Gospel singer and electric guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past weekend. Tharpe is best known for her innovative guitar playing and the influence she had on the early roots of …
Sister Rosetta Tharpe to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s electric gospel sound was crucial in paving the way for rock and roll, and the late singer and guitarist is finally getting her day at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. She joins this …
Watch performances from the Gospel Roots concert at First Unitarian Church
On March 8th, 2018, members of the choirs from the First Unitarian Church and Mother Bethel AME in Philadelphia collaborated on a peformance together of a program of songs that illustrated the musical breadth of the Gospel Roots of Rock …
Photos and review of the Fisk Jubilee Singers at World Cafe Live
The Fisk Jubilee Singers performed at World Cafe Live on Thursday evening, March 29th to a standing room only full capacity crowd as part of WXPN’s Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul Project. Led by musical director Dr. Paul T. …
Mr. Rock and Soul: Roy Hamilton’s gospel and spiritual beginnings
Gospel and R&B singer Roy Hamilton was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite singers. Born in Leesburg, Georgia in 1929, Hamilton began singing in his church choir when he was six years old. When he was 14, Hamilton moved with his …
Recap of an Evening of Spirituals and Spiritual-Inspired Songs with Mother Bethel AME Mass Choir and the First Unitarian Church Choir
On March 8, 2018, the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia hosted the first GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL concert. “An Evening of Spirituals and Spiritual Inspired Songs” was a collaboration between the First Unitarian Church Choir, under the musical …
How The Soul Stirrers’ gospel laid the foundation for rock and soul – by Robert M. Marovich
The Soul Stirrers and the Rock of Salvation By Robert M. Marovich The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan was flush with rock and roll royalty. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards mingled with Stevie Wonder and producer Phil Spector. Gazing around the …
Listen to an interview and performance with the Blind Boys of Alabama on World Cafe
The Blind Boys of Alabama founding members Clarence Fountain and Jimmy Carter are the two suriving original members of the group and have been singing together for 70 years. Since their earliest days, the gorup built a career by putting …