Shirley Caesar is a gospel singer from America whose career spans seven decades. In addition to Dove and Stellar Awards, she has won 11 Grammy Awards; Caesar is referred to as “The Queen of Gospel Music” and “The First Lady of Gospel Music.” In 1951, when she was 12 years old, she began recording with Federal Records.
Shirley Caesar is an American gospel music legend and Grammy award-winning artist. With a career spanning decades, she has become one of the most recognized and respected names in gospel music. A pioneer of the genre, her influence on today’s gospel sound is undeniable. Shirley Caesar is a living testament to the power of faith, strength, and perseverance.
Shirley Caesar Age
Caesar is 84 years old as of 2022. He was born Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams on 13 October 1938 in Durham, North Carolina, United States. She celebrates her birthday on 13 October.
Shirley Caesar Family
Caesar is the thirteenth child. Her siblings have all passed away. Shirley’s father, Jim Caesar, was a well-known gospel singer in the area. When Shirley was seven years old, he died suddenly. Hallie Caesar, her mother, had a partially disabled leg. Caesar cared for her mother until her death in 1986 because they shared a special bond.
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Shirley Caesar Wife
In June 1983, Caesar tied the knot with Bishop Harold I. Williams. Until his passing on July 4, 2014, the couple served as co-pastors of the 1,500-member Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. While she doesn’t have offspring of her own, she has two stepchildren from her better half.
Shirley Caesar Education
Caesar finally achieved her goal of finishing her education after many years. She returned to school in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with honors from Shaw University. She has honorary doctorates from Shaw University and Southeastern University, and she also studied at Duke University’s Divinity School.
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Shirley Caesar’s Net Worth
Caesar has an estimated net worth of $16 Million.
Shirley Caesar Hold My Mule
Caesar wrote the black gospel song “Hold My Mule” in 1980. The song, which tells the story of an old man named Shoutin’ John, who brashly praises God for his many blessings to the dismay of more conservative, “spiritually dead” clergy, gained new popularity in 2016 when DJ Suede the Remix God remixed the song into “You Name It!”, which is a Thanksgiving anthem.
According to the record, an 86-year-old man makes the decision to attend a church that is “spiritually dead” one day. A furious priest endeavors to stop him by handling him, however, Shoutin’ John gets back up and resumes moving. He demands that regardless of whether the congregation ousts him, he is committed to giving acclaim to God for His favors.
Shirley Caesar No Charge
Her recording of “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man” earned her her first Grammy Award in 1971, and her 1975 recording of “No Charge” became an instant hit and her first gold record. Despite her success, she desired to reach a larger audience and believed Hob Records was failing to do so; She decided not to extend the same-year end of her record deal with them.
Shirley Caesar Career
Caesar first began performing and singing for friends and family. As invitations poured in, she began performing throughout the Carolinas as Baby Shirley Caesar. Because she was in school during the week, she was only able to perform on weekends. At the age of 19, she began her professional music career by approaching Albertina Walker about joining The Caravans, one of the most well-liked gospel groups at the time. After hearing Caesar sing solo, Albertina wanted the young singer to join her group. Caesar decided to stop going to school so she could join the group.
Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, Josephine Howard, Eddie Williams, and James Herndon were among the Caravans with whom Caesar recorded and performed. The Caravans’ “Sweeping Through the City” was her biggest hit, followed by “No Coward Soldier.” She decided to leave the Caravans after eight years when she was offered a solo recording contract with Hob Records. I’ll Go, her first album on the Hob label, features the Institutional Radio Choir and the timeless songs “Oh Peter, Don’t Be Afraid” and “Choose Ye This Day.” Songs like “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down,” “God’s Not Dead, He’s Yet Alive,” and “Don’t Drive Your Mama Away” were soon followed by other hits. Her recording of “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man” earned her her first Grammy Award in 1971, and her 1975 recording of “No Charge” became an instant hit and her first gold record. Despite her success, she desired to reach a larger audience and believed Hob Records was failing to do so; She decided not to extend the same-year end of her record deal with them.
