| Another Uniquely American Invention, | | | | in "Like a Prayer, gospel music, |
| Black Gospel Music Lyrics and Songs are | | | | alongside and sometimes overlapping the |
| Universally Uplifting | | | | growing popularity of rap, black gospel |
| When an individual not entirely familiar | | | | has become not only a viable commercial |
| with the character of gospel music | | | | enterprise, but a prominent, if |
| thinks of the genre, that person | | | | understated, feature of American |
| probably wouldn't consider it as | | | | culture. |
| intricately tied into American culture. | | | | Southern Gospel has ingrained itself in |
| Perhaps that person would think of the | | | | American culture in a similar manner, |
| kind of music often sung in black | | | | though its evolution is surprisingly |
| Churches, or the film "O Brother, Where | | | | analogous. Think of George Clooney |
| Art Thou?" might pop into mind. | | | | crooning away in the hit movie "Oh |
| One might acknowledge the music's | | | | Brother, Where art Thou?". The type of |
| relevance to specific niche groups of | | | | music he sings there is actually |
| our society, but probably wouldn't rank | | | | representative of one of the few musical |
| it nearly as influential as, say, Rock, | | | | genres that has maintained its |
| Jazz, Rap, or even Country. | | | | popularity since the early days of sound |
| What most people don't understand, but | | | | recording. This type of music has its |
| which is understood within the gospel | | | | origins in a mixture of the slave |
| song industry, is that 'Gospel music' | | | | spirituals of black gospel, and a more |
| isn't just a single genre. The gospel | | | | Puritan sound known as heart song. This |
| label encompasses a wide range of | | | | acapella music, one of the few really |
| sounds, styles, and messages, and the | | | | acceptable in Puritan society, was |
| simplistic description of it as "God | | | | commonly sung in praise of God and |
| music" simply isn't appropriate. In | | | | spirituality. Fast forward 150 years or |
| fact, understanding the evolution and | | | | so, and there's a new industry booming |
| impact of Gospel provides valuable | | | | through the use of radio and recorded |
| insight in the character of American | | | | songs. Very quickly the easy, upbeat, |
| culture. | | | | and catchy sounds of quartet music |
| Black Gospel and Southern Gospel | | | | gained prominence with listeners. |
| Explained | | | | It's important to point out that while |
| The primary difference was that Black | | | | Southern Gospel is different from |
| Gospel was and still is primarily about | | | | 'black' Gospel, that doesn't mean one is |
| God, while Southern Gospels tend to be | | | | just in the domain of the white folks |
| addressed to God. Both genres, then also | | | | while the other is for black folks. Many |
| vary radically from other Christian | | | | of the early quartet groups had some or |
| music, with which they are often | | | | all black members. In fact, as Black |
| confused. The history of Gospel is rich | | | | Gospel did not gain popularity outside |
| and intricate. So, to make it simple, | | | | of black culture until many decades |
| let's look at it from two basic | | | | later, these quartets were one the |
| perspectives. We'll take the earlier | | | | earliest opportunities for black |
| examples, and consider black Church | | | | entertainers to gain mainstream |
| music, and the kinds of sounds people | | | | attention and recognition. |
| know from O Brother Where Art Thou. | | | | As Popular as Ever |
| These two perspectives summarize the | | | | Nearly a century later, and much of |
| essential roots of Gospel music, as a | | | | Southern Christian Gospel has remained |
| fusion between early American white and | | | | unchanged. While its popularity died in |
| black culture. | | | | the middle of the century, the couple |
| Similar Roots to Jazz | | | | Bill and Gloria Gaith did much to revive |
| Black church music is probably the most | | | | it in the early 90's through a massive |
| obvious example of gospel music that | | | | national tour. This inspired a movement |
| people have in their minds. Similarly to | | | | that reached out to new listeners, and |
| Jazz, this type of music traces its | | | | eventually grew into Progressive |
| roots back to slave spirituals sung in | | | | Christian Gospel, a sub-genre that mixes |
| the 19th century, and, also like Jazz, | | | | elements of traditional, traditional |
| continues its evolution up through work | | | | Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, modern |
| songs sung in labor camps in the early | | | | country, contemporary Christian and pop |
| 20th century. However, it splits from | | | | music. This evolution has helped spread |
| the more secular jazz music at this | | | | its popularity and accessibility, |
| point. | | | | particularly among younger listeners. |
| Segregation Breeds Invention | | | | Today, Southern Christian Gospel remains |
| Due much in part to the segregation of | | | | one of the most popular forms of music |
| America in the early and mid twentieth | | | | in the country, though it functions |
| century, black churches quickly | | | | within a very closed community. Despite |
| developed a very different culture than | | | | this exclusiveness, its influence has |
| those that white people often attended. | | | | spread to other countries, particularly |
| The oral tradition that began with black | | | | Ireland, (List others). More than being |
| spirituals had grown and developed, and | | | | simply religious Southern Christian |
| synthesizing with religious | | | | Gospel represents the spiritual and |
| connotations, found its way into | | | | aethetic characteristic of American |
| churches. These spirituals became a | | | | society. |
| staple part of church life, but never | | | | So, while one might not see billboards |
| saw much commercialization until the end | | | | prominently displaying the latest Gospel |
| of the 20th century. After public | | | | artists, or read about it in history |
| exposure in film and even some pop | | | | textbooks, it remains an important and |
| music, perhaps most famously by Madonna | | | | stalwart part of the American identity. |