The Gospel Music Wiki
Contents
The Gospel Music Wiki is a site dedicated to preserving the history of gospel music and its performers.
The History of Gospel Music
Gospel music is a style of Christian music that is characterized by its use of strong vocal harmonies, often with a call and response between the lead singer and the choir. It has its roots in the music of the African American church, and is one of the oldest genres of American music. Gospel music is widely known for its ability to inspire and uplift, and has been a staple of the American musical landscape for centuries.
The Origins of Gospel Music
The origins of Gospel music can be traced back to the early 17th century, with the introduction of enslaved Africans to the American colonies. These Africans brought with them a rich musical heritage, which included a wide variety of singing and drumming styles. African American spirituals, hymns and work songs all played a significant role in the development of Gospel music.
The term “gospel” originally referred to the Christian message itself, but over time it came to be used specifically in reference to music that was created to spread the word of God. Gospel music has always been closely tied to the African American church experience, serving as both an expression of faith and a tool for worship.
Early gospel music was characterized by simple, devotional lyrics and basic melodies that were easy to sing along with. The most popular early gospel songs were often adapted from folk or secular sources, and many were based on popular hymns. As the genre developed, artists began to experiment with more complex harmonies and arrangements, drawing inspiration from jazz, blues and other popular styles.
Today, Gospel music is enjoyed by people of all faiths all over the world. It remains an integral part of African American culture, and continues to evolve as artists find new ways to incorporate contemporary sounds and influences into traditional gospel traditions.
The Development of Gospel Music
The development of gospel music is closely tied to the development of African-American Christian worship. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace.
African-American churches used a wide variety of musical styles in their services before the Civil War. One of the earliest styles was known as “lining out,” in which a leader sung a religious text while the congregation followed along. This type of singing was often accompanied by clapping and dancing.
Another style, known as “ring shout,” developed out of the African tradition of call and response singing. In ring shouts, groups of singers would circle around a central drummer, clapping and singing spontaneously. As ring shout music evolved, it began to incorporate more formal elements such as hymns, anthems, and spirituals.
Gospel music began to take shape in the early 20th century with the rise of spirituals quartets. These groups were mostly made up of four male vocalists who sang close harmony arrangements of religious songs. The first successful gospel quartet was The Trumpet Jubilee Singers, who toured extensively throughout the 1920s.
As quartets became more popular, they began to be used for more than just religious music. They began to sing secular songs as well, which led to some criticism from within the church community. This criticism came to a head in the 1940s with the release of Jewell’s “Jubilee” record, which featured secular songs like “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The record was a hit with both black and white audiences, but it was also denounced by some quarters of the black church community.
In spite of this criticism, gospel quartets continued to grow in popularity through the 1940s and 1950s. Many groups began incorporating instruments into their performances, which led to the development of what is now known as gospel blues. Gospel blues is a style that combines elements of both gospel music and blues music. Some of the most popular gospel blues artists include Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sam Cooke, and Jackie Wilson.
The 1960s saw a renewed interest in traditional spirituals and hymns among both black audiences and white audiences. This renewed interest led to the formation of numerous new gospel groups, includingThe Gospelaires (later known as The Sweet Inspirations), The Soul Stirrers, The Swan Silvertones, and The Fairfield Four. These groups brought traditional black gospel music to new audiences both inside and outside of the church community
The Styles of Gospel Music
There are a few different styles of gospel music. The first style is called quartet gospel. This style is characterized by four male singers who sing in close harmony. The second style is known as jubilee gospel. This style is a little more upbeat and has a six to eight member choir. The last style is called contemporary gospel. This style is the most popular and uses a mix of instruments and voices.
Traditional Gospel Music
Traditional gospel music is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of gospel music. It developed in the late 19th century and early 20th century and is characterized by dramatic, emotional vocals, sometimes accompanied by piano or other instruments, performing a personal testimony or relating a religious message. This style of music originated within the African American church as spirituals and hymns, and developed after the Great Awakening of the 18th century. It was extremely popular in the first half of the 20th century.
Some of the most famous traditional gospel singers include Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, Andraé Crouch, Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, The Williams Brothers, The Fairfield Four, Martha Bass, Walter Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Bessie Griffin, James Moore (gospel singer), Kurt Carr, Earnest Pugh and Kirk Franklin.
Contemporary Gospel Music
Contemporary Gospel Music is a genre of music that is a combination of traditional gospel music and modern pop music. It is also sometimes called Urban Contemporary Gospel music.
The first type of Contemporary Gospel Music is called CCM or Contemporary Christian Music. This type of music is usually sang by artists who are trying to crossover into the mainstream market. The lyrics usually have a positive message, but the music itself is not necessarily religious in nature.
The second type of Contemporary Gospel Music is called black gospel music or urban gospel music. This type of Contemporary Gospel Music includes artists such as Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, andSmokie Norful. The lyrics often focus on social issues and the music has a higher level of religious intensity than CCM.
