The Barrett Sisters were an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

trio from

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. The trio consisted of sisters DeLois Barrett Campbell (1926–2011), Billie Barrett GreenBey (1928–2020), and Rodessa Barrett Porter (1930–2024). They sang together for more than 40 years.

History

The Barrett Sisters grew up in Chicago, Illinois. DeLois was born in Chicago in 1926 to Susie (Williams) Barrett and Deacon Lonnie Barrett, a staunch

Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

from

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

. DeLois and sisters Billie GreenBey and Rodessa Porter spent a good deal of their childhood singing around the house and in the choir of The Morning Star Baptist Church at 3991 South Park Boulevard on Chicago's South Side. They had seven

siblings A sibling is a relative that shares at least one parent with the other person. A male sibling is a brother, and a female sibling is a sister. A person with no siblings is an only child. While some circumstances can cause siblings to be raised ...

, four of whom died in childhood of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. In 1936, under the direction of an aunt, choir director Mattie Dacus, the trio teamed up with a cousin named Johnnie Mae Hudson and sang local engagements billed as The Barrett and Hudson Singers. When Johnnie Mae died in 1950, Rodessa replaced her, and the group was renamed The Barrett Sisters.Opal Louis Nations, "The Barrett Sisters," 1996. http://opalnations.com/files/Barrett_Sisters.pdf While still a senior at Englewood High School, DeLois was recruited by

The Roberta Martin Singers The Roberta Martin Singers were an American gospel group based in the United States. History Founding The group was founded in 1933 by Roberta Martin, who in that same year had just become acquainted with gospels music, which was different fr ...

, a seminal group from the Pilgrim Baptist Church that was known for its stellar roster of lead male voices, notably Robert Anderson and Norsalus McKissick. She toured and sang with the troupe until the early 1960s, when Ms. Martin encouraged her to begin an independent recording career in a trio with her sisters and as a solo artist. In the mid-1960s, the sisters recorded their first album on

Savoy Records Savoy Records is an American record company and label established by Herman Lubinsky in 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. Savoy specialized in jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. In September 2017, Savoy was acquired by Concord Bicycle Music. ...

, "Jesus Loves Me", on which they recorded Sam Cooke's "Wonderful". They followed with "I'll Fly Away" and "Carry Me Back", where they were joined with Roberta Martin on "I Hear God". Ms. Martin sang lead on the title track. In the 1970s they recorded two albums for Nashboro's subsidiary label Creed: "God So Loved The World" and "Coming Again So Soon". Ms. Campbell followed with a solo album also on Creed called "Through It All". They have recorded more than eleven albums in all. Over their career, The Barrett Sisters have toured internationally over thirty times. The Barrett Sisters have performed at countless churches and in many respected concert halls, including the Lincoln Center in NYC, Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and Theatre-DeVille in Paris, France. The Barrett Sisters represented the United States in Africa, as Goodwill Ambassadors of 1983, and in the South Pacific for six weeks in 1987. They have also performed for several notable leaders including the King of Sweden and the President of

Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...

. The Barrett Sisters are associated with numerous celebrities and big names in entertainment including the late Queen of Gospel

Albertina Walker Albertina Walker ( – ) was an American gospel singer, songwriter and humanitarian. Early years Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ruben and Camilla Coleman Walker. Her mother was born in Houston County, Georgia, and her father ...

Dorothy Love Coates Dorothy Love Coates ( McGriff; January 30, 1928 – April 9, 2002) was an American gospel singer, composer and songwritter, and a civil rights activist. Family Dorothy McGriff was born on January 30, 1928 at Birmingham, Alabama, as one of s ...

Thomas A. Dorsey Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and Christian evangelist influential in the development of early blues and 20th-century gospel music. He penned 3,000 songs, a third of them gospel, in ...

(National Singers Convention), Rev. James Cleveland,

Andraé Crouch Andraé Edward Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as "the father of modern gospel music" by contemporary Christian and gospel music profess ...

The Mighty Clouds of Joy The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. Career The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles as a tradition-based style group. It wasn't until 1961 as the group became famous, they added bass, ...

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (Birth name, née Caesar; born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American Gospel music, gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Thro ...

The Clark Sisters The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group originally consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm (born 1948), Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford (born 1953), Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark (born 1954), Dorinda Clark-Cole (born 1957), ...

The Winans The Winans are an American gospel quartet from Detroit, Michigan, consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans. Members ''Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.'' About: Origins ...

Willie Mae Ford Smith Willie Mae Ford Smith (June 23, 1904 – February 2, 1994) was an American musician and Christian evangelist instrumental in the development and spread of gospel music in the United States. She grew up singing with her family, joining a quartet ...

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, producer, and talk show host. Having received List of awards and nominations received by Jennifer Hudson, numerous accolades for ...

, and

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godmother of Soul". LaBelle began ...

Radio, television, and film

The Barrett Sisters made their first appearance on radio and television in the 1960s. They have appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Bobby Jones Show," "Living the Dream", a television tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, PBS special "Going Home to Gospel with Patti LaBelle", along with Gospel Queen

, and the "PTL Club". They appeared on TV Gospel Time and have been featured several times on the locally produced Emmy Award-winning "Jubilee Showcase". They have appeared on

The Stellar Awards A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.Sagma
The Stel ...

