ENTERTAINMENT
5 Fact About Gospel
Music
Gospel music is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of the African-
American church. During the late 1800s, African-American
churches in the southern United States started fusing various
styles of music into their worship services, including African-
American spirituals, hymns, and sacred songs.
RUNNING TIPS
FROM DYLAN HALL
1.Thomas A. Dorsey was an American musician and best known
as the father of black gospel music. He was so closely associated
with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes
known as "dorseys". Some of his best known compositions are
Precious Lord Take My Hand and Peace in the Valley. Dorsey
was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982 and he
was the first African American elected to the Nashville
Songwriters Hall of Fame
2. Porter Wagoner & The Blackwood Brothers Quartet won the first ever Grammy Award for Best
Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance in 1968
3.Yolanda Adams is the #1 leading female gospel artist in American. She is also a record producer, actress,
and former radio host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show.
4. God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation was No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart for five weeks, No. 3
on the Pop charts, and would go on to be certified 3x platinum. It also brought Franklin a Grammy for Best
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as three Grammy nominations.
5. Most secular music artists have been touched by the power of gospel music. It is important to know that,
it’s always rare to find an artist that has not been inspired by the power of gospel band music. Most of the
secular music artists we see today have started their careers in the church choir – to name a few: Whitney
Houston, Katy Perry, John Legend, among others.
SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED | 24