Modern Black Gospel Music• Thomas A Dorsey – Responsible

for initial propagation of modern gospel music

• Promoter, organizer, and manager, as well as composer

• Dorsey published his songs not in book collections but as sheet

music

Commercialization in Black Gospel Music

• Contemporary now accounts for a significant segment of American popular music

• Traditional gospel continues to flourish and remain a staple of worship

• Today many gospel choirs are multiracial and multidenominational

The Era of the Gospel Divas

• During the first phase of modern gospel music female singers dominated

• Mahalia Jackson, Rosetta Tharpe, Marion Williams, Ruth Davis

• These women developed distinctive sytles that were individual blends of certain enduring characteristics of gospel singing

The Gospel Quartets

• 1930-1945 “Jubilee Period”• Unaccompanied male singers adopted

mannerisms from aspects of Jazz and Holiness singing

• In some ways this was a sacred counterpart of the black barbershop quartet

• “Golden Gate Quartet” first called the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartette

Styles in Black Gospel Music

• Contemporary Gospel Music– Audience to be entertained, soothed and

comforted

• Traditional Gospel Music– conveys the ambience of an actual

service– congregation is actively participants