The Indiana Community Choir was founded in approximately 1970 by Janet Kavanaugh who also sang with The Gospel Chanteurs. The group’s contemporary sound was indicative of the youth community choir movement of the time. Alvin Leavell, an original member of the choir, recalls that:
"Janet was like a sister. Her family lived across the street and our families were totally involved with each other. We did everything together. Janet was a leader in the community, and she really loved to sing. Everybody was coming up with community choirs, so Janet decided to come up with one. We started off at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church in Jeffersonville. She had a vision, and she was meticulous. She didn’t play. We were going to have a good time at rehearsal, but you’re gonna come to rehearsal. Kavanaugh had us singing a different style of gospel music that a lot of people weren't aware of at that time until she introduced it to us. When I grew up, the big thing was a strong gospel like Thomas Dorsey. But as we grew older, Dorsey’s music bloomed into James Cleveland and then Edwin Hawkins and all these other people you see today. So Janet was bringing stuff from the West Coast, the East Coast; I don't know where Kavanaugh was getting the music, but it was good. Janet Kavanaugh gave us a focal point. It gave us something to do, it gave us an identity, gave us a common goal, and also gave us a focal point back to the Lord. We had a great time doing it. It was the glue and it was a blessing."
Lamont Butler, Bishop Butler's son, preserved the original videotape reels for 40+ before partnering with the Louisville Story Program to digitize it.
No related recordings
