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| Gospel Music's Continuing Influence |
| By Peter Ruppert |
Gospel music exploded out of the African American churches of the American South and into just about every form of popular music starting, principally, in the 1950s. While the Rock & Roll of the era emphasized heavy 4/4 beats, danceable rhythms and simple, easy to sing melodies, Gospel singers had long presided over a tradition where incredibly complex vocal harmonies were king.
In those Southern churches, the lead singer would often engage in a form of singing called "call and response" with the choir and the parishioners. This form of singing is defined by the singer singing out a phrase and asking for the choir or parishioners, or both, to reply in kind. The result is a lush canvas of voices that, in the churches, expressed the transcendent nature of their Christian faith.
Many African American artists came from this tradition and, in fact, many learned to sing in church. Such a powerful influence on one's musical experience is not easily forgotten, nor should it be, and the sort of vocal skill and power, along with the complex style, that came from this tradition was a natural fit for a public hungry for something more out of pop music. In the 1950's, musicians such as Ray Charles and Little Richard introduced this powerful singing style to white audiences and popular music was forever changed; much for the better.
Charles, in particular, is credited with the creation of "Soul" music which kept a faithful adherence to Gospel's style. Soul is not music which the amateur singer can readily pick up. Vocalists are judged on their overall ability, their expressiveness, and are expected to have a range and power that would make them able to lead even the most accomplished church choir, whether they started out there or not. Aretha Franklin's voice is a good example of what's expected though, even among such talented artists, hers is a particularly remarkable example.
The British singer Seal has long has a love for Soul music and is well-possessed of the requisite vocal skill to sing it. To that end, he will be releasing on November 11, 2008 a collection of some of soul's most classic songs—the album itself is simply titled "Soul"—reinterpreted by this talented artist. Seal's renditions are faithful not only to Soul itself but to its passionate Gospel roots. More information and audio are available at Seal.com |
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