Gospel Music: A Spiritual Journey Through African American Heritage - A comprehensive exploration of Gospel Entstehung and its evolution from spirituals to modern-day worship music.
- The term Gospel translates to "evangelium" and represents a Christian African American musical tradition rooted in communal singing
- Emerged from Spirituals in 1870, incorporating elements of blues and jazz while focusing on New Testament themes
- Features distinctive musical characteristics including call-and-response, improvisation, and uplifting melodies
- Edwin Hawkins played a pivotal role in modernizing gospel music, achieving mainstream success with "Oh Happy Day"
- Today, gospel influence extends globally with over 3,000 choirs in Germany alone and significant presence in America, Africa, and Scandinavia