gospel music

American  

noun

1. a now popularized form of impassioned rhythmic spiritual music rooted in the solo and responsive church singing of rural African Americans in the South, central to the development of rhythm and blues and of soul music.

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gospel music Cultural  

1. Intense, joyful music that is associated with evangelists (see evangelical) in the South, especially among African-Americans. Gospel had a strong influence on many rock 'n' roll singers. Well-known gospel artists include Mahalia Jackson and the Dixie Hummingbirds.

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Etymology

Origin of gospel music

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

In 1945, Soskin and her then-husband, Mel Reid, opened one of the first Black-owned music stores in Berkeley, Calif., which remained in business for more than 70 years and served as a hub for gospel music.

From Los Angeles Times

His father was a band director for the Marine Corps who was strict about “only listening to marching band or gospel music,” and who used to quiz Clemons about which instruments were used on various songs.

From Salon

Growing up near Houston, Texas, he was home-schooled and said he exclusively listened to gospel music until he was 13.

From BBC

It commissioned a major organ concerto, “At the Royal Majestic,” for soloist Cameron Carpenter, that is as maximalist as it gets, referencing everything from gospel music to jitterbug to ragtime to blues to raga to Minimalism’s motoric phrasing, all of it coming out sounding like Riley.

From Los Angeles Times

Faith is also important to Agyemang, and she listens to gospel music before matches to help get herself in the zone.

From BBC