, which included accepting 2009 Walgreens' Ambassador Bobby Jones Legend Award. The Barrett Sisters are featured in the Gaither Gospel Series videos "Rivers of Joy"(1998) and "Build A Bridge" (2004), which was filmed at The Potter's House in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

. In 1982, the Barrett Sisters were featured in the critically acclaimed documentary "

Say Amen, Somebody ''Say Amen, Somebody'' is a 1982 American documentary film directed by George Nierenberg about the history and significance of gospel music as told through the lives and trials of its singers. Included are Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the "Father ...

," which features

Sallie Martin Sallie Martin (November 20, 1895 – June 18, 1988) was an American gospel singer referred to as the "Mother of Gospel" for her efforts to popularize the songs of Thomas A. Dorsey and her influence on other artists. Biography Martin was born i ...

, Thomas A. Dorsey, The O'Neal Twins, and Zella Jackson Price.

New Yorker New Yorker may refer to: * A resident of New York: ** A resident of New York City and its suburbs *** List of people from New York City ** A resident of the New York (state), State of New York *** Demographics of New York (state) * ''The New Yor ...

film critic

Pauline Kael Pauline Kael (; June 19, 1919 – September 3, 2001) was an American film critic who wrote for ''The New Yorker'' from 1968 to 1991. Known for her "witty, biting, highly opinionated and sharply focused" reviews, Kael often defied the conse ...

wrote that The Barrett Sisters "bring the film to an emotional pitch, and we in the audience want to go on soaring...." They were also featured on the soundtrack. They are featured in the 2010 concert film "The Barrett Sisters in Concert", as well as the 2013 documentary,
The Sweet Sisters of Zion: Delois Barrett Campbell & The Barrett Sisters
, both of which were produced and directed by Regina Rene.

List of screening festivals for Sweet Sisters of Zion

* 2013 Chicago Blues Festival – World Premiere * 2013 Chicago Gospel Fest * 2014 CIMM Festival

Members

DeLois Barrett Campbell

The eldest Barrett sister, DeLois Barrett Campbell (March 12, 1926 – August 2, 2011), began her career as the lead singer of the world-famous Roberta Martin Singers while still in high school in the 1940s. As a member of The Roberta Martin Singers, DeLois traveled around the United States and the world singing for the Lord, but she soon placed her career on hold to start her family. DeLois became a mother and a pastor's wife. She later returned to singing and continued until 2009, when medical problems deprived her of her singing voice.

Billie Barrett GreenBey and Rodessa Barrett Porter

Meanwhile, Billie Barrett GreenBey and Rodessa Barrett Porter became wives and mothers. Billie had become a soloist, and Rodessa had become a songwriter and choir director in

Gary, Indiana Gary ( ) is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 69,093 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it Indiana's List of municipalities in Indiana, eleventh-most populous city. The city has been historical ...

. Billie Barrett-GreenBey was born on August 28, 1928, and died on February 28, 2020. Rodessa (December 15, 1930 – December 16, 2024) was the last living sister after the deaths of DeLois in 2011 and Billie in 2020. DeLois had her last annual birthday concert celebration at First Church of Deliverance in Chicago, that included performances with her sisters Billie and Rodessa. She had been wheelchair bound for years, had battled arthritis and other health issues, and lost her voice in late 2009, but she was still present during some of the concerts with a microphone in her. Rodessa died on December 16, 2024, a day after her 94th birthday.

Tina Brown

Tina Brown met DeLois Barrett Campbell in 1999, the same year she formed her own group, Tina Brown Voices. When DeLois' health prevented her from performing, Tina was asked to stand in for her, and sing her parts in the group.The Gospel Messengers
Willyleiseriba.ch. Retrieved on August 13, 2015.

Awards and accolades

source: * World's greatest female trio in gospel history * American goodwill ambassadors during the 1980s * "The Barrett Sisters" is engraved on the Stellar Awards * Brought gospel music to nations on nearly every continent.

Discography

Albums

;Studio albums *''Jesus Loves Me'' (1963) *''I'll Fly Away'' (1965) *''Carry Me Back'' (1966) *''Coming Again So Soon'' (1973) *''God So Loved the World'' (1974) *''I've Got a Feeling'' (1987) *''Live! Nobody Does It Better'' (1990) *''What Will You Do with Your Life'' (1990) *''Peacemaker'' (1991) *''Through It All'' (1994) *''What Shall I Render (Unto God)'' (1995) *''Best of Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters'' (1995) *''Best Of...'' (1996) *''What a Wonderful World'' (1998) *''He's Got the Whole World in His Hands'' (2002) *''He's So Wonderful'' (2011) ;Soundtracks *''Jesus Loves Me'' (1982)

Contributions to Compilations

*''Precious Lord: Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey'' (1973) *''Live in Concert With... vol 2.'' (1977) *''Chicago Gospel Pioneers'' (1987) *''The Soul of Chicago'' (1993) *''The Best of the Roberta Martin Singers'' (2001) *''Living Gospel'' (2002) *''Gospel Pioneers 2'' (2007)

References

External links

The Barrett Sisters YouTube Channel

The Barrett Sisters Home
(bad link)
Gospel-singing sisters still on a high note

Health issues won’t stop Barrett Sisters Concert Singers known for harmonizing blend secular, sacred repertoire

The Black Gospel Music Restoration Project (Baylor/Smithsonian)
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett Sisters American gospel singers Sibling musical trios Musical groups from Chicago Black & Blue Records artists Englewood Technical Prep Academy alumni