Mitty Collier
Mitty Collier is an American church pastor, gospel singer, and former rhythm and blues artist known for her 1960s hits. Born Mitty Lene Collier on June 21, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama, she transitioned from secular R&B to gospel music and ministry later in life.
She was the seventh child of Rufus and Gertrude Collier. Collier attended Western-Olin High School and studied English at Alabama A&M College and Miles College. She started singing in church as a teen, touring with gospel groups like the Hayes Ensemble and Lloyd Reese Singers, before performing R&B in clubs to fund her education.
In 1959, she won a talent contest in Chicago hosted by DJ Al Benson, earning gigs with B.B. King and Etta James, which led to a Chess Records deal. She released 15 singles and one album from 1961-1968, produced mostly by Billy Davis. Key hits include "I'm Your Part Time Love" (#20 R&B, 1963), "I Had A Talk With My Man" (#3 R&B, #41 Pop, 1964—a secular take on a James Cleveland gospel song), and "Sharing You" (#10 R&B, 1966).
After Chess, she recorded with Peachtree Records in Atlanta, including singles like "True Love Never Comes Easy." Vocal cord polyps ended her secular career in 1971. She then focused on gospel, releasing albums like The Warning (1972), Hold The Light (1977), and I Am Love (1987).
Collier devoted herself to Christianity, starting a Bible Study Telephone Prayer Line and "Feed-A-Neighbor" outreach, earning Birmingham's key to the city in 1987. Ordained in 1989, she became pastor of More Like Christ Christian Fellowship Ministries in Chicago. She has worked at the University of Chicago, written plays, and received awards like the NCNW Woman of Wonder in 2000. As of 2025, she turned 84.
Hold The Light...
A2 He Brought Joy Into My Life 4:07
A3 On The Other Side 3:42
A4 Lord, You Blessed 3:04
B1 Love In The World 3:35
B2 Nobody's Fault But Mine 3:49
B3 I'm Glad 4:14
B4 He Looked Beyond My Faults 6:15
Label: Gospel Roots – GR-5020
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Gospel, Soul
Style: Gospel
Mitty Collier’s 1978 album, "Hold The Light...", marks a significant transition in her career from R&B star to gospel singer and pastor. Released on Gospel Roots (a subsidiary of TK Records), the album reflects her spiritual commitment following her departure from the secular music industry in the early 1970s.
Critics often highlight the album as a definitive moment in Collier's "sanctified" era. It is celebrated for its sincerity and powerful vocal delivery, retaining the deep, husky contralto that defined her 1960s Chess Records hits like "I Had a Talk with My Man".
Reviews note that while the production moves toward traditional gospel, Collier’s performance remains "earthy" and assertive. Her ability to "take you to church" is frequently cited as her greatest strength, with her voice described as "searing" and capable of "bringing you to tears".
The album is highly regarded by soul and gospel collectors, maintaining a high average rating (approximately 4.25/5) on collector platforms such as Discogs. The title track, "Hold The Light," and the overall arrangement of the album emphasize piano, organ, and traditional choir-backed harmonies, moving away from the brassy, R&B-focused production of her earlier years.
The lyrics focus on resilience, faith, and "looking for some light at the end of the black," a recurring theme in her later work. The album was produced during a period when gospel was increasingly influencing the "pop ocean," making it accessible to fans of traditional R&B while remaining firmly rooted in the church.