Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel

The book also explores changing relations between black and white artists and shows how, following the civil rights movement, white gospel was influenced by black gospel, bluegrass, rock, metal, and, later, rap. With Christian music sales topping the $600 million mark at the close of the twentieth century, Close Harmony explores the history of an important and influential segment of the thriving gospel industry.. Comprehensive and richly illustrated, Close Harmony traces the development of the music known as southern gospel from its antebellum origins to its twentieth-century emergence as a vibrant musical industry driven by the world of radio, television, recordings, and concert promotions. The spread of white gospel music is intricately connected to the peop

He then unearths gospel pioneers and religious entrepreneurs such as James David Vaughan, Virgil Stamps, and Jesse Baxter, who furthered the music through singing schools, monthly publications, songbook companies, radio stations, record labels, and such quartets as the Speer Family and the Lefevres. Recommended for gospel fans, social historians, and music libraries in the South. Lastly, he charts the rise in the 1970s of the more secularized, popularized contemporary gospel of the Imperials and the subsequent reemergence of the conservative evangelical quartets. The author continues with the post-World War II commercialization of Southern gospel with television, gospel songwriters such as Lee Roy Abernathy, concerts, and professional groups such as the Blackwood Brothers, the Chuck Wagon Gang, and the Statesmen. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Dave Szatmary, Univ. Bas

An excellent history of southern gospel Marvin R. Zahniser Here we have a book written by a professional historian who is a lover of southern gospel music. He knows the contemporary singers and their stories, he knows the disagreements they have had about what kind of music to perform, he knows the challenges southern gospel has answered from other musical traditions and how those traditions have influenced . Howard L. Brownfield said This is the definitive history and discussion of southern gospel. This is the definitive history and discussion of southern gospel music that is in print. I received it quickly. Thanks. "Five Stars" according to geoff. An excellent book. I was very pleased to receive it promptly and in good order. Thank you!