Search results
Feb 9, 2024 · Gospel music as we know it today remains a sacred part of Black History and continues unifying congregations worldwide. Below are 21 Black gospel artists who have significantly impacted the genre and its history over the last 50 years.
- Hezekiah Walker. Bishop Hezekiah Walker is the founder and Senior Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle church (LFC) with locations in Brooklyn, NY, Bensalem, PA, Long Island, NY, Lilburn, GA and Columbia, SC.
- Mary Mary. Sisters Erica and Tina Atkins make up the duo known to the world as Mary Mary. These ladies have won awards from BET, the Doves, the Grammys, the NAACP, Soul Train and the Stellars.
- Donald Lawrence. Grammy Award-winning producer, composer and recording artist Donald Lawrence has spent the past 20 years giving us music to love. He's been the driving force behind the Tri-City Singers (made up of singers from the Carolina cities of Charlotte, Gastonia and Spartanburg) and The Co.
- Kirk Franklin. Since 1993, the name Kirk Franklin has been synonymous with Urban Gospel music. He has won 3 Grammy Awards, 14 Doves, 33 Stellars and 3 NAACP Image Awards.
Black Gospel Artist Highlights. Mahalia Jackson. Shirley Caesar. The Dixie Hummingbirds. Kirk Franklin. The Mighty Clouds of Joy. The Winans. The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama. The Soul Stirrers.
People also ask
Who are the top black gospel artists today?
What is black gospel music?
Is gospel music a sacred part of Black History?
What are some examples of gospel music?
- Donnie Mcclurkin
- Fred Hammond
- Smokie Norful
- Hezekiah Walker
- Bebe & Cece Winans
- Kirk Franklin
- Mary Mary
- Yolanda Adams
- Israel Houghton, A Black Male Gospel Singer
- William Mcdowell
Donnie McClurkin grew up in a home filled with domestic and drug abuse. McClurkin began to play the piano and sing in the church youth choir after his aunt adopted him. He worked as an associate minister in 1989, the same year he battled leukemia. McClurkin is a recognized gospel singer, continuing to tour and sing at various churches. He debuted h...
Fred Hammond addresses God and His power in his music. Hammond believes that in moments of sadness, we can find solace in praising the Lord. The lyrics in his songs are powerful and show that if you have faith in a higher power, they can help guide the way during difficult times. Hammond tours worldwide, reaching thousands of followers and fans. He...
Smokie Norful won a Grammy for the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2005. He grew up as the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister. He already showed interest in music as a young boy and attended lessons to deepen his knowledge. Smokie Norful has a history degree from the University of Arkansas and taught high school for multip...
Another Grammy award-winning gospel artist, Hezekiah Walker was born in Brooklyn, New York. He leads and acts as pastor for the Love Fellowship Choir. Walker created the Covenant Keepers Fellowship, which visits various churches throughout the United States. The members include people of all ages, races, and cultures. He released multiple albums ov...
Bebe (Benjamin) and Cece (Priscilla) Winans are from Detroit. Their music hits gospel notes with religious messages, but includes contemporary R&B. They debuted their first album in the early 1980s and scored averagely on music charts. They released their second album in 1988, which resulted in three R&B hits and reached top rankings for this genre...
Kirk Franklin is originally from Texas and is considered a platinum-selling black artist, blending various genres such as gospel, hip-hop, and R&B. He launched his first gospel album in 1993 while leading a few gospel choirs, including Kirk Franklin & The Family. He started playing the piano before he was five years old. Franklin struggled with var...
Mary Mary consists of sisters Erica Monique Campbell and Trecina Evette Campbell. They implement soul and hip-hop music, popular in the 2000s. The sisters entered their church choirs while growing up, then attended El Camino College to study voice. Their first single, “Shackles (Praise You),” reached top 10 R&B and top 40 hits, succeeding as a more...
Yolanda Adams is a Grammy and Dove-Award-winning Gospel singer. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley and started working as a schoolteacher and model before pursuing music full-time. She signed a label with Sound of Gospel, releasing her first album in 1987. Several songs afterward allowed her to obtain more popularity and becom...
Israel Houghton is a well-known worship leader, African American gospel singer, and producer. He has worked as a minister since 1989 and is the National Director of Music and Worship for Champions for Christ. Houghton leads worship at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Houghton and his wife founded New Breed Ministries in 1995, a group of musicians...
William McDowell started playing piano at five and drums at thirteen. By the time he was eighteen, McDowell led worship at his Ohio church and interacted with some of the most respected black pastors worldwide. McDowell traveled to several countries to see the religious cultures and understand how people worship God differently. He has a Bachelor’s...
- In Jesus Name – Israel & New Breed. From a musician’s perspective, Israel Houghton has some of the most interesting rhythms and instrumentation of any artist anywhere.
- See You Again – Anthony Evans. This song knocked me out when I first heard it. I decided this was the gospel song I was finally going to try in my church.
- Way Maker – Sinach. This is one of those songs that unexpectedly takes the world by storm. Nearly every worship band and major Christian artist has covered it by now, and it will continue its rise in 2023.
- Every Praise – Hezekiah Walker. You see, there’s just certain I can’t pull off when I lead worship. Like call and response. Walker performs this masterfully.
Browse the top black gospel artists to find new music. Scrobble songs to get recommendations on tracks you'll love.
Urban contemporary gospel. Black gospel music, often called gospel music or gospel, is the traditional music of the Black diaspora in the United States. It is rooted in the conversion of enslaved Africans to Christianity, both during and after the trans-atlantic slave trade, starting with work songs sung in the fields and, later, with religious ...
