history of Gospel music
History of Gospel From the sounds of Thomas A. Dorsey to the electrical sounds of Kirk Franklin gospel music has evolved into one of America most popular music. Fueled by major recording companies, gospel music has leaped over its traditional religious walls and has become more than church music. According to materials received from “Gospel Today” magazine, within the last five years, seven major recording companies have created and staffed gospel divisions; independent gospel labels increased 50 percent, and total revenues for gospel music have nearly tripled in the past decade-from $180 million in 1980 to 500 million in 1990. ... Dorsey is considered to be the father of gospel music, Dorsey was born July 1, 1899, Villa Rica, Georgia and died on January 23, 1993, Chicago, Illinois. ... Discouraged by his own efforts to publish and sell his songs through the old method of peddled song sheets and dissatisfied with the treatment given composers of race music by the music publishing industry, Dorsey became the first independent publisher of black Gospel music with the establishment of the Dorsey House of music in Chicago in 1932.