ArtistIncorporated's video: Pilgrim Jubilees - Short Gospel History

The Beginnings Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993, composer of such standards as "There Will Be Peace in the Valley"), is considered by many gospel devotees to be the "Father of Gospel Music." The son of a minister, Dorsey was a consummate musician and as a young man accompanied some of the most famous blues singers of all time-specifically, Bessie Smith (1894-1937) and Ma Rainey (1886-1939). He also arranged and composed blues tunes. His penchant for bouncy tunes and bawdy lyrics did not keep him from attending the annual meetings of the National Baptist Convention, though. and it was at one of these meetings in Philadelphia that Dorsey first heard the compositions of Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933, composer of "We'll Understand It Better By and By" and "Leave It A 1994 Score magazine article titled "The Father of Gospel Music" quoted Dorsey as saying, "When I realized how hard some folks were fighting the gospel idea, I was determined to carry the banner." Carry it he did. "I borrowed five dollars and sent out 500 copies of my song, 'If You See My Savior,' to churches throughout the country.... It was three years before I got a single order. I felt like going back to the blues." He didn't. With pioneer singers such as Sallie Martin (1896-1988) and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904-94) propagating his music, he stayed the course long enough to write over 800 songs and hear his music ascend from the first row pews to the choir stand, where it previously had been banned. Oleta Adams Yolanda Adams Rance Allen Vanessa Bell Armstrong Inez Andrews The Blind Boys of Alabama Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Michael Brooks Kim Burrell Shirley Caesar Byron Cage The Caravans Kurt Carr Steven Curtis Chapman Alvin Chea The Clark Sisters Rev. James Cleveland Cheryl "Coko" Clemons Marcus Cole Commissioned The Crabb Family Beverly Crawford Andrae Crouch Sandra Crouch Montrell Darrett The Davis Sisters Cedric Dent The Dixie Hummingbirds Thomas A. Dorsey Five Blind Boys of Mississippi Kirk Franklin Aretha Franklin Gaither Vocal Band Cassietta George Amy Grant Al Green Bessie Griffin Deitrick Haddon Danniebelle Hall Fred Hammond Edwin Hawkins Tramaine Hawkins Walter Hawkins Israel Houghton Mahalia Jackson Blind Willie Johnson Mitchell Jones John P. Kee Joey Kibble Karima Kibble Mark Kibble Dorothy Love Coates Donald Lawrence Heather Martin Mary Mary Donnie McClurkin Claude V. McKnight III Roberta Martin Men of Standard Mighty Clouds of Joy Mississippi Mass Choir J. Moss Nicole Mullen Martha Munizzi William H. Murphy Aaron Neville Newsboys Nichole Nordeman Washington Phillips Chris Poole Elvis Presley Billy Preston Twila Paris Karl Reid Woody Rock Thurman Ruth aka Thermon Ruth, T. Ruth Ron Kenoly Ira D. Sankey Marvin Sapp Briana Scott Marilyn Sellars The Sensational Nightingales Karen Clark Sheard Kierra "Kiki" Sheard The Soul Stirrers Sounds of Blackness Richard Smallwood The Statler Brothers The Staple Singers Keith Staten Candi Staton Ruben Studdard The Swan Silvertones Take 6 Sister Rosetta Tharpe David Thomas Tonéx Trin-i-tee 5:7 Tye Tribbett Hezekiah Walker Albertina Walker Clara Ward Mervyn Warren Dionne Warwick Thomas Whitfield Marva Whitney Hank Williams Marion Williams Michelle Williams The Winans Family The Winans BeBe & CeCe Winans BeBe Winans CeCe Winans Mario Winans Marvin Winans Ron Winans Vickie Winans