Since the start of our Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul project, one of statements we’ve most frequently made has been “Without gospel music there would be no Aretha Franklin.” Today we lost one of the most powerful voices in …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Listen to an interview with Dr. Bobby Jones on NPR’s Morning Edition
Dr. Bobby Jones has spent a significant portion of his life in gospel music. As a singer, radio and television host, educator, author, Grammy Award winner, and filmmaker, Jones has enjoyed an illustrious career in gospel music. Born in Tennessee, …
Listen to hundreds of gospel songs archived for the Great 78 Project by George Blood
According to their website, the Great 78 Project “is a community project for the preservation, research and discovery of 78rpm records.” IFrom about 1898 to the 1950s, an estimated 3 million sides (~3 minute recordings) have been made on 78rpm …