“SPREAD THE WORD: The Evolution of Gospel From Chicago To The World”
Chicago, IL. (17 August 2011) —- The DuSable Museum of African American History is pleased to present a new exhibition celebrating Chicago’s rich history and contributions to Gospel music. The exhibition entitled, “Spread the Word: The Evolution of Gospel From Chicago To The World,” will open on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 and continue through Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the Museum which is located at 740 East 56th Place (57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue) in Chicago.
Gospel Music is uniquely American and for the fans of the genre it details the “highways and byways of life.” Its roots can be traced to African American spirituals combined with early blues and jazz. The lyrics resemble a form of sermonizing and evangelism and the texts are drawn largely from hymns which have been combined with melodies taken from popular early musical styles. It is no secret that Chicago is the home of Gospel Music. Thomas Andrew Dorsey began his musical career known as “Georgia Tom,” playing barrelhouse piano in one of Al Capone’s Chicago speakeasies. He was soon “whipped into shape” to do the Lords will and composed many of gospel music’s most celebrated songs. Thus “Gospel” was born. Although Dorsey never claimed credit for creating the genre of gospel music, he did state that he coined the phrase “gospel songs” in the early 1920’s giving a name to this new musical style.
With Dorsey laying the foundation, other composers and performers contributed to Chicago’s role in the evolution of Gospel Music. While the greatest era in Gospel is considered to be circa 1945 through 1965, the tradition and the music remain vital in today’s contemporary culture. “Spread The Word,” is centered primarily on gospel’s Chicago origins and some of its leading exponents. With Chicago being the “home” of Gospel, “Spread The Word,” will recognize some of the greatest Gospel singers of all time and included will be such Chicago legends as: Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, Thomas Dorsey, James Cleveland, Sallie Martin and many others.
The exhibition, organized by The DuSable Museum will flow from the sacred to the secular in the same manner that Gospel music has been perceived. Legendary Chicago choirs, such as Reverend Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers, along with Dr. Charles G. Hayes and The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (aka The Warriors) will “testify” with the “First Families of Gospel,” The Yancy Family and The Staple Singers. In addition, the renowned “singing” preachers such as Reverend Clay Evans and Pastor Maceo Woods will “minister” next to award-winning soloists such as Mahalia Jackson and Albertina Walker, while contemporary artists such as Darius Brooks share the spotlight with Joshua’s Troop.
Divided into seven (7) sections, “Spread The Word” will take visitors from: “a store-front church” to “Gospel Music’s Influence on the International Community,” and then on to “The Business of Gospel” which details Chicago as home to some of the largest gospel music publishing houses in the world. Highlights include: original posters and programs, choir robes and articles of clothing, recordings, video footage of rarely seen performances, photographs, books, awards, concert memorabilia, and much, much more including the only “Grammy Award,” won by the legendary Albertina Walker. Some of the items come from the archives of The DuSable Museum and some are on loan to the Museum from the personal collections of Gospel music historians and devotees.
Thomas A. Dorsey gave birth to a new form of religious celebration in Chicago and decades later it continues to grow. Gradually, new artists and composers replaced the jazz and blues influences with more contemporary musical styles and R&B, rap and hip-hop influenced much of the late-20th century gospel music. Gospel has gone from the churches to major Festivals and on to every corner of the world. While traditional churches were initially reluctant to accept this upbeat, hand-clapping, call and response song style, they could not deny that it has moved people in ways never seen before. Gospel music has allowed the biblical word to be brought to the world. Chicago greats Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers, Sallie Martin, Kenneth Morris, The Caravans and so many others used their voices to create sounds that have been heard, loved and accepted around the world.
For more information on “Spread the Word: The Evolution of Gospel From Chicago To The World,” please visit www.dusablemuseum.org, or telephone 773-947-0600.