Noted historian and host of Gospel Memories shines a bright light on the celebrated history of Gospel Music and its origins in the Gospel Music Capital of the 
world, Chicago, Illinois. In the early days of Gospel Music, Chicago was the home to Thomas Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Roberta Martin, Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Pops Staples and Sam Cooke.
“The challenge in writing A CITY CALLED HEAVEN was to tell as much of the Chicago story as possible, give it the scholarly treatment it deserves, and at the same time make it a pleasure to read,” Marovich shares. “I also hope the book stimulates readers to learn more about the topics and people I’ve covered, and inspires other cities to examine their own rich African American sacred music traditions.”
Posts Tagged ‘Thomas Dorsey’
Bob Marovich Chronicles Chicago Gospel Roots In New Book
Thursday, March 26th, 2015Thomas Dorsey Project Honors Father of Gospel Music
Tuesday, March 25th, 2014Thomas A. Dorsey III is leading efforts to preserve the history and legacy of his grandfather through the organization of the Thomas A Dorsey Project. Widely regarded as the Fa
ther of Gospel Music, Thomas Dorsey a noted blues musician who found God in the midst of personal tragedy combined elements of the blues with spiritual lyrics and personal life experiences to form Gospel music. Dorsey composed over three hundred songs, including Precious Lord, Take My Hand, a favorite of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr which was sung at his funeral by Mahalia Jackson and recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Candi Staton, Al Green and others. Dorsey was featured in the documentary Say Amen Somebody with Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, Sallie Martin, The Oneal Twins & The Barrett Sisters.
The Thomas Dorsey Project aims to increase awareness of Thomas A. Dorsey’s contributions to the rich tapestry of American culture and expose new generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and music lovers over the world to his works.
Getting In The Spirit With Wynton Marsalis
Thursday, September 26th, 2013
Nine time Grammy Award winner Wynton Marsalis culls through his rich collection of recordings from the Columbia and Sony Classical labels for a very special compilation titled The Spiritual Side Of Wynton Marsalis hitting stores and digital outlets everywhere on October 22nd .
The release of The Spiritual Side Of Wynton Marsalis coincides with the month-long “Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration Tour” featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, conductor Damien Sneed, and 70-voice Chorale Le Chateau. Marsalis serves as Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Among the gems on the CD are performances from Evangelist Shirley Caesar and a previously unreleased performance of Thomas Dorsey’s “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” by gospel legend Marion Williams.
We Remember James Cleveland
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Gospelflava remembers the King of Gospel, Reverend James Cleveland on what would have been his 81st birthday. Reverend Cleveland was born on December 5, 1931 in Chicago surrounded by the major gospel influences of all time namely, Thomas Dorsey, the Father of Gospel Music, Roberta Martin, famed gospel composer and Mahalia Jackson. It would be Roberta Martin that a young Cleveland would pattern his playing style after.
Cleveland relocated to Detroit to take on minister of music duties for Reverend CL Franklin (father of Aretha Franklin) and the New Bethel Baptist Church and later the Prayer Tabernacle Church under Reverend Charles Craig Sr. It was at Prayer Tabernacle that James would record with the Voices of Tabernacle his first hit, The Love of God.
Cleveland signed with Savoy Records and in 1962 began a successful pairing with Reverend Lawrence Roberts and the Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, NJ. These albums produced such hits as Christ Is the Answer, So Good, How Great Thou Art, My God Can Do Anything and Peace Be Still. James would later go on to found the Cornerstone Church in Los Angeles, Ca and his famed Southern California Community Choir and his greatest contribution, the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Marabeth Gentry chosen to lead the Dorsey Convention
Monday, November 14th, 2011
The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (The Dorsey Convention) has announced the selection of Marabeth Gentry as President during their post convention meeting held in Washington, DC. (more…)
Services for Delois Barrett Campbell to be streamed via Internet
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
The body of Delois Barrett Campbell will lie in state at Trinity Untied Church of Christ on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 from 12 noon until 7:00 p.m. 
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Delois Barrett Campbell Funeral Services & Live Streaming
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
The body of Delois Barrett Campbell will lie in state at Trinity Untied Church of Christ on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 from 12 noon until 7:00 p.m. (more…)
Dorsey Convention Prepares to take Atlanta by Storm
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Congregants with gather en masse for the 78th Session of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs & Choruses covening in the city of Atlanta on August 6 – August 12, 2011. This will be the first gathering of the convention since the passing of their beloved president, Bishop Kenneth Moales in 2010. (more…)
Bishop Kenneth Moales Sr Passes
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Bishop Kenneth Herbert Moales, Sr., founding pastor of the Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love (now the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit), Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of Jesus Christ, Chaplain for the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops and President of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) passed away on Monday, September 20th in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (more…)