Elder Beck
Elder Charles Beck (ca. 1900–1972) was an American gospel musician and evangelist. A seminal figure in the formative years of modern African-American gospel music, he is responsible for an extensive recording discography, which included over 60 songs over the span of two decades. Beck's abilities as a pianist and trumpet player are praised as one of the best from the gospel genre. His work, both as an instrumentalist and live performer, however, was predominantly overshadowed by the career of Thomas A. Dorsey. Over time, nearly all of Beck's recordings have become more accessible through compilation albums. |
Birth and Death Data: Born 1900, Died 1972
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1939
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, piano, trumpet
Notes: Also listed as Elder Charles Beck, Elder Charlie Beck, and Charles Beck.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 26 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BS-038100 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Changes | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano, female vocal ensemble, and male vocal effects | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-038101 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Talk on talkers | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano and female vocal ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-038102 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | It is Thy servant's prayers | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano and female vocal ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-038295 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Gabriel | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with trumpet, piano, and female vocal ensemble | vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-038296 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | I've got heaven on my mind | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano and female vocal ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-038297 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Dry bones | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with trumpet, piano, and female vocal ensemble | vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
| Victor | BS-038298 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | You can't hurry God | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano and female vocal ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BS-038299 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | I'm goin' to walk right in and make myself at home | Elder Charles Beck and Congregation | Male vocal solo, with piano and female vocal ensemble | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404748 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | Memphis flu | Elder Curry and Congregation | Female vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404749 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | The good Lord has set me free | Elder Curry and Congregation | Sermon and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar, piano, and talk | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404750 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | Hard times | Elder Curry and Congregation | Sermon and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar, piano, and responses | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404751 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | The gospel ship | Elder Curry and Congregation | Sermon and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar, and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404752 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | John saw a number | Elder Curry and Congregation | Sermon and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar, and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404753 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | One day | Elder Curry and Congregation | Sermon and mixed vocal ensemble, with guitar, and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404774 | 10-in. | 12/18/1930 | The crucifixion | Elder Charles Beck | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404775 | 10-in. | 12/18/1930 | When the world's on fire | Elder Charles Beck | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano | |
| OKeh | W404789 | 10-in. | 12/19/1930 | I am saved | Elder Beck | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404790 | 10-in. | 12/19/1930 | Drinking shine | Elder Beck | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, vocalist | |
| Decca | 62182 | 10-in. | 5/8/1937 | If I have to run | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62183 | 10-in. | 5/8/1937 | Precious Lord | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62274 | 10-in. | 6/16/1937 | Love, oh love divine | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62275 | 10-in. | 6/16/1937 | I'm a stranger | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62276 | 10-in. | 6/16/1937 | Jesus remembers when others forget | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62277 | 10-in. | 6/16/1937 | I never will turn back | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano | ||
| Decca | 62278 | 10-in. | 6/16/1937 | Hide me in Thy bosom | Elder Beck | vocalist, instrumentalist, piano |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Beck, Elder," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106824.
Beck, Elder. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106824.
"Beck, Elder." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Beck, Elder - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93026189
Wikidata: Elder Charles Beck - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q29182280
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/37106270
MusicBrainz: Elder Charles Beck - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8f33f47d-3a10-4332-b7ec-72a3819136f7
ISNI: 0000 0000 3331 9772 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000033319772
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