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Theprologue of Gospel Music owes its grandeur and its sense of veracity to Thomas Andrew Dorsey who is called the Father of Gospel Music. He combined Christian praise with the rhythms of jazz and blues. Mr. Dorsey wrote many songs, two of his greatest were Precious Lord and Peace in The Valley. Both of these songs were written after the tragic death of his wife and newborn son. These songs have become community owned songs, as singers and listeners throughout the world relate to the words of assurance that are delivered and adopted in the messages.

The influence of Mahalia Jackson is evident in her style and references to the storms of life and of the good that is produced through overcoming adversity. Her melodious voice stirred listeners as they Moved On Up A Little Bit Higher and invited them to participate in her songs. She developed a flair for composing songs that moved the heart and regenerated the soul of a people who looked to the hills from whence cometh their help. The songs were so exciting and popular that congregations automatically joined in the singing and shouting as they lifted up the name of Jesus.

Religious freedoms stood in the forefront of a people who knew that God was the beginning and the end. The methodical beats of and the syncopation rhythms of Mrs. Albertina Walker and the Caravan gave birth to a brand new gospel experience. With her words representing patience, endurance, survival, and staying power, her voice rekindled the awesome power of God as she told Him in song Lord Keep Me Day by Day. Her dominant presence in religious song has been formulated, devised, developed, and shared among all generations. The Caravan along with Mrs. Walker presented a wholesome type of devotion that rekindled a loyalty, which inspired the people to rise up and become God fearing. Mrs. Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois and began singing in the youth choir at the West Point Baptist Church at an early age, and joined several Gospel groups thereafter, including The Pete Williams Singers and the Robert Anderson Singers. Albertina was greatly influenced by Mahalia Jackson her friend andconfidante. Mahalia Jackson took her on the road when she was just a teenager. Mahalia used to kid me. Shed say, Girl, you need to go sing by yourself. Albertina Walker did just that. In 1951, she formed the group called The Caravans. She was given the title Queen of Gospel Music initially by such notables as the late Reverend James Cleveland and Jessy Jackson for her outstanding achievements within the genre after the death of Mahalia Jackson in 1972.

More than that. The great struggle of the 1960s until 1980 was a struggle of the common man. It was a battle for rights against privileges, the long, slow, and awkward striving for government, this syncopation consisted of the people, by the people, and for the people- the struggles which were identical in Blacks, Whites, Brown, and Others.

And in this common struggle of man / woman we have found that no one member can win or can lose alone. For we are all in this struggle of lifetogether, look around; the musical chord of brotherhood joins usunified together. Against the most revered and arrogant institution of entrenched Segregation that this Nation has ever experienced, Black people came to believe that we were Somebody and that We do count in the great scheme of things. It is impossible for us to understand the development of Gospel Music without some knowledge of the temptations that have crossed our faith. There has never been a time when Gospel Music has not been a part of the African American Experience. When we consider the tragic, dreadful, and catastrophic experiences which occur to so many in our society- and when wetend to feel and believe that there is no way out, Gospel Music is there toTake our Hands and Lead us On. Finally, this sincere admiration of Gospel Music, this admiration and reverence is now felt throbbing in every corner of the globe, and are the Musical Chords that bind the Nations of the world together while yet leaving unimpaired that love of country in the individual citizen which in the present stage of the worlds progress is essential to the worlds well-being.

In analyzing those factors that have entered into our moral and spiritual lives, we find that the part that slavery has played in the drama of African Americans life that was experienced in this new land. The Gospels of this era had a measure of strength, might and potency. It revealed humanity in times of severe, brutal, and relentless hardships. But throughout this ordeal, Gospel Music wasa place of inspiration. It was a comfort that provided a renewed hope, a renewed joy, renewed peace, and a renewed passion for life. The music is a deep well cast down into a refreshing stream of life encompassing notes.

Contemporary Gospel is a development of our faculties and powers through a relationship with God. It reinforced the belief that God is the Master of our Faith and the Captain of our soul. And we need, incidentally, to know enough to know whose we are and what we are here for. This new music had its crossover into theworld of entertainment through such stars as Ray Charles, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, The Edwin Hawkins Singers (O Happy Day), Andrea Crouch; (The Blood Will Never Lose its Power), which was composed by him when he was only thirteen years of age.

Gospel Music is not a mere form of entertainment to be had when desired; it is a form of character, obedience, and spirit. It follows upon the long discipline, which gives a people self-possession, self-mastery, a habit of order and peace and common counsel and reverences for Gods will that directs our lives.