Calendar Celebrates Newark Gospel Greats

From the South to the West Ward, Newark is full of many churches whose halls ring with the sound of gospel song and jubilation every Sunday.

Some of the churches’ best singers are honored in "Rejoice! Newark Gospel Greats," a new two-year 2012 calendar that serves also as a visual history of gospel’s long roots in the city, which is considered a "gospel music mecca," according to the calendar.

Barbara J. Kukla, a historian and writer from West Orange, created the calendar as a way to celebrate that history.

"This is history that would be totally lost," she said about the folks featured in the calendar. They include Rev. Peter Winstead, who was known for his work at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, and Madame Anna Lundy Lewis, mother to singer Yvette Glover and grandmother to tapdance star Savion Glover.

At the end of the calendar is a short history of gospel music in the city. Choirs and groups are featured along with Savoy Records, a famous homegrown label that recorded early bebop jazz music and then gospel.

Kukla, 71, has made it her life’s mission to chronicle the "nitty gritty" of Newark’s history, populated by many people whom she has known for a long time.

"I am writing about my friends," she said.

Kukla was first exposed to Newark when she first started working as a reporter at the Star Ledger about 38 and a half years ago. In 1979, she founded and edited the paper’s "Newark This Week" section until she retired in 2004.

"Newark means everything to me," she said. "It's my life: Morning, noon, and night."

But what got her interested was when Kukla, as a 25-year-old reporter, met singer Miss Rhapsody, also known as Viola Wells Evans.

Miss Rhapsody, who died at 82 years old in 1984, introduced Kukla to the city’s musical stars and became like a grandmother to Kukla.

Kukla admits it was a bit of a strange sight to see Kukla, "a young white girl," and Evans, "an old black woman" together, but the two became very close.

"I was a 25-year-old groupie," Kukla said with a laugh.

Kukla has written three books on Newark history: "Swing City: Newark Nightlife, 1925-50"; "Defying the Odds: Triumphant Black Women of Newark"; and "Sounds of Music: The Dolores Collins Benjamin Story."

Besides the 2012 calendar, she has issued two others: "Remembering Connie: A Life Well-Lived and Newark Songbirds: Jazz Through the Years."

The calendar is $15. To buy it, call Barbara Kukla at 973-325-3760 or send e-mail to bjkukla@aol.com. Proceeds go to the Barbara J. Kukla scholarship fund.