Violinaires

The Violinaires were an American gospel group founded in 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. They went under various pseudonyms including the Question Marks and the Fantastic Violinaires. One early member was Wilson Pickett, who was with the group between 1955-9: following the contemporary trend of groups that switched their style to the more profitable R&B, he left to join the Falcons, and for a time the Violinaires followed suit, although they reverted to gospel on signing to Chess in 1964. Between 1965 and 2001, they were led by Robert Blair: after his death, they disintegrated into various offshoots, all trading to some extent on the name.
AllMusic noted that "although they may not have reached the same stature or popularity within the gospel music industry as modern day quartets the Jackson Southernaires or the Canton Spirituals, the late Robert Blair along with his group, the Fantastic Violinaires, yet carried a strong and loyal fan base. Blair is best remembered for his gruff, preacher-like vocal delivery, a close match sound- and quality-wise to Mighty Clouds of Joy lead vocal king Joe Ligon" and mentioned "the piercing falsetto background vocals of the Violinaires." Peel listeners would have heard him play tracks from a couple of their LPs in the early 1970s, chiming with his enthusiasm at the time for anything related to soul, and Humble Pie covered Grooving With Jesus on their LP Thunderbox (1974). The track The Sound Of Christmas, which came from the "somewhat essential" Checker compilation A Christmas Dedication, also made occasional appearances in John's festive playlists.
== Festive Fifty Entries ==
*Noneright|335 px
== Sessions ==
*None
== Other Shows Played ==
*05 June 1973: 'All The Way (LP-The Upper Way)'
*19 June 1973: 'Nobody Knows (LP-Spirit And Soul)' (Jewel)
*26 June 1973: 'Condition (LP-Spirit And Soul)' (Jewel)
*03 July 1973: 'Precious Lord (LP-Spirit And Soul)' (Jewel)
*23 December 1975: The Sound Of Christmas (v/a album - A Christmas Dedication) Chess CRLS 4541
*20 December 1978: 'The Sound Of Christmas (Compilation LP-A Christmas Dedication)' (Checker)
*07 June 1989: Nobody Knows (album - Spirit And Soul) Jewel
*24 February 1999: 'Nobody Knows (LP-Spirit And Soul)' (Jewel)
*11 March 1999 (Radio Eins): My Father Is Gone (album - Spirit And Soul) Jewel
*08 December 1999: 'The Sound Of Christmas (Compilation LP-A Christmas Dedication)' (Checker)
== See Also ==
*Sounds
== External Links ==
*AllMusic
*Discogs
*Gospel Explosion
Category:Artists