Cassietta George

Cassietta George’s commanding, crystal-clear vocals slice through audiences on waves of exuberant, soul-stirring sound. Although her own recordings earned respect throughout the 1960s and 1970s, listeners most often connect her name with the Caravans, widely regarded as one of the finest all-female gospel quartets in history, where she served as both a principal lead singer and an important composer.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, George started performing at age four inside her father’s church. Prior to joining the Caravans in 1954, she accumulated experience in several other quartets and absorbed a powerful stylistic imprint from Clara Ward. During her initial stint in the groundbreaking ensemble she shared stages with James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, and Shirley Caesar, yet remained only one year before departing. She rejoined the Caravans in 1960 and stayed five more years. Afterward she established a thriving solo path, cutting more than ten albums for Audio Arts, Inc. in Los Angeles, maintaining a relentless touring schedule, and composing upwards of one hundred songs. In the course of that work she received two Grammy nominations.