A curated archive of soul, memory, and meaning.
Gospel Era (1900s-1960s)
The sacred roots of blues, soul, jazz, and American music, born in the Black church and carried through generations of faith, struggle, and song.
Gospel Era (1900s-1960s)
Outline Overview
1900s–1920s — Spirituals to Proto-Gospel
Field hollers
Spirituals
Early church music
Call-and-response traditions
No commercial recordings yet
1930s — The Birth of Modern Gospel
Thomas A. Dorsey formalizes Gospel as a genre
Mahalia Jackson emerges
Regional church choirs develop their sound
1940s–1950s — Golden Age of Gospel
Gospel quartets explode
Clara Ward Singers
Soul Stirrers (Sam Cooke era)
National phenomenon but church-rooted
The stylistic DNA that creates early Soul
1960s — Gospel becomes the backbone of Soul & R&B
Aretha Franklin's church-to-soul bridge
Mavis Staples / The Staples Singers
Gospel harmony transitions into mainstream Soul
Gospel Era Overview
1 Spirituals & Proto-Gospel (1900s-1920s)
Early spirituals, field songs, and church transitions that formed the roots of Gospel.
2 Birth of Modern Gospel (1930s)
The rise of Thomas A Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and the first structured Gospel compositions.
3 Golden Age of Gospel (1940s-1950s)
The era of quartets, choirs, radio broadcasts, and national Gospel expansion.
4 Quartets, Choirs & Regional Styles
Distinct harmonies and regional traditions that shaped Gospel's evolving sound.
5 Pioneers & Influential Voices
Profiles of the artists and leaders who defined Gospel's identity and legacy.
6 Gospel's Influence on Early Soul (1960s)
How Gospel phrasing, emotion, and vocal power shaped the birth of Soul music.
7 Recommended Listening
Essential recordings that represent the heart of the Gospel Era.
8 Archival Photos & Resources
Images and references documenting the people, places, and history of Gospel.