One of the offshoots of the Second Great Awakening that swept through the United States in the first part of the nineteenth century was that slaves were inspired to create gospel songs, which incorporated their own folk traditions.
Slave Songs of the United States, the first major collection of these spirituals, was published in 1867.
In 1874 singer and composer Philip P. Bliss edited a revival song book Gospel Songs, which was the first published use of the term 'gospel' in music.
Thomas A. Dorsey is considered the Father Of Gospel Music. His first gospel song, "If You See my Savior Tell Him That You Saw Me" was published in 1932. Dorsey was recognized as a musical innovator for the way he combined African American spirituals with the rhythms of the blues and jazz to produce a new form of Christian music.
The gospel composer was accused of bringing the blues and jazz into the church. "I went into a church once and they almost threw me out because I sang one of my gospel songs" Dorsey remembered. "After I’d sung it the people accepted it in such a way that the preacher denounced it saying, "You can’t sing no gospel, you can only preach it. I wanted to tell him that was a lie but I didn’t."
Dorsey wrote his best known gospel song "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" after experiencing the double tragedy of losing his wife after she gave birth then losing his baby son.
The renowned singer Mahalia Jackson was the first Gospel star, appealing to white as well as black audiences. However, she was forced to sleep in her car at night when she performed in segregated areas where motels refused rooms to African Americans. Jackson also carried her own food with her, as she didn’t patronize segregated restaurants.
Mahalia Jackson's 1946 recording of "Move on Up a Little Higher" was Gospel Music's first million seller.
Elvis Presley's 1960 LP His Hand in Mine is often considered the start of contemporary gospel music
The three Grammys that Elvis received were all for gospel music, He won two for his version of "How Great Thou Art" and one for his He Touched Me album.
Slave Songs of the United States, the first major collection of these spirituals, was published in 1867.
In 1874 singer and composer Philip P. Bliss edited a revival song book Gospel Songs, which was the first published use of the term 'gospel' in music.
Thomas A. Dorsey is considered the Father Of Gospel Music. His first gospel song, "If You See my Savior Tell Him That You Saw Me" was published in 1932. Dorsey was recognized as a musical innovator for the way he combined African American spirituals with the rhythms of the blues and jazz to produce a new form of Christian music.
The gospel composer was accused of bringing the blues and jazz into the church. "I went into a church once and they almost threw me out because I sang one of my gospel songs" Dorsey remembered. "After I’d sung it the people accepted it in such a way that the preacher denounced it saying, "You can’t sing no gospel, you can only preach it. I wanted to tell him that was a lie but I didn’t."
Dorsey wrote his best known gospel song "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" after experiencing the double tragedy of losing his wife after she gave birth then losing his baby son.
The renowned singer Mahalia Jackson was the first Gospel star, appealing to white as well as black audiences. However, she was forced to sleep in her car at night when she performed in segregated areas where motels refused rooms to African Americans. Jackson also carried her own food with her, as she didn’t patronize segregated restaurants.
Mahalia Jackson's 1946 recording of "Move on Up a Little Higher" was Gospel Music's first million seller.
Elvis Presley's 1960 LP His Hand in Mine is often considered the start of contemporary gospel music
The three Grammys that Elvis received were all for gospel music, He won two for his version of "How Great Thou Art" and one for his He Touched Me album.
The largest gospel choir consists of 21,262 participants, achieved by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) (Philippines), in Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue and Santa Maria, Philippines, on May 22, 2016.
The choir collectively sang three hymns in the Philippine Arena, accompanied by an organ.
Source Hungry For Heaven by Steve Turner
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