Rolling Stone magazine has a terrific inside story on why it took 46 years for Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace concert to be released as a documentary. Considered to be one of Aretha’s greatest albums, and one of the greatest all …
Watch: The Dixie Hummingbirds live in 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 …
Listen to a World Cafe tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin
On this very special tribute to the Queen of Soul, World Cafe host Talia Schlanger is joined by Detroit resident and gospel music professor Dr. Deborah Pollard, NPR Music Senior Director Lauren Onkey, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and Music …
Listen to Theotis Taylor’s “new” gospel recording, Something Within Me
Based in North Carolina, the Music Maker Relief Foundation is a non-profit organization that was “founded to preserve the musical traditions of the South by directly supporting the musicians who make it, ensuring their voices will not be silenced by …
Pseudonyms and Session Men: Blurring the Boundaries between Sacred and Secular by Robert M. Marovich
In September, 1950, Mary Deloatch stepped into a New York City recording studio, strapped on her guitar and, surrounded by musicians that included pianist Devonia “Lady Dee” Williams and drummer Johnny Otis, belted out “Beer Bottle Boogie” under her stage …
Listen to Prince cover “Mary Don’t You Weep”
Prince has shared a solo version of his cover of the spiritual turned gospel classic, “Mary Don’t You Weep, that you can listen to above. Based on a spiritual written before the Civil War, an arrangement of the song was …
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 …
Paul Thorn talks about his gospel music roots with NPR’s Scott Simon
Roots-rocker and singer-songwriter Paul Thorn has a new gospel influenced album, Don’t Let The Devil Ride, The album was recorded in three locations – Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, and Preservation Hall in New Orleans …