The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread dedicated to Gospel music.



Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music.

Like other forms of Christian music the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context.

Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace.

However, a common theme of most gospel music is praise, worship or thanks to God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit.

Source: Wikipedia

Mahalia Jackson is synonymous with gospel. An amazing life story and powerful voice and persona, this woman will move you.

by Roxane Orgill

Amazon.com Review
Born black and poor into a small house crammed with 13 people, Mahalia Jackson hardly seemed destined to "walk with kings and queens," as her beloved Aunt Bell predicted. Yet, with deep faith in God and a voice that could turn a sedate audience into a writhing, foot-stomping frenzy, Mahalia did indeed find spectacular and satisfying fame and glory. Credited as one of the voices that introduced gospel music to the world at large, Mahalia remained true to her faith even as she climbed the road to superstardom. From down-home churches to Carnegie Hall, from the 1963 equal rights march on Washington to the funeral of her good friend Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Mahalia sang her heart out.
Roxane Orgill's handsome biography, with many black-and-white photos, follows the remarkable career of this New Orleans washer-girl who became an internationally acclaimed singer and supporter of the civil rights movement. Like the thousands of rapt audience members over her lifetime, readers will be moved and inspired by this powerful woman and her unwavering convictions. (Ages 10 and older) --Emilie Coulter

and another biography
byBarbara Kramer

Yes she was amazing. Thank you so much for the add.

Mahalia Jackson and Nat King Cole on his show in the 50's

James Cleveland (1931-1991) is considered by many enthusiasts to be "The King of Gospel" One of the forces behind the contemporary gospel sound Cleveland pushed the music past the confines of the traditional Baptist hymnal, infusing elements of the sanctified church style and secular pop to modernize gospel.



Peace be Still

We all know Aretha Franklin as the Queen of Soul, and many fans also know she got her early start singing gospel. Check this out, Aretha singing at the age of 14. What amazing power she had in her voice then!

Sadly the link is blocked in Germany.
Alisa, you probably know the live concert recording from 1972: Amazing Grace. Just that song is 10:45 long.
With Rev. James Cleveland, Chuck Rainey, Cornell Dupree and Bernard Purdie. Aretha plays Piano on two and celeste on one song.
Here's the link (just audio) to the Atlantic double CD

Alisa wrote: "We all know Aretha Franklin as the Queen of Soul, and many fans also know she got her early start singing gospel. Check this out, Aretha singing at the age of 14. What amazing power she had in he..."

Thanks for the great link.

André wrote: "Sadly the link is blocked in Germany.
Alisa, you probably know the live concert recording from 1972: Amazing Grace. Just that song is 10:45 long.
With Rev. James Cleveland, Chuck Rainey, Cornell Du..."

This is such a classic, love love love this!

As everybody knows Sam Cooke also started out with Gospel. A Change is Gonna Come still has a lot of those elements while it also holds a balance to pop. His voice was pure magic, the most wonderful male voice ever if you ask me.

André wrote: "

As everybody knows Sam Cooke also started out with Gospel. A Change is Gonna Come still has a lot of those elements while it also holds a bal..."

Thanks for the link.

No additional words necessary. Shirley Caesar says it all:

The Mississippi Mass Choir:

Rance Allen:



Rance Allen is one of the finest.
One word on that priest in the beginning of the video: I think that he is way out of line with his talk about what members of other religions should do (because basically I think it's none of his business and also, no matter what you believe in, as long as you work to make this world a better place for everybody you should be on the right path, wherever it might lead)

Thanks Andre for the links.

Sure, Garret. It's Sunday.

Andre, great links. Here's another Kirk Franklin.

Thanks Alisa

to 17:
Thanks Alisa. Sadly the video is blocked here but I managed to watch others of Kirk Franklin, one more master of Gospel.

Marion Williams "What Could I Do?" Wow this woman can sing.

Alisa wrote: "Marion Williams "What Could I Do?" Wow this woman can sing."

Oh my, blocked... but you're so right - she sure can sing!

Darn, I wish you could get some of these. I don't understand why so many of them are blocked outside the US?

Hand-clappin-foot-tappin-choir-swayin classic! Albertina Walker "I Can Go To God In Prayer"

Thanks for the links Alisa!

Whitney Houston

Amazing Grace


Yes Jesus Loves Me


Whitney Houston

Aretha Franklin

Amazing Grace


Aretha Franklin

Mahalia Jackson

Amazing Grace


I Believe


How Great Thou Art


Everytime I feel The Spirit


Down By The Riverside


Give Me That Old Time Religion


We Shall Overcome


Remember Me


Come On Children Let's Sing


together with Nat King Cole:
Steal Away


Didn't It Rain


Mahalia Jackson

A little Ray Charles givin' some gospel with a choir backup in this gospel classic - Oh Happy Day

Thanks Alisa for helping Andre get some of these threads up to date and with some great adds too.

