“The Twist” emerged from mid-twentieth century African American gospel and rhythm and blues to become a massive rock and roll dance hit in the early 1960s. Recorded by Philadelphia singer Chubby Checker (real name Ernest Evans, b. 1941) and released …
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 …
A conversation with Pastor Mitty Collier
Born in Birmingham, Alabaman, Mitty Collier was an R&B crooner. She sang to screaming audiences at the Apollo and her song “I Had a Talk with My Man” was top 10 on Billboard’s R&B chart. She had a number of …
Cece Winans on NPR’s Morning Edition
This article and interview by Jewly Hight originally appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition. ——————————————————————————————————————————————— When CeCe Winans, her husband Alvin Love II and their two children moved into their gated community in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood in the mid-’90s, …
“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 …
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 …
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, …
The Dixie Hummingbirds announce plans for their 90th anniversary celebration
The Dixie Hummingbirds are about to celebrate their 90th anniversary, and today at a press conference at the African American Museum in Philadelphia announced a yearlong celebration of live concerts, a reissue of their 2011 album, Gospel Praise Songs – …
“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. …
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 …
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