It reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina Walker, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Shirley Caesar and the Rev.
The years 1962 to 1966 provided the Caravans with its most stable group member lineup, consisting of Washington, Walker, Caesar, George, James Herndon and Josephine Howard.
[1] The group consisted of Ora Lee Hopkins, Elyse Yancey, Irma Gwynn, Edward Robinson, the pianist, and Louise Overall Weaver as their organist.
During this recording session, a sequence of events happened, resulting in Robert Anderson parting ways with his background singers.
At their height in the late 1950s the Caravans combined the alto of Shirley Caesar on songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" with the contralto of Inez Andrews on "Mary Don't You Weep", the soprano of Delores Washington, and the frenetic piano style of Eddie Williams.
"Paved the Way" was recently nominated for a Grammy, Dove, & Soul Train Music Award.