Anyone listens to Gospel Rap?

The Staple Singers are another of the iconic gospel groups. Here is a recording from 1956.

The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day

Probably the greatest of the gospel groups, this book covers the career of the Dixie Hummingbirds from the days of Jim Crow until their Grammy award winning performance. An extra added attraction is found at the link below.

Great God A'Mighty: the Dixie Hummingbirds

by Jerry Zolten (no photo)

Synopsis:

From the Jim Crow world of 1920s Greenville, South Carolina, to Greenwich Village's Caf Society in the '40s, to their 1974 Grammy-winning collaboration on "Loves Me Like a Rock," the Dixie Hummingbirds have been one of gospel's most durable and inspiring groups.
Now, Jerry Zolten tells the Hummingbirds' fascinating story and with it the story of a changing music industry and a changing nation. When James Davis and his high-school friends starting singing together in a rural South Carolina church they could not have foreseen the road that was about to unfold before them. They began a ten-year jaunt of "wildcatting," traveling from town to town, working local radio stations, schools, and churches, struggling to make a name for themselves. By 1939 the a cappella singers were recording their four-part harmony spirituals on the prestigious Decca label. By 1942 they had moved north to Philadelphia and then New York where, backed by Lester Young's band, they regularly brought the house down at the city's first integrated nightclub, Caf Society. From there the group rode a wave of popularity that would propel them to nation-wide tours, major record contracts, collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, and a career still vibrant today as they approach their seventy-fifth anniversary.
Drawing generously on interviews with Hank Ballard, Otis Williams, and other artists who worked with the Hummingbirds, as well as with members James Davis, Ira Tucker, Howard Carroll, and many others, The Dixie Hummingbirds brings vividly to life the growth of a gospel group and of gospel music itself

___________________________________________________

Loves Me Like a Rock which Paul Simon made into a hit later.

The legacy of the Carter family, which lives on today, was rooted in gospel music. As time went by, their style became the basis for bluegrass and Appalachian folk music.

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone/

by Mark Zwonitzer (no photo)

Synopsis:

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? is the first major biography of the Carter Family, the musical pioneers who almost single-handedly created the sounds and traditions that grew into modern folk, country, and bluegrass music. Meticulously researched and lovingly written, it is a look at a world and a culture that, rather than passing, has continued to exist in the music that is the legacy of the Carters -- songs that have shaped and influenced generations of artists who have followed them.
Brilliant in insight and execution, Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? is also an in-depth study of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter, and their bittersweet story of love and fulfillment, sadness and loss. The result is more than just a biography of a family; it is also a journey into another time, almost another world, and theirs is a story that resonates today and lives on in the timeless music they created.

Sounds very interesting.

O Mary Don't You Weep

I love this song and it has many divergent presentations. First this one by:

The Swan Silvertones



And this one by:

"The Boss"

Everything you ever wanted to know about gospel music and those who sing it.

Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encylopedia

by Bil Carpenter(no photo)

Synopsis:

This comprehensive guide is a must-have for the multitude of fans of this best-selling genre of popular music. Uncloudy Days is a treasure chest of substantial profiles on the influential names in gospel music history such as Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, the Hawkins family, Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and the Winans. It also uncovers the history of one hit wonders and others who are not as familiar to gospel music fans. Everyone has a story to share and this book tells more than 500 of them, many based on personal interviews, including the trials and tribulations endured by so many gospel artists. The author offers entertaining and informative reviews that lead readers to the best recordings by their favorite artists and help them find new music to explore. A glossary of terms and numerous charts showing the best-selling gospel recordings and videos of all time round out this entertaining and indispensable resource for current fans and new converts alike

A complete all inclusive history of black gospel music.

People Get Ready!: A New History of Black Gospel Music

by Robert Darden (no photo)

Synopsis:

People Get Ready!: A New History of Gospel Music is a passionate, celebratory, and carefully researched chronology of one of America's greatest treasures. From Africa through the spirituals, from minstrel music through jubilee, and from traditional to contemporary gospel, People Get Ready! shows the links between styles, social patterns, and artists. The emphasis is on the stories behind the songs and musicians. From the nameless slaves of Colonial America to Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and Kirk Franklin, People Get Ready! provides, for the first time, an accessible overview of this musical genre. In addition to the more familiar stories of Thomas A. Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson, the book offers intriguing new insights into the often forgotten era between the Civil War and the rise of jubilee—that most intriguing blend of minstrel music, barbershop harmonies, and the spiritual. Also chronicled are the connections between some of gospel's precursors (Blind Willie Johnson, Arizona Dranes, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe) and modern gospel stars, including Andrae Crouch and Clara Ward. People Get Ready! knits together a number of narratives, and combines history, musicology and spirituality into a coherent whole, stitched together by the stories of dozens of famous and forgotten musical geniuses.

