Assembled in 1930 by Professor Howard Daniel from students at Wilberforce University in Ohio, the Charioteers built their sound around the honeyed, gospel-trained tenor lead of Wilfred 'Billy' Williams, moving fluidly between spirituals like their namesake 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and pop novelties such as the 1947 hit 'Open the Door, Richard.' Their smooth blend of church harmony and mainstream pop made them one of the most widely heard Black vocal groups on 1930s–40s radio, a bridge between jubilee gospel and the doo-wop groups that followed.

the sound in question

1939

Swing Low, Sweet ChariotThe Charioteers