Joe Ligon

The founder and lead vocalist of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Joe Ligon (born Willie Joe Ligon) helped bring gospel music up to modern standards. Under Ligon's leadership, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy changed the standard gospel lineup from a vocal quartet backed by a sole electric guitar to a full-fledged, R&B-influenced group complete with bass, drums, and keyboards. The resulting sound turned The Mighty Clouds Of Joy into the most commercially successful gospel group. Their song "Time" reached the top of the R&B charts in 1974, while their tune "Ride the Mighty High" became a major disco hit. Nominated for numerous Grammy awards, most recently for their 1993 album Power, the group received Grammys for their albums Live & Direct in 1978 and Changing Times the following year.



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