PRINCE GEORGE’S POST EARLY DEADLINE
Publication Date: May 28, 2026 Edition
Deadline: Noon, Friday, May 22, 2026

Morningside-Skyline

Brandywine-Aquasco

Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson, 301-922-5384

THE MIGHTY WONDERS OF AQUASCO MARYLAND

Our history-making Gospel Singer, The Mighty Wonders, which included members of Christ United Methodist Church, Aquasco, Maryland and Nottingham Myers United Methodist Church Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Stepping on Board with The Mighty Wonders of Aquasco, Maryland.

Members included Harry Bazemore, Ralph Contee, Sidney Contee, Thomas Contee, Grafton Glascoe, Alfred Johnson, Jr., Alfred Johnson, Sr., Ernest Johnson, Jr., Phillip Johnson, Dennis Lee, John Stewart, Jim Taylor, Lowell Washington.

“Contee graciously spoke with me for the next half hour, sharing the story of how he joined the band, the recording of the 45 (“Old Ship of Zion”) and its flipside. (“How Far Am I From Canaan?”) and the names of the remaining members of the group.”

“Contee said he joined the group in 1970, a few years after its formation. As they gained more attention in the local area, they decided to record a 45 and sell it as a fundraiser for the band. That 45 was the “Old Ship/Canaan” pressing, recorded in 1971 or 1972. The group sold the 45 at concerts and to family members, but aside from word of mouth, they made no attempt to get radio play for the songs and relied on “love offerings” from the churches where they performed as payment for their services. “Contee said one early goal was to buy matching suits “shirts, ties, the whole thing” for all members of the group because they saw it as a way to increase their professional appearance and bring them closer together.”

“The Mighty Wonders were a close-knit group, according to Contee. They had to be because from early fall through early summer for years they were performing up to three programs every Sunday in churches around the Baltimore area. None of the members had any formal training in singing or performing. They simply took what they had seen at their home churches and broadened it into a multi-part vocal group. They took turns singing as lead, with two members, John Stewart and Alfred Johnson doing the honors more often than the others. But Contee said, on some occasions a member would know a song better than the others, and he would step up to take the lead for that particular song or performance. All in all, it was a way for the men to sing the songs they liked in the style they liked, and it suited them well.” By Eric Ames on February 12, 2015.

THE BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC RESTORATION PROJECT

The Black Gospel Music Restoration Project was established in 2008 and is directed by Baylor Associate Professor Robert Darden. Since 2008, Baylor University librarians have digitized over 8,381 songs. Dwandalyn Reece, curator of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is so excited about the efforts of Baylor University’s Black Gospel Music Restoration Project. The project’s ultimate goal is to create a digital copy of every song released by every Black gospel artist or group during the “Golden Age of Gospel” that spanned the 1940s to the 1980s.

“The Old Ship of Zion” by the Mighty Wonders of Aquasco, Maryland is one of these recordings. Darden and his team believe the record was cut around 1960 in one of Aquasco’s tiny street-corner studios. Darden sees the song as an example of the regional importance of Gospel. “Maryland was the site of numerous plantations in the Civil War era and some of the worst events during the Civil Rights era,” he explained. “In the middle of all that, this group goes into the studio and cuts this song that says three times, ‘There’s nothing but love in God’s water.’ That you can sing an inclusive song like that during times like those in a place like that, well, that’s pretty special.” The Black Gospel Music Restoration Project’s copy of the Mighty Wonders album is one of only two known to exist. (3) Footnotes: ‘Old Ship of Zion’ by The Mighty Wonders-You Tube. Stepping on Board with The Mighty Wonders of Aquasco, Maryland-The Baylor Digital Collections Blog. NMAAHC Welcomes Gospel Recordings from Baylor University I Smithsonian Music.

FAMILY DAY DUELING PIANO SHOW

Join us at Bobby McKey’s (https://bobbymckeys.com/kidsteen-show-tickets) May 30, 2026, 3:30–6 p.m. as we open up our all-request live music show to a monthly family-friendly event. Teams of pianists take your song requests and perform with a blend of improvisational humor. This show will have everyone engaged, singing, clapping and dancing the afternoon away. Littles won’t be expected to sit still and are encouraged to wiggle in their seats and get up and move. The high energy performance appeals to guests of all ages, because the show is run by your song selections. The ticketing for this afternoon soiree includes a buffet meal and non-alcoholic beverages. A great option for celebrating Birthdays, Team events, or Scouting parties. The bar will be open for guests 21+. Best for ages 1–101. Leave your inhibitions and worries at the door and get ready to party, sing, dance, and laugh the night away at Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar combines live music,comedy, and audience interaction. Address is National Harbor, 172 Fleet Street, National Harbor, Maryland. Buy your tickets now.

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