead singer and mezzo soprano who's down-home sound came to be a symbol of the group, Odessa Edwards, an alto whose sermonettes created fervor at performances, Vera Conner Kolb, the soprano whose high notes were imitated by other sopranos including Marion Williams and Willie Mae Thomas Newberry Garth, the deep-throated alto. Dorothy had a "raggedy" voice and preacher's fire and could out-sing most of the male hard gospel singers of the era. They had a regular half-hour radio show sponsored by A.G. Gaston, a local businessman and community leader. The group appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program in 1949. They made their first recording, including "In the Upper Room" and "Move on Up a little Higher", for RCA in 1949 without Dorothy. They recorded their first sides for Specialty Records, "I'm Sealed" and "Get Away Jordan" in 1951. They recorded for Andex in 1958 and Vee-Jay Records. The group disbanded in 1958 and Dorothy retired from 1959 until 1961.
A prolific composer, among her signature songs are composer, writing songs such as "You Can't Hurry God (He's Right On Time)", "99 and a Half Won't Do", "Holding On (And I Won't Let Go My Faith)" and "That's Enough".
She became active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. She reformed the Harmonettes in 1961 with her younger sister, Lillian McGriff, Willie Mae Garth, Mildred Howard and Cleo Kennedy. They recorded the "The Handwriting On The Wall" lp for Okeh Records in 1967. She then was under contract with Nashboro Records from 1968 until 1974. She started the Dorothy Love Coates Singers and signed with Savoy Records from 1978 until 1980. After 1980, she made occasional appearances but did not record again. She appeared in the films "The Long Walk Home" (1990) and "Beloved"(1998).
She was married to Willie Love (1925-1991), a member of The Fairfield Four on September 9, 1944, they divorced shortly thereafter. She was married to Carl Coates, a member of the Sensational Nightingales on September 24, 1959.
Survivors Included:
2 Daughters: Cassandra Madison and Carletta Criss.
CAUSE OF DEATH: HEART DISEASE
Dorothy was the daughter of Lillar McGriff. She was raised in Birmingham, Alabama and had a hard early childhood. Her father, a Minister, left the family when she was six and subsequently divorced her mother. She quit school to work in Birmingham in the 1940's, scrubbing floors and working behind the counter in laundries and dry cleaners. She began playing piano in the Evergreen Baptist Church at age 10, then joined her sisters and brother in the McGriff Singers, who had a weekly live radio broadcast on WJLD and the Royal Travelers.
She joined the Gospel Harmonettes (later renamed the Original Gospel Harmonettes) in 1949. Along with Coates, the group featured piano player, Evelyn Starks, and featuring Mildred Madison Miller, lead singer and mezzo soprano who's down-home sound came to be a symbol of the group, Odessa Edwards, an alto whose sermonettes created fervor at performances, Vera Conner Kolb, the soprano whose high notes were imitated by other sopranos including Marion Williams and Willie Mae Thomas Newberry Garth, the deep-throated alto. Dorothy had a "raggedy" voice and preacher's fire and could out-sing most of the male hard gospel singers of the era. They had a regular half-hour radio show sponsored by A.G. Gaston, a local businessman and community leader. The group appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program in 1949. They made their first recording, including "In the Upper Room" and "Move on Up a little Higher", for RCA in 1949 without Dorothy. They recorded their first sides for Specialty Records, "I'm Sealed" and "Get Away Jordan" in 1951. They recorded for Andex in 1958 and Vee-Jay Records. The group disbanded in 1958 and Dorothy retired from 1959 until 1961.
A prolific composer, among her signature songs are composer, writing songs such as "You Can't Hurry God (He's Right On Time)", "99 and a Half Won't Do", "Holding On (And I Won't Let Go My Faith)" and "That's Enough".
She became active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. She reformed the Harmonettes in 1961 with her younger sister, Lillian McGriff, Willie Mae Garth, Mildred Howard and Cleo Kennedy. They recorded the "The Handwriting On The Wall" lp for Okeh Records in 1967. She then was under contract with Nashboro Records from 1968 until 1974. She started the Dorothy Love Coates Singers and signed with Savoy Records from 1978 until 1980. After 1980, she made occasional appearances but did not record again. She appeared in the films "The Long Walk Home" (1990) and "Beloved"(1998).
She was married to Willie Love (1925-1991), a member of The Fairfield Four on September 9, 1944, they divorced shortly thereafter. She was married to Carl Coates, a member of the Sensational Nightingales on September 24, 1959.
Survivors Included:
2 Daughters: Cassandra Madison and Carletta Criss.
CAUSE OF DEATH: HEART DISEASE
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
