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In the 1920s, individual black artists began to blend the various strands of African-American music into a new religious art. They fought against traditionalist churches as they did so, but ultimately, the sheer power of the uniquely urban, yet fundamentally rural, music took root among black congregations. It was called Gospel music, and it quickly swept black Baptist and Methodist churches. The sheer number of migrants in the North determined that outcome, as did the talent and faith of musicians like Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and the Ebenezer Gospel Choir.
Gospel particularly drew from the rhythms of blues and jazz music. In this way, it healed the long-standing tension between sacred and secular music in African-American culture. Many blues singers were known to perform on Saturday nights and then get up on Sundays to preach and evangelize. In Gospel, the music of Saturday night was adapted for worship on Sunday mornings.
Mahalia Jackson and Thomas Dorsey
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In 1932, Ebenezer's Gospel Choir made its singing debut. The choir consisted of 100 members, mostly recent migrants. It was also in 1932 that Dorsey, a migrant and blues musician, wrote his most famous song, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," and co-founded the first publishing house for the promotion of black American gospel. In 1942, the Golden Gates recorded "No Segregation in Heaven," a highlight in the era of a cappella music that dominated gospel.
Gospel music and the hope, joy, and faith that it embodies, would become essential to helping African-Americans through a new struggle: World War II.
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