Return To NuthinButGospel.com
1 | 2

THE CANTON SPIRITUALS
Driven is an equally balanced CD also delivering strong ballads such as "These Eyes" and "Peace." Gorgeously descriptive and moving, "These Eyes" is rife with emotional vocals from Watkins, who communicates the joyous prospect of eternal life and the heart-stirring and passionate prayer of "Peace" calls on the power of Jesus to calm everyday storms.

The Canton Spirituals were founded in the early 1940's by Warren G. Ward and two brothers, Reverend I.S. Watkins and the late Harvey Watkins Sr. of Canton, MS. Creating what would eventually become one of the top Quartets of all time, the original group also included band members Eddie Jackson, Theo Thompson and Roscoe Lucious. First appearing as a local act in and around their hometown of Canton, the group's trademark bluesy soulful sound began to spread throughout the state of Mississippi and The Canton Spirituals grew in popularity. From there, they cut almost 20 independent & small-label albums over the years before the 1993 mainstream album and video release "Live In Memphis," on Blackberry Records. Putting the Cantons on the map "Live In Memphis," also garnered the group their first Grammy nomination and the first of several Stellar Awards.

In July 1994, Watkins Sr. received a "Legend Award" at the Mississippi Gospel Music Awards prior to his passing of cancer on November 16, 1994. He was, at the time, the last original member of the Canton Spirituals. Later that year the city of Canton posthumously re-named Second Street, Harvey Watkins Sr. Street and that honor still remains to this day.

The group continued to record despite the loss of Watkins Sr. and in the late 90's was recognized with several accolades and awards, receiving two 1997 Stellar Awards for Group/Duo of the Year &Traditional Group/Duo of the Year and in 1998 The Cantons were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

After gaining national acclaim from "Live in Memphis" The Canton Spirituals went on to sign with Verity Records, Gospel music's biggest label with national distribution. Their first project on the major label was "The Live Experience 1999 – Live In Jackson." On the night of the live recording the group was prestigiously honored by the Mississippi State Senate, who passed State Resolution 533, commending The Canton Spirituals for their historic live recording and their overall accomplishments in Gospel. That album debuted at Number 4 on Billboard's Top Gospel Chart, and its success solidified The Canton Spirituals place in history.

Watkins Jr. & The Canton Spirituals have subsequently released two noteworthy albums "Walking By Faith," which earned them their second Grammy nomination in 2003, and the 2004 release of Watkins' solo effort "New Life: Live in Harvey IL."

Much more than just a title, Driven, has become somewhat of a mantra for Watkins. "We are here to spread the good news of Christ and lift up the name of Jesus," Watkins said. "We sang for 25 years for almost nothing and HE blessed us so much now that we're going to sing until we can't." Watkins continued saying, "my daddy left this in my hands and it is more than just an assignment ... this is our inheritance and it is why I keep going and it is what drives us ... I am Driven to keep it alive."