We couldn't finish our look at the vital contributions to American music by Black Americans without touching on Gospel music. Gospel music is a derivative of African-American spirituals, which has been an essential part of worship in Black churches in one form or another since antebellum days. While its popularity peaked in the 1945-1955 period, Gospel music has had a strong influence on rhythm and blues, soul, rock and popular music; one would be hard- pressed to find any Black singer who didn't sing Gospel music in his or her church, from Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye to Beyonce and John Legend.
Without question, the greatest Gospel singer of them all, and one of the greatest vocalists of our time, is the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972). Idolized by the powerful and the powerless around the world, in 1947 she released what would become the best- selling Gospel record of all time, "Move On Up A Little Higher." Among other tributes, the song is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of 500 songs that shaped rock. If you've never heard her warm contralto voice, now's your chance. Hope you enjoy.
