Lecture Slides: Gospel Music

Gospel Music

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Gospel Music

• To understand American music, you must first try to understand the spirituals and Gospel music.
• Gospel music originated from African American slaves who sang praises to the lord and pleaded for relinquishment from the chains of slavery.
• In today's time, Gospel music can be seen in movies and television shows.
• It has impacted other races and cultures and has even crossed over into pop culture.
• What today’s Gospel music is an what it is becoming is part of the evolution of African American music

Thomas Dorsey

• Thomas Dorsey is a key figure in the development of gospel music composing over 400 blues and gospel songs.
• Raised in the church, he loved the moaning and singing from the heart
• He was a natural musician and was forced to drop out of school at age eleven when his family’s farm failed
• He took piano lessons and began performing in brothels and bars to pay the rent
• In 1916 , he joined the Great Migration moving to Chicago looking for a better life until depression took over resulting in him returning to his home in Atlanta.
• Dorsey wrote the most famous gospel-blues song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord in 1932 after his wife and newborn son died unexpectantly
• Another famous song by Dorsey is "If You See My Savior"

Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993) - “Father of Gospel”

Mahalia Jackson

(1911-1972) “Worlds Greatest Gospel Singer”

• The owner of Apollo records was in the audience and offered her a contract
• In 1947, her career soared when she recorded “move on up a little higher” when she sold fifty thousand copies, eventually selling two million copies

• In 1929, she became a member of the Johnson gospel singers and began working with Thomas A. Dorsey to promote his songs
• In 1937, she recorded two songs for Decca records that did not sell well so she was dropped from the label
• In 1946, she received her big break when a gospel promotor offered her $1000 to sing at the golden gate ballroom in New York.

• She was known as the “little girl with the big voice” singing in her Sunday school choir in New Orleans before she had reached the age of five..
• Her dream was to become a nurse, not a singer, however she could not afford to pursue her dream.

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Shirley Caesar

• Shirley was born the tenth of 12 children, in 1938 in Durham, NC
• Her father was a tobacco worker in NC and was a well-known lead singer in a gospel quartet, called the Just Came Four.
• She started singing with the group at age ten until she was twelve until her father died.
• By age thirteen she recorded her first song “I’d Rather Serve Jesus”
• In 1956, she enrolled in NC State College studying business for two years until she joined the Caravans led by Alberta Walker.
• In 1961, she recorded “Hallelujah ‘Tis Done” and left the group and became a preacher and evangelist
• She often teamed up with singer James Cleveland to make records because they had a similar style and were called the “King and Queen of Gospel.
• In 1966, she formed her group called the Caesars Singers and won her first Grammy in 1971 for the popular soulful gospel song “Put Your Hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee”
• Shirley went on to create Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries fulfilling her calling as a pastor

Shirley Caesar (1938-)- “First Lady of Gospel”

James Cleveland

• Rev. James Cleveland attended Pilgrim Baptist Church where he was mentored by Thomas A. Dorsey.
• During the 1950’s he lived in Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, and Chicago serving as a music minister and assistant pastor in several churches.
• In the 1960’s, Cleveland was ordained and moved to Los Angeles to pastor the new greater Harvest Baptist Church.
• Cleveland known as the “King of Gospel” was an exciting vocalist with gritty quality also taught Aretha Franklin how to sing.
• He was credited with writing and arranging more than 400 gospel songs and was the first gospel artist to receive a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

James Cleveland (1931-1991) “King of Gospel”

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Aretha Franklin

(1942-2018)The Queen of Soul

• "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin known for hits such as "Respect", Freeway of Love"
• In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• In 2008, she won her 18th Grammy Award making her one of the most decorated artist in Grammy history
• In 1968, Franklin performed at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during which she paid tribute to her father's fallen friend with a heartfelt rendition of "Precious Lord."
• In 1993, Franklin was invited to sing at the inauguration of Bill Clinton, and the following year she received both a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• In 2009, she sang at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.

aretha

Gospel

franklin

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Yolanda Adams

• Yolanda had many musical influences, including gospel
• Former teacher from Houston Texas and oldest of six children
• Adams released four successful albums between 1990 and 1997
• Her song “Open My Heart” reached double platinum and reached number one on the gospel charts and number ten on the R&B
• She later received backlash from the public on whether the song lyrics were scared and pure or secular.
• Five-time Grammy Award Winner
• Another song by Adams is "The Battle is the Lord's"

(1961--) Queen of Contemporary Gospel

Kirk Franklin

(1970-) “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”

• Kirk franklin is one the of the biggest names in contemporary gospel.
• He got his first job at age 11 making $25 a week directing the choir at Mount Rose Baptist church
• Known for merging hip-hop, pop with gospel bringing the club sound into the church.
• In 1992, he rounded up 15 of his closest singing friends/family and became Kirk Franklin and the family.
• His 1993 song “Why We Sing” was the first gospel album to sell over a million copies
• Kirk bridged the gap between gospel music and youth culture in 1997 when he released the remix of “Stomp” with a verse with Salt from Salt-n-Pepa

Sources

Bromberg, H. (2019). James Cleveland. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia. Caesar, Shirley (1938-). (1998). In Encyclopedia of World Biography. Franklin's 'Fight of My Life' Reflects Many Interests. (2007, December 18). All Things Considered. Gospel Star Kirk Franklin Wants To Help You Lose Your Religion. (2016, January 31). Weekend All Things Considered. Harmon, J. (2020). Mahalia Jackson. In The American Mosaic: The African American Experience Honoring And Remembering Singer Aretha Franklin And Her Voice. (2018, August 16). All Things Considered. Price, Emmett G., Iii. (2020). Thomas A. Dorsey. In The American Mosaic: The African American Experience. The Rev. James Cleveland, 59; Pastor Hailed as ‘King of Gospel'. (1991, February 11). New York Times. Yolanda Adams (1961--). (2012). In L. Bracks, African American Almanac : 400 Years Of Triumph, Courage And Excellence . Visible Ink Press.

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Gospel Music

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She is known as the “Queen of Contemporary Gospel."

Yolanda Adams

Nina Simone

Karen Clark

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Who wrote “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” in 1932?

Thomas Dorsey

Dr. Mattie Moss

Kirk Franklin

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She was known as the little girl with the big voice.

Yolanda Adams

Mahalia Jackson

Shirley Caesar

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In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame.

Aretha Franklin

Tamala Mann

Lashon Pace

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