Tears

Originally self-released in 1977, Tears features members of Bibleway Church in Gary, Indiana. The congregation embraced music as a tool to grow their membership under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Rufus J. Nelson. Drawing inspiration from secular music, Tears pairs a sanctified message and sublime vocal harmonies with hints of modern soul, R&B, and jazz. These eight original songs bring a freshness to the melodic gospel sound that will captivate believers and non-believers. Keyboardist and songwriter Claude Kelly III led the choir and was pivotal in Bibleway’s musical output as Minister of Music. Spending late nights writing and notating songs at Pastor Nelson’s home, he worked with a line-up of gifted instrumentalists and vocalists, including former members of The Krash Band and The Teques. The group built itself a strong reputation through live performances, but with no distribution deal the private press disappeared into the collections and garages of locals. Now, it is a holy grail amongst record collectors that is tough to find in any condition. Despite the passing of 47 years since its initial release, the message of the music remains relevant. Restored and remastered from the original tapes by Bo Kondren and pressed at Mother Tongue, this high-quality reissue includes a booklet exploring the story of Claude Kelly III and Bibleway’s Tears album, with never-before-published photographs and an essay by renowned gospel collector Greg Belson. Brought back in the open so Tears can continue to inspire, guide, and motivate listeners around the world.