Clara Ward was lead of the gospel Ward Singers (Gertrude and Clara Ward, Henrietta Waddy, Marion Williams, Willa Ward Moultrie and others) recorded the traditional "This Little Light of Mine" in 1952.

Ray Charles was no stranger to taking gospel tunes and making them secular. "This Little Girl of Mine" (Charles) was released in 1955 and became his first top forty single even though it was a B side to "A Fool For You".

The Everly Brothers cover came in 1958 and entered the top thirty.