Cleveland, James
(1932–1991)
Cleveland, James (December 5, 1932, Chicago, IL; February 9, 1991) James Cleveland was the son of Ben Cleveland, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) worker. He was educated in the Chicago area and first sang solo at the age of eight in the choir of the Pilgrim Baptist Church. There he was influenced by Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey, its choir director, who was known as the father of gospel music. Dorsey had recorded blues under the name of Georgia Tom , and later became one of the most…