HUMMINGBIRD
Ben Witherspoon's Hummingbird label has been based in both Chicago,Illinois and Milwaukee,Wisconsin. In, what we believe to be, the early days of the label there was a Milwaukee address printed on the label. This is certainly the case with the 'unnumbered' releases. Those early releases were all recorded at the Apex Studios in Chicago. Later on Hummingbird recorded mainly at Bud Pressner's all-in-one studio/pressing plant in Gary,Indiana. The BP numbers indicate which recordings were made by Bud Pressner. Pressner also did a lot of work for Staff.
There is an interesting connection between the Hummingbird and the Church label, as Bonomo Publishing is listed on most of the releases by both labels. Is Church another Ben Witherspoon enterprise?
(Most of the data and information on Hummingbird comes from Dante Carfagne and Scott Harlow).
Album:
| Christian Harmonizers | Don't Need No Doctor | Hummingbird No # |
45s:
| Gospel Supremes of Milwaukee | Shouting religion | Hummingbird No # | ||
| Waiting on God | ||||
| Mighty Gospel Chariots | Down in the water | Hummingbird No # | ||
| Lazrous | ||||
| Silver Hearts | Nobody knows | Hummingbird No # | ||
| Hold out | ||||
| Lord Hummingbird & His Gospel Singers | Beloved Kennedy | Hummingbird 222 | ||
| The Lord's prayer | ||||
| Gloster Williams & Gospel Chanteurs | Bridge over troubled water | Hummingbird H 1001 BP 233 | ||
| Don't forget about me | ||||
| Humble Hearts of Star City,AR | Just keep walking and don't look back | Hummingbird H 1002 | ||
| I need prayer | ||||
| Heavenly Stars of Milwaukee | Leaning on the Lord | Hummingbird H1003 | ||
| Just like fire | ||||
| Evelyn Gay | Someday we'll understand | Hummingbird H 1003 BP 286 | ||
| Lord, I'm gonna love you till I die | ||||
| Gospel Creators | Oh Lord hear my voice | Hummingbird H 1004 | ||
| There was a time I stood alone | ||||
| Delta Big Four of Lambert Mississippi | Lord why I'm traveling | Hummingbird H 1006 BP 248 | ||
| Lord guide me | ||||
| Christian Harmonizers | The rain | Hummingbird H 1007 BP 252 | ||
| He can depend on me | ||||
| Gospel Creators | Somewhere down the line | Hummingbird H 1009 BP 257 | ||
| If you can nog give a thousand | ||||
| Evelyn Gay & Brother | Whil I run this race | Hummingbird 265 | ||
| I must tell Jesus | ||||
| Gospel Echoettes | How it got over | Hummingbird H 1012 BP 266 | ||
| I recommend Jesus | ||||
| Avent Spiritual & Gospel Singers | A change in me | Hummingbird H 1013 | ||
| Jesus of mine | ||||
| King Brothers | It's Jesus and me | Hummingbird H 1014 | ||
| When I've gone the last mile | ||||
| Hightones | The Lord will make a way | Hummingbird 281 | ||
| Glad to be here | ||||
| Mother Meatchem | Blessed assurance | Hummingbird 288 | ||
| Nothing between | ||||
| Christian Harmonizers | I made a vow | Hummingbird 290 | ||
| Have you any river | ||||
| Silverettes of Racine, Wisconsin | There's rest | Hummingbird 402 | ||
| Welcome home my child | ||||
| Hightones | The essence of the Lord's prayer | Hummingbird 404 | 1974 | |
| Making a living is not making a life | ||||
| Southern Sons | I'll fly away | Hummingbird 504 | ||
| I've been in a storm | ||||
| Christian Harmonizers | Troubles of this world | Hummingbird 500 | ||
| Someone greater than I | ||||
| Harris Crusaders | Leaving my troubles behind | Hummingbird 1540 | ||
| I'm gonna see Jesus | ||||
| Fabulous God's Creation | Free ride | Hummingbird 1983 | 1983 | |
| Starting All Ones Again |
Contributors:
- Will Luck