Good history of professional gospel groups and how they preserve the genre.

The Music Men

by Bob Terrell(no photo)

Synopsis:

From the time the very first professional gospel quartet went on the road in 1910 through, roughly, the 1960s, the gospel singing quartet was a staple in the religious music empire. Author Terrell spend more than 20 years interviewing old-timers and gathering information on the Vaughans and the Stamps, the Blackwoods and Fowlers, and all the others who pioneered gospel quartet singing. In this far-ranging volume, these pioneers in the field come alive through the stories of those who knew them, heard them, and loved them -- first and foremost Terrell himself, who approaches gospel music with the attention of one who wants to preserve its traditions.

Driving Ms. Dottie

by Larry Ferguson (no photo)

Synopsis

Have you ever wondered what it's like to live on a tour bus, traveling from town to town, or what really goes on behind the stage before a concert appearance? What are some of the funny experiences that can happen on the road? Do overzealous fans sometimes go too far? What is it really like to get to know a famous Gospel singing legend? Larry Ferguson, manager of the late Gospel music artist and songwriter Dottie Rambo, has put pen to paper and compiled a number of adventures that answer these and many other questions in his book, Driving Ms. Dottie, co-authored by Mike Collins. The release, from Woodland Gospel Publishing, offers an enjoyable and touching "behind-the-scenes" look at living in the center of the Gospel music industry. The book also portrays the private side of Ms. Dottie that the public didn't get to see, away from the bright lights and stage, from a unique perspective that only her manager could tell. As Dottie herself revealed in the book's foreword [yes, she even gave her stamp of approval to the project!], some of the stories you'll read will make you laugh, while others will make you cry. But overall you will be able to gain an insight into what it's like to take the Gospel in song all over the world. Readers will find both a variety of stories and photos that focus on what may seem like an unlikely compilation of cherished friends, including Dolly Parton, Bill Anderson, Lily Tomlin, the Crabb Family, Stella Parton, Eva Mae LeFevre, Michael Sykes, Benny Hinn, Mark Lowry, Carol Channing, Barbara Mandrell, Tammy Faye Messner, Joan Rivers, Amy Grant and Vince Gill, the Gaither Homecoming Friends and others. Larry also pays homage to both Vestal Goodman (Dottie'sclosest friend) and Jake Hess. Larry tells the story behind Dottie's 2003 Stand By the River recording session with friend, Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton wrote about this title: "I am very honored to be included in his book, Driving Ms. Dottie. (I, too, love Ms. Dottie!). Larry has done a wonderful job, and I'm sure you readers will enjoy it." Homecoming Friends' comedian Aaron Wilburn, after reading a pre-release copy of the book, said: "Jump in for a joyride as Larry Ferguson takes us on a journey of laughter and reflections in Driving Ms. Dottie--and best of all, everybody gets a window seat and Larry pays for the gas! Bless his heart!"

Even gospel singers go bad once in a while!

Bad Boy of Gospel Music: The Calvin Newton Story

by Russ Cheatham (no photo)

Synopsis

"I messed up," Calvin Newton lamented, after wasting thirty years and doing time in both state and federal prisons for theft, counterfeiting, and drug violations. "These were years of my life that I could have been singing gospel music."

During his prime, he was super-handsome, athletic, and charged with sexual charisma that attracted women to him like flies to honey. Atop this abundance was his astounding voice, "the voice of an angel."

This book is his prodigal-son story. Audacious, Newton never turned down a dare, even if it meant climbing on the roof of a speeding car or wading into a freezing ocean. As a boy boxer, he was a Kentucky Golden Gloves champ who k.o.'ed his opponent in twenty-three seconds.

By his late teens he had been recruited by the Blackwood Brothers, the number-one gospel quartet in the world. In his mid-twenties while he was singing Christian songs with the Oak Ridge Quartet, Newton's mighty talent and movie-star looks took him deep into hedonism--reckless driving, heavy romancing, and addictive pill popping.

As 1950s rock 'n' roll began its invasion of gospel, he and two partners formed the Sons of Song, the first all-male gospel trio. Long before the pop sound claimed contemporary Christian music, the Sons of Song turned gospel upside down with histrionic harmony, high-styled tuxedos, and Hollywood verve. Their signature song, "Wasted Years," foreshadowed Newton's punishing fall.

