Gospel Music

Gospel music is a powerful and happy kind of music. It started in African American churches in the 1900s. The songs are about faith, hope, and believing in God. Gospel singers sing with lots of feeling and energy.

Where Gospel Began

Gospel music grew from spirituals, which were songs sung by enslaved African Americans. In the early 1900s, a man named Thomas Dorsey helped create modern gospel. He mixed church songs with blues music. Soon, gospel choirs were singing in churches all across America. The music brought people together and lifted their spirits.

How It Sounds

Gospel music often has a big choir singing together. A lead singer sings the main words, and the choir answers back. This is called call and response. The music uses piano, organ, drums, and sometimes guitar. People in the church often clap, sway, and sing along.

Fun Facts

• Many famous singers like Aretha Franklin started out singing gospel.
• Gospel music helped create other styles like soul and R and B.
• Gospel choirs can have 100 or more singers.

Did You Know?

Gospel music has a special sound because singers often add extra notes to words, which is called melisma.