The Melody Clouds were founded in 1965 by the late Leo Jackson, Sr. as a family-based endeavor and continue today with four members of the Jackson family remaining central to the group’s muscular, groove-driven sound.

If you think God’s inspiration transcends whatever words are spoken in His praise, you’ll find an earthly complement in The Melody Cloud’s musical approach, where rocking rhythm provides the central element in the band’s spirit-filled arrangements.

To sample The Melody Clouds’ riveting musical style, check out “Lord, You Brought Me Through,” with its stop-rhythm beats in the chorus, twinned keyboard-and-fuzz-toned-guitar rolling rhythm, combined with old-school gospel quartet harmonies.

Then there’s the world-famous “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In,” which The Melody Clouds transform into as a genuine reggae ballad, replete with thumping electric bass, bouncing electronic keyboards, echoing chorus, and fuzz-tone guitar leads.

And the band can just as easily carve out a smooth-soul treatment, as it does on “He’s Smiling on Me,” with its swaying rhythm, gentle guitar figures, and high-pitched vocal, with “Amazing Grace” effortlessly sampled in the second verse.