The Charioteers

Gospel purists may feel that what was done to the Charioteers is something like trying to turn a chariot into a Corvette. The Black gospel group, newly transformed into a vocal pop group by enterprising record company executives, failed to match the desired commercial appeal and momentum of the Ink Spots. An early vehicle for lead tenor Billy Williams, who would have an even more successful career on his own, the Charioteers left behind a respectable recorded legacy nonetheless in both the gospel and pop genres. The group was first formed in Ohio in 1930, and by 1937 had settl...