Gospel is a genre of music that came as a result of jubilee quartets around the 1930’s. It emerged from big cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles, and quickly became a popular way for religious folks to worship. It shares similar qualities with jubilee quartets, sometimes including a call and response aspect.
Big Names in Gospel: Thomas A. Dorsey
- the father of gospel
- learned to read music and play the piano
- known for composing “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” and “Peace in the Valley”
Big Names in Gospel: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- the original soul sister
- the Godmother of rock and roll
- played the electric guitar
- combined gospel with rock and roll
Different Types of Gospel
Traditional Gospel Music had a holiness-pentecostal style to it. Contemporary Gospel Music combined elements of other genres with gospel, such as funk, rock, and jazz.
