Helen Stephens and The Lighthouse Singers - See the Glorious Light (Vinyl) DJ ROGERS
- 80's Contemporary-Christian & Contemporary Gospel.
- 1984Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
- Black Gospel
In 1965, she organized the ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_??Stephens Singers,‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_? and later organized the ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_??The Voices of Christ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_? of Berkeley, California in 1969 with 23 members, which later grew to include 92 members the following year. Additionally, in 1979, Stephens founded ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_??The Lighthouse Singers,‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_? an interdenominational community-based gospel choir in Marin County, California. Lady Stephens traveled nationally with the late Rev. James Cleveland, and is most notably known as the organizer and long-serving Chapter Representative of the Northern California Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), officially retiring in 2013.
TRACKS: *See The Glorious Light/Soloist: Christina Rosenbaum *The Lord Has Been Good To Me *He Loves You/Soloist: Chuck Tumminia *Breathe On Me *He Will Answer Prayer *Bluer Than Blue (Till I Found Him)/Soloists: Lynn Roe, Katheryn Stout *Just for Me/Soloist: Bill Bramblett *Thank You
Helen Stephens History
Helen J. H. Stephens began teaching atÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__<em "mso-bidi-font-style:="" normal"="">Family Light Music SchoolÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__in Sausalito around 1976. When it closed in 1977 Christina Rose, a member of the choir, invited Helen to continue directing the choir at her home in Mill Valley.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__ The choir performed at black churches as theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Tamalpais Gospel ChoirÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__beginning in 1978 with blue/white/burgundy piping choir robes designed by Christina Rose, approved by Helen, and sewn by another member.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
Another white gospel choir group formed and met in aÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__living room in San Rafael. This choir had grown out of theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__<em "mso-bidi-font-style:="" normal"="">Fairfax StreetÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__ChoirÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__and had chosen the nameÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__<em "mso-bidi-font-style:="" normal"="">Lighthouse SingersÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__after a number of them joined the white gospel class atÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Family Light Music SchoolÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__directed by Dennis Hogan. This group had lost their director, Richie Ray, who earlier had replaced Dennis Hogan. They now had no director.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
With members of both choirs previously attending theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Family Light Music School,Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__when theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse SingersÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__lost their director,Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Eva Lindholm of theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse SingersÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__and Christina Rose of theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Tamalpais Gospel ChoirÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__discussed options. Helen was invited to meet with theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse SingersÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__and ended up also directing this choir. It became obvious to both choirs that joining forces and rehearsing together would benefit everyone. Since theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse Singershad 12 members while theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Tamalpais Gospel ChoirÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__had only 8 members, the joint choir took on the name of theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse Singers of MarinÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__from the San Rafael group while they got the director, Helen J. H. Stephens, from theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Tamalpais Gospel Choir.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
Once Helen Stephens was sure that all the members could conform to the dress up codes and decorum of the black church, she then took the choir around to Bay Area black churches to sing at their services. Helen also insisted that the choir join herÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__NorCal Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA)Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__that was directed by Steven Roberts.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
Then in 1984, Helen took the choir to Atlanta to theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Gospel Music Workshop of AmericaÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__and thereby integrated the national organization (now international) causing a famous Holy Spirit sensation talked about for many years.Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__
Founding members of theÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__Lighthouse Singers of MarinÌ_åÇÌÎÌ__who are still singing with the choir, under the direction of Rev. Ulis Redic, Jr. are:Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Ì_åÇÌÎÌ__Christina Rose and Laurie Steese.