HLS 18RS-4489 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 233
BY REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN
COMMENDATIONS: Commends the traditional quartet gospel group the Lighthouse
Gospel Singers on their seventieth anniversary
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend the Lighthouse Gospel Singers of Baton Rouge upon the seventieth
3 anniversary of the formation of their traditional quartet gospel singing group.
4 WHEREAS, the legendary Lighthouse Gospel Singers were organized in 1948;
5oldest brother John "Jay" Wright and his group, the Lighthouse Seniors, oversaw the
6formation of the Lighthouse Juniors, the first generation of Lighthouse Gospel Singers; this
7first group was composed of siblings Perry Wright, Jr., Levie Wright, and Sterling Wright,
8and cousin Helen Wright; when the first generation grew to adulthood and parenthood, they
9trained and groomed their sons to carry on their legacy, forming a perpetual lineage of
10singers and musicians to continue the heritage and traditions of the unique musical stylings
11of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers; the Lighthouse enterprise has historically fielded two
12generational groups, Lighthouse Juniors and Lighthouse Seniors; and
13 WHEREAS, the first iteration of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers, known at the time
14as the Lighthouse Juniors, built their regional claim to fame by traveling from their home
15base of Wilson, Louisiana, to sing at churches in Baton Rouge and beyond; under the
16Christian guidance of their parents, the Reverend Perry Wright, Sr., and traditional gospel
17songbird Daisy Hills Wright, the Lighthouse Juniors ministered musically in black robes
18made by Sister Wright and matching black tennis shoes; and
19 WHEREAS, through the years, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers have been blessed
20with extraordinary managers who have sown spiritually into the vocalists and musicians in
21the group to reap a harvest of souls for the Lord of Whom their music testifies;
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HR NO. 233
1William Jackson, the Reverend Jeffery Spears, Willie Jackson, John Robertson, who also
2was a lead singer, and Sam Milligan led the group to different cities and states, promoted
3gospel concerts, and collaborated with national gospel artists, all to the glory of God; and
4 WHEREAS, in 1971, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers recorded their first double
545RPM that featured "I'm On My Journey Now" and "There's A Man"; they followed their
6initial release with the singles, "Nobody Knows" and "Two Wings"; from the mid 1970s to
7the early 2000s, the discography of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers increased to include LP
8albums and, as recording media evolved, CDs; the 1981 album, "Let Jesus Have Control"
9featured "I'll Rise Again", written by lead singer the Reverend Perry Wright, Jr., who is the
10pastor of Promised Land Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; after the song was converted to
11compact disc media format, "I'll Rise Again" became a national hit that is still played on
12gospel music stations around the country and has been the opening song for the Lighthouse
13Gospel Singers radio program on Heaven 1460 AM WXOK every Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
14for more than twenty years; the radio program of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers has been
15on air for fifty-one years; and
16 WHEREAS, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers have lifted the Name of Jesus with
17famous gospel music headliners Brother Clarence Fountain and The Five Blind Boys of
18Alabama, Spencer Taylor and the Highway QC's, Shirley Caesar, The Truthettes, Slim and
19the Supreme Angels, Doc McKenzie and the Gospel Hi-Lites, Willie Neal Johnson and the
20Gospel Keynotes, and Willie Banks and The Messengers; and
21 WHEREAS, the addition, in 2016, of the Reverend Gerard A. Robinson, Sr., pastor
22of McKowen Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, as business manager led to the
23group's first live CD/DVD recording, "Through It All", on the Ecko Record label of
24Memphis, Tennessee; a second recording is scheduled for the summer of 2018; and
25 WHEREAS, the legendary Lighthouse Gospel Singers have gained prominence in
26the United States as one of the longest living premier traditional quartet gospel groups, and
27it is fitting, upon the October 2018 celebration of their seventieth anniversary, to pay tribute
28to the seven productive decades of musical labor they have performed in the vineyard of
29their Lord.
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HR NO. 233
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
2Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Lighthouse Gospel Singers upon the
3celebration of their seventieth anniversary and does hereby offer best hopes and prayers that
4their sweet music will continue to bring souls to Christ.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
6to the Lighthouse Gospel Singers.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 233 Original 2018 Regular Session Jordan
Commends traditional quartet gospel group the Lighthouse Gospel Singers of Baton Rouge
on their 70th anniversary.
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