Mighty Clouds of Joy

The Mighty Clouds of Joy is the world's best selling gospel quartet. They are based in Los Angeles, California. Group members included Joe Ligon, Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Elmo Franklin, Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name "Bunker Hill"). The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in 1960 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Philadelphia soul czars Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy nominations and hit albums along the way.