In this interview on American Bandstand from April 4th, 1964, with American Bandstand host Dick Clark and Sam Cooke, Cooke explains why he left “spiritual” music for pop. At thirty seconds into the interview Cooke offers an honest explanation. Born …
Watch performances by the St. Thomas Gospel Choir from the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul event
Under the superb musical direction of Walt Blocker, Philadelphia’s St. Thomas Gospel Choir performed a jubilant musical service of gospel and gospel influenced R&B at a Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul event on Saturday, October 20th at the African …
Photo recap: The St. Thomas Gospel Choir live performance
Philadelphia’s St. Thomas Gospel Choir performed a jubilant musical service of gospel and gospel influenced R&B at a Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul event on Saturday, October 20th at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Overbrook. Under …
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 …
In Gospel Music’s Heyday, Philadelphia was the City of Sisterly Love
The soul music of Philadelphia conjures images of male groups like the O’Jays and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes with Teddy Pendergrass. But make no mistake: women put the City of Brotherly Love on the gospel music map. Of …
Watch The McCrary Sisters live in concert for the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul project
The McCrary Sisters – Ann, Deborah, Regina, Alfredo – dazzled a standing room only crowd on Saturday evening, September 22nd at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia at the latest concert in the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul series. The …
Photo recap: The McCrary Sisters concert at World Cafe Live
The McCrary Sisters – Ann, Deborah, Regina, Alfredo – and dazzled a standing room only crowd on Saturday evening, September 22nd at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia at the latest concert in the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul series. …
Snoop Dogg: Straddling the spiritual and secular
This lyric, ladies and gents, is how the world was introduced to Snoop Dogg. Creep with me as I crawl through the hood Maniac, lunatic, call him Snoop Eastwood Kickin’ dust as I bust, f*ck peace And the motherf*ckin’ punk …
Photo recap: The Dixie Hummingbirds concert at World Cafe Live
On Wednesday evening, August 29th, the legendary Dixie Hummingbirds kicked off their 90th year anniversary celebration with a live show for the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul project at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. A standing room only crowd …
The Doors To The Church ARE Open: A memoir of growing up in Mount Zion
Mention Black folks and churchgoing, and regardless of your ethnic background, most people’s brains come up with a sound or an image that hovers between the highly-expressive denominations of Pentecostal and Southern Baptist. Lots of fan-waving, elaborate hat-wearing, white pantyhose, …