Before Janis Joplin sang it, ‘Cry Baby’ was the chart-topping R&B track written and performed by Garnet Mimms in 1963. The song was an instant hit and skyrocketed Mimms to an exciting career as one of the first noted soul …
A conversation with internationally acclaimed Philadelphia DJ and producer King Britt
Philadelphia-based music producer and DJ, King Britt is not a gospel musician, but that doesn’t mean his music isn’t religious. Whether on the dancefloor or in the studio, King has the aptitude to shift vibes, and in that, conjure a …
Stephanie Renee on the significance of historically Black colleges and universities on gospel and contemporary music
Stephanie Renee doesn’t need a microphone. After years of vocal training, she knows how to project her voice at any range. Stephanie’s musical education started at the Galbraith AME choir in Washington DC where she grew up, and by high …
Inside the Linwood Heath “Gospel Highway” interview archives
Linwood Heath, the “Gospel Historian,” is a Philadelphia gospel radio legend. Born and raised in Philadelphia, experienced his first taste of gospel music in high school when he joined with five classmates and found the Savoy Singers. WDAS Radio personality, …
Sample this: Gospel samples in hip-hop music
(Chance the Rapper at Made In America | Photo by Cameron Pollack for WXPN) Note: This article was written for WXPN’S GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL. GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL has been supported by The Pew Center …
A conversation with Richard Smallwood
Despite his Grammy and world recognized sound, Richard Smallwood can’t seem to wrap his mind around his success. Smallwood sees his music as larger than himself. His music has the ability to unify people from all over the world, and …
“My bright and morning star” : Faith Over Matter in the Fresh Air Archives
Terry Gross has interviewed some of the greatest gospel and gospel influenced artists of all time. Artists like Al Green – who rarely agrees to interviews anymore – and Marion Williams, who passed away in 1994, are enshrined in the …
Keep the Music Alive: Philadelphia’s TCS Records on the Rise
Gwen Carter’s North Philadelphia home is impeccable. The whole house is color coordinated and on an average day the dining room is set with plates, cutlery, and cloth napkins as if awaiting a dinner party at any moment. There’s only …
“Singing is part of everybody’s life”: The Studs Terkel Radio Archive on gospel music
The Studs Terkel Radio Archives is a digital collection of recordings of the iconic broadcaster’s radio interviews on Chicago classical radio station WFMT. After Terkel retired in 1997, all 5,600 of his recordings were donated to the Chicago History Museum. …
Gospel Music’s Popularity in Europe
Germany, France, and the UK may not come to mind as incubators for African American sacred music. But in fact there’s a long standing history of American Spirituals and gospel music making waves in Europe dating back to the late …