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Jul 11, 2023 · Famous for teaching Aretha Franklin to sing gospel, he collaborated with her on the historic, award-winning album Amazing Grace. He’s also the first gospel singer to receive a Hollywood star and is credited with blending traditional black gospel with soul, pop, and jazz sounds for mass choirs.
- Thomas A. Dorsey. Let’s start with the Father of Gospel Music. Thomas Andrew Dorsey is a singer from the 1900s who popularized the gospel music genre. He’s a legend amongst gospel artists who built an unparalleled legacy as a singer, composer, and Christian evangelist and a pioneer of early blues and gospel music.
- Sallie Martin. Only one artist can be the “Mother of Gospel” music if Thomas A. Dorsey is the “Father of Gospel” music. And that has to be Sallie Martin.
- Mahalia Jackson. Mahalia Jackson is one of the greatest gospel singers of all time, widely considered one of the best female vocalists of the 1930s. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and became one of the pioneers of gospel blues.
- Reverend Gary Davis. Reverend Gary Davis was a prolific banjo, guitar, and harmonica player born in Laurens, South Carolina. He was born blind, subjected to harsh treatment by his mother, and forced to live with his grandmother at a young age.
- Kirk Franklin. 1,832 votes. Blending contemporary urban sounds with the unmistakable spirit of gospel music, Kirk Franklin has been a trailblazer in the industry for decades.
- CeCe Winans. 1,635 votes. A shining gem in the storied Winans family, CeCe Winans has made her mark as an extraordinary solo artist in the gospel world. Her angelic voice and heartfelt lyrics have resonated deeply with fans for more than three decades.
- Yolanda Adams. 1,446 votes. Yolanda Adams has been a beacon of inspiration for countless listeners with her powerful vocals and unwavering faith. Often referred to as the "Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music," she has captivated audiences worldwide with her moving performances and uplifting messages.
- Marvin Sapp. 1,476 votes. As a pastor, singer, and songwriter, Marvin Sapp's spiritual journey has undeniably shaped his soul-stirring music. His emotive vocal delivery combined with his ability to craft deeply personal songs has resonated with fans across generations.
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Everybody’s Gonna Have a Wonderful Time Up There. Elvis Presley, himself a fine gospel performer, named Sister Rosetta Tharpe as one of his favorite singers and guitar players.
- Hank Williams: I Saw the Light. Hank Williams’s “I Saw the Light” is one of the finest examples of country gospel. He reportedly penned the song on the journey home from a dance in Fort Deposit, Alabama, when his mother Lilly saw a beacon light near Dannelly Field Airport and roused her son with the words, ”Hank, wake up, we’re nearly home.
- Sidney Bechet: When The Saints Go Marching In. This celebrated feel-good song (with lyrics that take much of their inspiration from the Book Of Revelations) became something of a jazz-gospel standard after Louis Armstrong’s impressive 1938 version.
- Sam Cooke: Peace in the Valley. Sam Cooke grew up listening to “Peace in the Valley,” a song written in 1937 for Mahalia Jackson by Thomas A. Dorsey, and which was later recorded by hundreds of musicians, including Presley and Little Richard.
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Feb 9, 2024 · How gospel music has influenced African American culture | Black History Month. Watch on. Thomas A. Dorsey, the son of a southern Baptist preacher and now considered the father of gospel music, pioneered the sound by blending spirituals and traditional worship music with blues, jazz, and swing.
Dec 19, 2023 · 1. Mahalia Jackson "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" from "Louis Armstrong at Newport 1970" No list of the best gospel singers is complete without Mahalia Jackson. She was the pioneer of the “Golden Age of Gospel” and a driving force behind the rise of the genres of modern gospel and gospel blues.
Feb 13, 2024 · It premiered last night and continues tonight hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. We learned about gospel's origins in Chicago in the early 20th century. The film follows the lives of icons like Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland. It also documents how gospel was crucial in the fight for civil rights.