ENROLLED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 233
BY REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Lighthouse Gospel Singers of Baton Rouge upon the seventieth
anniversary of the formation of their traditional quartet gospel singing group.
WHEREAS, the legendary Lighthouse Gospel Singers were organized in 1948;
oldest brother John "Jay" Wright and his group, the Lighthouse Seniors, oversaw the
formation of the Lighthouse Juniors, the first generation of Lighthouse Gospel Singers; this
first group was composed of siblings Perry Wright, Jr., Levie Wright, and Sterling Wright,
and cousin Helen Wright; when the first generation grew to adulthood and parenthood, they
trained and groomed their sons to carry on their legacy, forming a perpetual lineage of
singers and musicians to continue the heritage and traditions of the unique musical stylings
of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers; the Lighthouse enterprise has historically fielded two
generational groups, Lighthouse Juniors and Lighthouse Seniors; and
WHEREAS, the first iteration of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers, known at the time
as the Lighthouse Juniors, built their regional claim to fame by traveling from their home
base of Wilson, Louisiana, to sing at churches in Baton Rouge and beyond; under the
Christian guidance of their parents, the Reverend Perry Wright, Sr., and traditional gospel
songbird Daisy Hills Wright, the Lighthouse Juniors ministered musically in black robes
made by Sister Wright and matching black tennis shoes; and
WHEREAS, through the years, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers have been blessed
with extraordinary managers who have sown spiritually into the vocalists and musicians in
the group to reap a harvest of souls for the Lord of Whom their music testifies;
William Jackson, the Reverend Jeffery Spears, Willie Jackson, John Robertson, who also
Page 1 of 3 HR NO. 233 ENROLLED
was a lead singer, and Sam Milligan led the group to different cities and states, promoted
gospel concerts, and collaborated with national gospel artists, all to the glory of God; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers recorded their first double
45RPM that featured "I'm On My Journey Now" and "There's A Man"; they followed their
initial release with the singles, "Nobody Knows" and "Two Wings"; from the mid 1970s to
the early 2000s, the discography of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers increased to include LP
albums and, as recording media evolved, CDs; the 1981 album, "Let Jesus Have Control"
featured "I'll Rise Again", written by lead singer the Reverend Perry Wright, Jr., who is the
pastor of Promised Land Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; after the song was converted to
compact disc media format, "I'll Rise Again" became a national hit that is still played on
gospel music stations around the country and has been the opening song for the Lighthouse
Gospel Singers radio program on Heaven 1460 AM WXOK every Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
for more than twenty years; the radio program of the Lighthouse Gospel Singers has been
on air for fifty-one years; and
WHEREAS, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers have lifted the Name of Jesus with
famous gospel music headliners Brother Clarence Fountain and The Five Blind Boys of
Alabama, Spencer Taylor and the Highway QC's, Shirley Caesar, The Truthettes, Slim and
the Supreme Angels, Doc McKenzie and the Gospel Hi-Lites, Willie Neal Johnson and the
Gospel Keynotes, and Willie Banks and The Messengers; and
WHEREAS, the addition, in 2016, of the Reverend Gerard A. Robinson, Sr., pastor
of McKowen Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, as business manager led to the
group's first live CD/DVD recording, "Through It All", on the Ecko Record label of
Memphis, Tennessee; a second recording is scheduled for the summer of 2018; and
WHEREAS, the legendary Lighthouse Gospel Singers have gained prominence in
the United States as one of the longest living premier traditional quartet gospel groups, and
it is fitting, upon the October 2018 celebration of their seventieth anniversary, to pay tribute
to the seven productive decades of musical labor they have performed in the vineyard of
their Lord.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Lighthouse Gospel Singers upon the
Page 2 of 3 HR NO. 233 ENROLLED
celebration of their seventieth anniversary and does hereby offer best hopes and prayers that
their sweet music will continue to bring souls to Christ.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Lighthouse Gospel Singers.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 3 of 3