This biography looks back at the destructive lifestyle that wrecked a sparkling career. When well into his sixties, Newton turned his life around and was able to confront his demons and discuss his prodigal days. He talked extensively with Russ Cheatham about his self- destruction and the great personal expense of his own bad-boy choices and late redemption.

Sounds like a good book

Andrae Crouch

Soon And Very Soon:


Through It All:


Take Me Back:

An insightful autobiography by the incomparable "lady of gospel", Shirley Caesar.

The Lady,The Melody, and the Word

by Shirley Caesar (no photo)

Synopsis:

With the same boundless energy that she brings to her singing and preaching, Shirley Caesar tells the incredible story of her life.Eager to give the Lord credit, Caesar describes he humble beginnings, her early career, her calling to become an evangelist as well as a concert performer and her challenges as an African-American woman pastor.

As Caesar says it. "The Lord called me to evangelize as well as to sing. When people come to hear me, they need to know they're not just going to hear a musical, gospel concert. They're going to have church!"

Bill and Gloria Gaither are giants in the southern gospel scene and this book goes behind the scenes to reveal the roots of their song writing talents.

Something Beautiful: The Stories Behind a Half-Century of the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither

by Gloria Gaither (no photo)

Synopsis:

What began 50 years ago, when two high-school English teachers in an Indiana farm community began writing songs to express spiritual insights, has become a volume of church standards sung the world over. Bill and Gloria Gaither's songs have found permanent homes in people's hearts and hymnals, making this couple
among the most prolific and popular in Christian music history. Now fans and music lovers can see inside
the inspiration and life events that created the songs they sing most, including Because He Lives,
There's Something About That Name, and The Family of
God. In her trademark elegant prose, Gloria has created a beautiful keepsake for all those who love Christian music and its history.

Then Sings My Soul: The Culture of Southern Gospel Music

by Douglas Harrison (no photo)

Synopsis:

In this ambitious book on southern gospel music, Douglas Harrison reexamines the music's historical emergence and its function as a modern cultural phenomenon. Rather than a single rhetoric focusing on the afterlife as compensation for worldly sacrifice, Harrison presents southern gospel as a network of interconnected messages that evangelical Christians use to make individual sense of both Protestant theological doctrines and their own lived experiences. Harrison explores how listeners and consumers of southern gospel integrate its lyrics and music into their own religious experience, building up individual--and potentially subversive--meanings beneath a surface of evangelical consensus.

Reassessing the contributions of such figures as Aldine Kieffer, James D. Vaughan, and Bill and Gloria Gaither, Then Sings My Soul traces an alternative history of southern gospel in the twentieth century, one that emphasizes the music's interaction with broader shifts in American life beyond the narrow confines of southern gospel's borders. His discussion includes the "gay-gospel paradox"--the experience of non-heterosexuals in gospel music--as a cipher for fundamentalism's conflict with the postmodern world.

Jill you are such a music maven.

Thanks, Bentley.......I love music!!!

Woke Me Up This Morning: Black Gospel Singers and the Gospel Life

by Alan Young (no photo)

Synopsis:

Many studies of African-American gospel music spotlight history and style. This one, however, is focused mainly on grassroots makers and singers. Most of those included here are not stars. A few have received national recognition, but most are known only in their own home areas. Yet their collective stories presented in this book indicate that black gospel music is one of the most prevalent forms of contemporary American song.

Its author Alan Young is a New Zealander who came to the South seeking authentic blues music. Instead, he found gospel to be the most pervasive, fundamental music in the contemporary African-American South. Blues, he concludes, has largely lost touch with its roots, while gospel continues to express authentic resources. Conducting interviews with singers and others in the gospel world of Tennessee and Mississippi, Young ascertains that gospel is firmly rooted in community life. Woke Me Up This Morning includes his candid, widely varied conversations with a capella groups, with radio personalities, with preachers, and with soloists whose performances reveal the diversity of gospel styles. Major figures interviewed include the Spirit of Memphis Quartet and the Reverend Willie Morganfield, author and singer of the million-selling What Is This? who turned his back on fame in order to pastor a church in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. All speak freely in oral-history style here, telling how they became involved in gospel music and religion, how it enriches their lives, how it is connected to secular music (especially blues), and how the spiritual and the practical are united in their performances. Their accounts reveal the essential grassroots force and spirit of gospel music and demonstrate that if blues springs from America s soul, then gospel arises from its heart. "

The Edwin Hawkins Singers

Oh Happy Day:


Edwin Hawkins and Lynette Hawkins Stephens Live:

Ray Charles and The Voices of Jubilation (live):


Edwin Hawkins has passed away.

Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples:


An interview with Edwin Hawkins on him starting out as a musician:

Excellent posts and I want to listen to the interview when I have a moment more.