Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers

In 1948, the Reverend Milton Brunson organized a mass gospel choir at Chicago's McKinley High School; dubbed the Thompson Community Singers, the group -- affectionately known as "the Tommies" -- would emerge as the nation's oldest existing community choir, celebrating their golden anniversary with the release of 1998's hits collection 50 Blessed Years. In the interim Brunson and his singers became one of the most honored gospel groups of their era, issuing eight gospel chart-topping LPs and winning a Grammy award in 1995. Their 50th anniversary was also celebrated with the opening of a post office named in Brunson's honor. Probably their best known hits are "Available To You" and "My Mind Is Made Up." Also, this choir at one time featured well-known gospel singer / artist Kim McFarland, who was the soloist on the choir's "I Tried Him And I Know Him", considered by some to be a Southern Baptist modern gospel standard. It is also worth noting that NFL great Bubba Smith was frequently associated with the gospel ensemble as a reported executive producer, concert promoter and financial supporter.