Why Gospel Remains So Popular

Jet, Nov 16, 1998

It's been said that no other music touches your heart, soul and spirit like gospel.

And it's true. The music is touching people's spirits everywhere and is more popular today than ever before. Once confined just to churches, gospel is now heard on pop and R&B radio stations and at the nation's top concert halls.

The music has become a half billion-dollar business. Gospel is the No. 6 music category in sales in the United States, ranking just behind pop music and just ahead of classical music, the Wall Street Journal recently reported.

JET contacted several of the leading gospel performers to find out why the music remains so popular and seems to be winning even wider acceptance.

One reason the music remains a hit with listeners is that it has been allowed to grow and flourish since "Father of Gospel Music" Thomas Dorsey and other composers started the music in the 1930s. Dorsey's standard Precious Lord, Take My Hand remains a top favorite throughout the world.

In recent years, contemporary superstar Kirk Franklin has single-handily ushered in the new popularity and acceptance of gospel with his contemporary hip-hop sound. Many young people who never may have attended church are learning about God and how to live their lives through Franklin's hip gospel sound.

Famed gospel vocalist CeCe Winans, who sings songs of praise on her new holiday album His Gift, told JET: "I think gospel music remains popular because the music is great; the message is everlasting. The music uplifts the spirit and it feeds the soul."

It is that one special music that can lift you higher than you ever expected or hold your hand and soothe your mind as you struggle to make it through the night, the gospel stars told JET.

Fred Hammond and his popular group Radical for Christ sing praises to God with such hits as We're Blessed/Shout Unto God, When the Spirit of the Lord and No Weapon, featured on the album (Pages of Life) Chapters I & II.

"God's hand is on it and he is moving it," explains Hammond about the popularity of gospel. "And gospel music is being taken seriously by the musicians who produce it. People are taking pride in the music they put out. And then it is just good news. People love gospel because it gives them hope."

Hammond adds that the music has been allowed to become contemporary. "Jesus allows us to be freer with our music. As long as we express it about Him. We bring the right amount, of Word with the groove. We love the beats, but we make sure that God is really glorified in our words, in our lyrics."

Gospel singing star Donnie McClurkin, whose award-winning-self-titled album includes the hits Speak To My Heart and Stand, explains, "The music form spans from traditional spirituals and hymns to R&B, jazz rap, and hip hop, making it the only music form that every generation can relate to. It will always be popular," he adds.

Gospel songbird Yolanda Adams has won a huge following with her hits Let Us Worship Him and Through the Storm. She is winning new fans with her latest album, Songs From the Heart.

She notes, "Gospel music brings the testament and a testimony that other music doesn't. It makes you feel good about yourself and your situation. It helps you believe you can come out of it. It is positive. You can't always put on an R&B song when you are going through a trial or tribulation. You have to listen to something that is going to encourage you and make you feel better about your situation, and that's exactly what gospel music does."

Vocalist David Thomas of the hit gospel ensemble Take 6 observes, "Gospel music is getting more attention from the mainstream side, and we're beginning to see them increase the budgets for production and promotion, which helps to gain more exposure."

Shirley Caesar, who is known as "the First Lady of Gospel" and who has been singing gospel music for 40 years, notes, "The world is enjoying the longevity of gospel music because the gospel has no end. God is from everlasting to everlasting ... Long after jazz, R&B and classical have come and gone off the scene, gospel music will live forever. Why? Because you are singing about an eternal God, so the music has got to last for an eternity."

Singer Ron Kenoly, best known for his praise songs Use Me, Let Everything That Hath Breath and God Is Able, believes the pressing social problems has contributed to the lasting appeal of gospel music. "People are looking for hope and confidence that everything will be all right. We know that our hope is in God."

Singer Dottie Peoples believes that gospel continues to shine because the music is appealing to younger people.

"Kids are under so much pressure. Kids are afraid to go to school because of guns and drugs. They are drawing closer to God. The music is helping them understand the power and love of God. The Word in music is changing young peoples' lives."

Veteran performer Queen Esther Marrow, who has a huge following in Europe, notes, "It is the universal music of hope, which spreads the good news."