Table of Contents

Preface; Chapter 1: Why Gospel Music?; Chapter 2: Gospel's African Roots; Chapter 3: The Rise of Spirituals in North America; Chapter 4: What Spirituals Are, What Spirituals Mean; Chapter 5: The American Civil War; Chapter 6: Reconstruction, The Jubilee Singers, and Minstrelsy; Chapter 7: The Foundations of Gospel: The Black Exodus, Barbershop Quartets, the Pentecostals, and Jack-Leg Preachers; Chapter 8: The Fathers of Gospel: William H. Sherwood, Charles A. Tindley, and Thomas A. Dorsey; Chapter 9: Chicago and the Rise of Gospel Music; Chapter 10: Three Divas: Rosetta Tharpe, Clara Ward, and Mahalia Jackson; Chapter 11: The Great Gospel Groups: Five Unforgettable Voices; Chapter 12: Gospel on the Freedom Highway; Chapter 13: Gospel's Evolution: From Alex Bradford to James Cleveland to Andrae Crouch; Chapter 14: The Last Great Male Quartets; Chapter 15: Contemporary Gospel: Six Defining Voices; Discography; Index.

About the Author

Robert Darden is Assistant Professor of English at Baylor University, and Senior Editor of The Door Magazine. He was gospel music editor for Billboard magazine for 10 years and has written about religious music for most of his adult life. He lives in Waco.

Reviews

"...a meticulously researched but living, breathing story...Darden's book is especially valuable in detailing how much effort, debate and study have gone into finding gospel's origins and into recording authentic examples that have long fascinated researchers. Indeed, his 25-page, A to Z discography stretched in time and scope from Afro-American Spirituals, Work Song, and Ballads, early samples from the Library of Congress, to Vickie Winans by Vickie Winans." -AOL Black Voices. May 2005

"This meticulously researched book traces the way in which Negro spirituals evolved into contemporary African-American gospel songs...Ultimately, this is the story of the intense and often painful experiences of black Americans and the inspirational music which they have poured out in response." -The Tablet, May 2005

'Reminds us that when slaves first arrived from Africa the only thing they could bring with them was their tradition of singing.' Methodist Recorder

"Darden reaches back to Africa to establish a foundation for his cogent discussion of matter relevant to a historical study of religion and sacred music, and he makes these matters seem like part of the complete fabric rather than vignettes.... The approach is scholarly throughout, but the narrative is as lucid and flowing as any lay reader might wish....the book covers a broad range and merits serious consideration. Highly recommended." -Choice, 5/05
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Mentioned. -Dallas Morning News!, Article: Rhythm & Pews, 4/1/05
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