Urban Gospel Music
Urban Gospel music is a style of Gospel music that is influenced by the sounds of Hip Hop, R&B, and Soul. The early pioneers of this style of music were merging the sounds of these genres with traditional Gospel music to create a new sound that would eventually become its own genre. Mentioned below are some notable artists and groups who have made significant contributions to Urban Gospel music.
-Kirk Franklin
-Tye Tribbett
-Jonathan McReynolds
-Richard Smallwood
-Mario Winans
The Artists of Gospel Music
There are many artists of gospel music who have contributed to the genre over the years. Some of these artists are well-known, while others are not as well-known. Here is a list of some of the artists of gospel music.
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. She has been referred to as “The Queen of Gospel”. She became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as “the single most powerful black woman in the United States”. She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records were very popular, particularly during the early 1960s.
James Cleveland
James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the “King of Gospel Music” and the “Gospel Messenger”, Cleveland was a leading figure in the development of the postwar gospel sound. He is credited with recording more than 100 albums and film scores, many of which became best-sellers and classics.
Born and raised in Chicago by a musical family, Cleveland began his career singing with Walter Hawkins’ Family during the 1950s. He was mentored by Thomas A. Dorsey, who helped develop his musical skills and launched his career in gospel music. In the 1960s, Cleveland’s recordings with The Southern California Community Choir helped to popularize modern gospel music and were some of the first mainstream recordings to feature a mass choir. As a leader of choirs and concert tours, Cleveland frequently collaborated with other major artists in the genre including Aretha Franklin, Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, The Caravans, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and Dorothy Love Coates.
Throughout his career Cleveland won numerous awards including three Grammy Awards, two Dove Awards and an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. His composition “Lord Help Me to Hold Out” has been recorded by more than 150 artists including Mahalia Jackson, Paul Robeson and Johnny Cash. In addition to his work as a singer and composer, Cleveland was an outspoken civil rights activist during the 1960s until his death in 1991.
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American gospel musician, singer, songwriter, choir director, and author. He is known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God’s Property and One Nation Crew (1NC), and has won multiple awards, including 12 Grammy Awards. God’s Property sold over five million copies worldwide. Kirk Franklin was born in Riverside, Texas to Gertrude and Joseph Franklin Sr., who were both alcoholics.
Franklin’s mother died when he was only four years old, so he was raised by his aunt, Pearl Marie Williams. While attending middle school in Dallas, Texas Kirk Franklin joined a seven-member secular rap group called The Sweat Club. He became the main rapper of the group until they disbanded. By this time he had started attending Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he began to grow spiritually under the influence of Reverend James Witherspoon Hannon Sr., who later became his biological father after adopting him in 1985. As a teenager Kirk Franklin frequently got in trouble with the law for participating in various petty crimes such as theft and graffiti. He was also almost expelled from school on several occasions due to his behavior.
The Future of Gospel Music
The gospel music industry is ever-changing. With the industry leaning more towards a digital future, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. The Gospel Music Wiki is a site that does just that.
The Popularity of Gospel Music
Gospel music is on the rise in popularity. In fact, in a recent study, it was found that more people are listening to gospel music now than ever before. There are many reasons for this increase in popularity. One of the main reasons is that gospel music is becoming more mainstream. It is no longer just being played in churches and on the radio. It is now being played on television and in movies. This exposure is helping to bring gospel music to a wider audience.
another reason for the increase in popularity of gospel music is that it is becoming more diverse. There are now many different types of gospel music to choose from. There are traditional gospel songs, contemporary gospel songs, rap gospel songs, and even rock gospel songs. This diversity is appealing to many people who would not have otherwise been exposed to gospel music.
Finally, the message of hope and love that is often found in gospel music is resonating with people all over the world. In a time when there is so much negativity in the world, people are drawn to the positive messages found in gospel music
The Impact of Gospel Music
Gospel music has been around for centuries, with its roots tracing back to the African-American church. Today, gospel music is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds and religions all over the world. It is one of the most popular genres of music, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
Despite its wide appeal, gospel music faces some challenges in the current music landscape. One of the biggest challenges is the way that gospel music is marketed and sold. Traditional gospel music sales channels, such as record labels and churches, are not as effective as they once were in reaching potential listeners.
The internet has changed the way that people consume music, and this has had a big impact on gospel music. More and more people are streaming music online, or downloading it from digital stores such as iTunes. This shift away from physical sales has made it harder for gospel musicians to make a living from their craft.
Another challenge for gospel music is its complicated relationship with Christianity. The majority of gospel musicians are Christian, and their faith is a big part of their musical identity. However, not all Christians support or appreciate gospel music. This can make it difficult for gospel musicians to find a receptive audience within the Christian community.
Despite these challenges, gospel music remains popular and relevant today. It continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of its audience, and there is no doubt that it will continue to be a powerful force in the world of music for many years to come.
