WE RECALL, WE REMEMBER: THE LIFE & LEGACY OF REV. JOE - A CONVERSATION WITH REV. JOSEPH WILLIAMS

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University will mark this celebration by honoring the Legacy of Rev. Joe Williams and announce the launch of the Philadelphia Black Music Archive. This collection reflects the spirit of Charles Blockson's commitment to preserving the cultural contributions of Philadelphia's Black musicians, vocalists, songwriters, producers, record labels, and venues.

The Philadelphia Black Music Archive, in partnership with Temple Alum Frank Johnson PhD, will showcase a rich and extensive collection of photographs, interviews, documents, recordings, and musical instruments that tell the story of the African American contribution to the rich tapestry of popular music and culture. These valuable resources will be accessible to scholars, researchers, and the public, and will serve as an essential resource for anyone.

About Rev. Joseph Williams, Jr.

Rev. Joe, as he is affectionately known, is an original member of the gospel singing quartet, the Sons of the Birds. The Sons of the Birds, who recorded an album and several singles for Peacock's Song Bird subsidiary in the 1960s, got their name because, at one time, some of the singers were sons of members of the legendary Dixie Hummingbirds, with whom Rev. Joe also sang.

Rev. Joe started singing at age five with the Children's Church of the Air, performing at Presbyterian churches in Philadelphia and on radio and television programs. After a brief stint as a teen singing with popular groups, he joined the Gospel Stirrers. However, after he saw the Dixie Hummingbirds perform for the first time, he knew that was the caliber, professionalism, and showmanship he wanted to achieve. Before being called into ministry, Rev. Joe recorded with the Dixie Hummingbirds on their last album. His collection is housed in the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, TN. 

About Richard J. Watson

Richard J. Watson, an alumnus and former adjunct instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, is a multi- faceted artist who is widely recognized as a representational, and collage artist whose works are included in numerous private and public collections. Watson also has many public and institutional murals throughout Philadelphia including Liturgical murals within the chapel of the Church of the Advocate, at 18th and Diamond Streets in North Philadelphia, a mosaic tile centerpiece within the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia, and the official portrait of former Mayor of Philadelphia, W. Wilson Goode, in the Mayor's Reception Room at City Hall.

Watson is the Artist-in-Residence/Exhibits Manager at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.