James Phelps RIP

Born in Louisiana, Phelps moved to Chicago in 1960 and began singing in a number of gospel groups, ending up in the legendary Soul Stirrers, who also included Sam Cooke. Phelps sang with Cooke on the group's 1964 hit, "Lead Me to the Calvary."

He was on tour with the group in December of that year when he heard about Cooke's death (Sam was touring separately as a solo act). "We talked to him that same night," Phelps told SoulCellar.co.uk in 2002. "Our bus had broken down in Atlanta, Georgia. We called Sam and told him we needed some money because we were on our way to Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. Sam said 'I'll get back to you guys first thing in the morning.' We found out about his death next day through the radio." - more on this story

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