SAMMIE CHEATAM

Sammie Cheatam first started singing with the Tabernacle Church of Prayer Choir. Afterward he went to Mount Pleasant and he sang in their choir, and then he joined up with Ernest Franklin. It was around this time that he got his nickname "The Duke of Gospel". He made his recording debut at St. Martins in the late sixties or early seventies. It's the record label ot the St. Martins Church of Christ at 5652 South State, Chicago, Ill. The version of 'Save a seat for me' he released on St. Martins is different from the one at the 'Stranger In The City' album.

In the mid seventies he released  'Candidate For Heaven/Troubles Of The World for Cora and Gospel Souvineer. This 45 was picked up by One-Way who released it in 1976. In 1977 One-Way released "Stranger In The City" (One-Way LP 0024). This album doesn't contain the 45.

At the time of his One-Way album Sammie Cheatam was member of Fellowship Baptist Church of Chicago where Rev. Clay Evans was the leader of the choir and a well known solo artist as well.

A couple of years after his one album for One-Way Cheatam recorded an album on Gladys; "Midnight Ship To Zion (Gladys LP 80). The Gladys label was owned by Gladys B. Ridely one of the the Rilettes. Other releases on Gladys were by Souls of Solomon, The Heavenly Band, and Jimmy Smith.

Sammie Cheatam 45 Discography:

Sammie Cheatam Album Discography:

Additional Source:

- Frederic Adrian