🌍 World Music — Gospel

Gospel is an African American religious music that developed mainly in the early 20th century within Black Christian churches in the United States. It carries forward spirituals, Protestant hymns, congregational singing and certain vocal practices from the blues, without being a simple mix of these genres. Call-and-response between soloist and choir, improvisation, vocal harmonies, the Hammond organ, piano and hand-clapping are frequent elements. Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and gospel quartet groups played a major role in its history. Gospel profoundly influenced soul, rock, rhythm and blues and many forms of popular music, while remaining alive in worship services and concerts around the world.