THE MUSIK-ZONE
The Classics of Music
Gospel Music - Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Gospel Hits

Gospel music has permeated every musical art form there is - from rock to folk to blues to country. Most of today's music greats had their beginnings in gospel, singing in church choirs before they branched out into the wider world.

Everyone from Elvis Presley to Black Sabbath has at some time recorded what could be considered "gospel" music. Some traditional gospel hits go back centuries and have been played and sung in churches since most of us can remember.

I was raised primarily as a Lutheran and I have to say, our services weren't the most inspiring. Every service started out with the same recitations by the congregation, the same songs, and the minister seemed to read the same sermon the same day every year.

My stepfather sometimes took us to an Assembly of God church before he descended into an alcoholic stupor and finally died. Now that was far livelier.

But it wasn't until I attended Black American services that I saw the contagious spirit of joy and unbridled enthusiasm that has made Gospel what it is. Gospel music has particular roots in Black America. For many, during the days of slavery and cotton plantations, it was their only rope to hope. It was the only thing they had to get them through the nightmares most of us will never know.

There's really no way to select the "greatest Gospel hits" - not by artist, not by genre, not by song title. There is an amazing amount of