EPHESIANS: CHAPTER 6: VERSE 19:
"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel"
The term gospel music refers to African-American Protestant vocal music that celebrates Christian doctrine in emotive, often dramatic ways. Vocal soloists are the best-known exponents of gospel, but vocal and choral groups of widely varying sizes have also helped to define the style. In gospel, simple melodies are heavily ornamented by blue notes, glissandi, and a dramatic use of a wide vocal range; and the form conducts an ongoing dialogue of influence with blues, jazz, pop, rap, and folk styles. Major artists associated with gospel music include Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, and the Soul Stirrers. Thomas A. Dorsey is counted among the major twentieth-century composers in the form.
Dig into the backgrounds of the present or yester years Soul greats and you will be more than likely find a connection between themselves and the church. This seems to apply to the present day garage vocalists as well. The gospel influence is strong here.
However, relationships between gospel vocalists, and those that made their way for fame and fortune within the Soul or Rnb world, during the late 1950's, early 1960's was to say the least "frosty". But as times have changed. Those prejudices between the 2 camps have largely disappeared. Allowing artists that from a gospel musical backroom, to enter the world of Soul and Garage based music (Ann Nesby take a bow ), whilst still be accepted within the gospel world.
Vocalists that are nowadays taken for common within the Garage world owe their careers to Soul and Gospel. Artists such as Randy Crawford, Aretha Franklin, Jocelyn Brown, Thelma Houston prove my point!!!