Caesar signed with a secular record label called Roadshow Records in 1977 and put out her first album, First Lady, to reach more people with her music. Caesar was the first woman to record on the label, so the album’s producer gave it the name “First Lady.” The album had songs with strong gospel lyrics, but many gospel DJs refused to play the music on their radio stations because they thought it was “too worldly.” One melody, notwithstanding, “Blurred Rose”, later turned into a Caesar exemplary. Overall, the album didn’t sell well, but the gospel industry liked the name “First Lady,” so concert announcers, DJs, and gospel promoters started calling her “The First Lady of Gospel Music,” which has stuck with her ever since. From the Heart, her second and final Roadshow album, came out in 1978; The same reason contributed to its poor reception. Caesar looked for a gospel label and eventually signed with Word Records in 1980. Over the next few years and beyond, he won several more Grammy Awards. She stayed with Word for a long time and recorded some of her biggest hits, like “God’s Got It All in Control,” “Hold My Mule,” “He’s Working It Out for You,” “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name,” and “You’re Next in Line for a Miracle.” She also recorded “He’s Working It Out for You,” “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name,” and “You’re Next in Line for a Miracle.”
She has become famous on the gospel music circuit, making visitor appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other well known TV programs. Caesar describes Albertina Walker as her “Queen of Gospel Music” and mentor.
She won seven Dove Awards for Black Gospel Album of the Year between 1981 and 1995 for Live at the G.M.W.A., Celebration, Christmasing, Sailin’, Live… In Chicago, and Go and Rejoice. She won two Black Gospel Song of the Year awards for “Hold My Mule” and “He’s Working It Out for You.” She has collaborated with numerous artists, including Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Dorothy Norwood, Faith Evans, Dottie Peoples, Arnold Houston, Kim Burrell, Kirk Franklin, Tonex, and Tye Tribbett. Caesar is an actress as well. She appeared in films like “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (1998), “Fighting Temptations” (2003, starring Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr.), and “The Unseen” (2005), starring Steve Harris. She also played Aunt Shirley in a 1998 episode of The Good News. In 2004, Caesar appeared on The Parkers.
In 2014, the Dutch producer Bakermat sampled her 1972 album Get Up My Brother song “Teach Me Master” to create “Teach Me”; it arrived at number 22 on the UK Singles Outline. With her most recent CD, Fill This House, she returned to the top of the gospel Billboard chart in 2016.
Shirley Caesar Songs
- No Charge
- Hold My Mule
- I Know the Truth (Lies)
- Sweeping Through the City
- Nobody
- Favor
- God Will Make a Way
- It’s Alright, It’s Ok
- Fill This House
Shirley Caesar Albums
- First Lady
- From the Heart
- Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name
- Sailin’
- Her Very Best
- Go
- Live in Chicago
- I Remember Mama
- He’s Working it Out for You
- Stand Still
- Shirley Caesar Live…He Will Come
- Christmasing
- Just a Word
- A Miracle in Harlem
- Christmas with Shirley Caesar
- Hymns
- You Can Make It
- Greatest Gospel Hits
- Shirley Caesar & Friends
- I Know the Truth
- After 40 Years…Still Sweeping Through the City
- The Definitive Gospel Collection
- A City Called Heaven
- The Ultimate Collection
- Giving & Sharing: A Christmas Collection
- Platinum Gospel: Shirley Caesar
- Good God
- Harvest Gospel
- Timeless Gospel Classics: Inspirational/Gospel Vol. 2
- Fill This House
Conclusion
Shirley Caesar is an icon in the gospel music industry. She has been honored with many awards and accolades that have solidified her place as one of the most influential gospel singers of our time. Her career has spanned several decades and she continues to spread a message of hope and love through her music. Shirley Caesar is an inspiration for many, and her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come