GRIFFIN, BESSIE (née ARLETTE B. BROIL). Gospel singer ( in New Orleans, Louisiana). As a child she sang in church choirs. Her early style development was influenced by
Mahalia Jackson
, to whose recordings she listened, and throughout her career her voice was compared to Mahalia's. Her first professional experience was with the
Southern Harps Spiritual Singers
(c1941-51), a female gospel quartet, which also included
Alberta Johnson
and
(Baby Helen
) Linda Hopkins...
GRIFFIN, BESSIE
(*1927)> GOSPEL SINGER