From 1954 to the present, WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia, has broadcast the gospel music program Parade of Quartets, forming the backbone of the region’s African American gospel music tradition for nearly sixty years. Hundreds of well-known Black gospel musicians such as Shirley Caesar, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Dixie Hummingbirds, James Brown, and the Swanee Quintet have appeared on the program over the years. In the last few decades, the program’s content has expanded to include appearances by both local and national Black political leaders. In 2008, the Howard family, longtime producers of the program, donated hundreds of hours of program footage to the University of Georgia. This historically-significant collection documents decades of regional gospel music performances, religious practices, and political activities, and represents possibly the largest collection of gospel performance footage at any North American library. The collection is a rare example of a sustained Black media presence on a southern television affiliate. A finding aid will be made available in the near future.

To find out more about the program check their website Parade of Quartets.