From spirituals to gospel rap: Gospel music periodicals

FROM SPIRITUALS TO GOSPEL RAP: GOSPEL MUSIC PERIODICALS Timothy Dodge

Dodge is a microforms and documents reference librarian, Ralph Brown Draughon Library, Auburn University, Alabama. -- FROM

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There is no denying the impact of gospel music on popular music in America. Gospel music has symbiotic connections to folk music, blues, jazz, country, rock, soul, and even rap music. In The Gospel Sound, Anthony Heilbut says, "Gospel influences, reflects and mimics blues, jazz, and even country and western. "1 Gospel is a moving and beautiful form of American music: "On a visceral, emotional level, gospel's directness can reach anybody. "2 Viv Broughton affirms, "Gospel is altogether more extreme in its depths and in its heights...always at its best when at its most emotive and cathartic."3 Gospel music is closely associated with both African-American and southern white culture. In recent decades the rise of fundamentalist Protestant evangelism and the phenomenon of contemporary Christian music have brought gospel music to a larger cross-section of the American population than ever before. There is a thriving gospel music industry promoting current performers, and reissues of older gospel recordings are flooding the market, In this article, we will use a broad definition of gospel music, which means we will review periodicals that cover both white and black styles of the music and focus on everything from the most traditional forms of gospel to the latest in contemporary Christian music, which is really a combination of styles overlapping with and extending the concept of gospel music. At its most basic, gospel music can be defined as "a large body of American religious song with texts that reflect aspects of the personal religious experience WINTER 1994

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of Protestant evangelical groups, both black and white. "4 Gospel music has its origins in Protestant hymns such as "Amazing Grace" written in the eighteenth century, especially those by Isaac Watts and John and Charles Wesley. 5 Essentially, gospel music is the music of American Protestant evangelical revivalism. The two main streams, white and black, have intermingled but do have distinctive characteristics. White gospel music was influenced by nineteenthcentury camp meetings and religious revivals. This style of music, characterized by simple major-key melodies, received a boost during the period 1875-1910. At that time, influential evangelist-musician teams such as Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey used gospel music as a successful component of their religious revivals.6 The music became more optimistic and informal in the early twentieth century and was especially popular in the South. From about 1930, gospel music in the rural South has been considered to be a "distinct form of popular country music. ''7 Radio and television have helped bring gospel music to a truly mass audience in recent decades. Black gospel music has coincided with the rise of white gospel. Part of its roots lie with the Protestant evangelical hymns of the eighteenth and nineteenth century and part with a distinctive black style of religious music, known as spirituals, which consisted of "sorrow songs" such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" or the livelier "jubilee spirituals" such as "In the Great Gettin' Up Morning. ''8 Black forms of gospel music incorporated distinctive harmonies and pitch such as blue notes, syncopation, and elements such as the call and response. Gospel music has been a major component of the black Protestant religious experience in the United States. The rise of Pentecostal and Holiness sects in the early twentieth century galvanized both black and white evangelists--the music became more upbeat, spontaneous, and informal. Elements of the blues and jazz were incorporated and professional gospel singing groups began touring and recording. 9 Black gospel music development accelerated with the work of the late Thomas A. Dorsey from the early 1930s. A former blues pianist known as "Georgia Tom," Dorsey almost single-handedly created the modern gospel music industry. He was a prolific composer ("Precious Lord" and "If You See My Savior," for example) and a promoter of gospel choirs and influential musicians such as Mahalia Jackson. 1° White gospel music has an intimate connection to country music. Examples abound from the recordings of the Carter Family in the 1920s to the late Roy Acuff's first major hit "The Great Speckled Bird" (1936 and 1938) to Elvis Presley's gospel recordings of the 1950s to the 1993 country hit "Lead Me Not"

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by Lari White, which is in many ways a pun on gospel music both in lyrics and in musical style. The connection with rhythm and blues, early rock 'n' roll, and soul music is even more obvious to the discerning listener. As early as 1950 the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi had a major rhythm and blues jukebox hit with their impassioned rendition of "Our Father."l~ The rocking harmonies of black vocal groups like Billy Ward and the Dominoes, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and the Five Royales show profound connections to gospel music. Ray Charles adapted gospel music directly to rhythm and blues: "This Little Girl of Mine" (1956) from "This Little Light of Mine," for example. Countless numbers of rhythm and blues and soul musicians originally started as gospel singers: Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Dinah Washington, Solomon Burke, James Brown, and Sam Cooke, to name only a few. "The beat, the drama, the group vibrations" and dance steps of rock music largely derive from gospel, according to Heilbut. 12Gospel music influenced much of the popular music of the 1960s and 1970s, for example, the huge 1969 hit "Oh Happy Day" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers and the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar. ''~3 Gospel music has even been adapted to such genres as heavy metal rock and rap in a successful attempt to appeal to younger generations. Since the 1970s a collection of styles known as contemporary Christian music has flourished--essentially an overtly Christian form of rock music featuring such performers as Stryper (heavy metal), Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and Phil Keaggy. 14 Despite the popularity and influence of gospel music, locating periodical titles concerned with this style of music was not easy. Part of the problem is the diffuse nature of gospel music. It is related to a wide variety of styles of American music. This means that many periodicals not overtly described as gospel music periodicals nevertheless do feature articles that are of considerable interest to gospel music scholars and enthusiasts. It is easy to discover occasional articles on gospel music in periodicals that focus on music in general. For example, The Music Index provides citations to such music industry publications as Cash Box or Billboard, yet these periodicals rarely feature gospel music articles. Periodicals such as Downbeat cover jazz far more frequently than gospel while Country Living covers country far more frequently than gospel music. However, there are periodicals that deserve mention here because they cover gospel music often enough or in sufficient depth to be of real use to the researcher. In consequence, I decided to provide a review of core periodicals, those that feature gospel music

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exclusively or primarily as their main focus, and then a review of more peripheral periodicals that deserve coverage because of the fact that they feature frequent or in-depth gospel music articles. To start, standard periodical directories such as Ulrich's and EBSCO's Serials Directory were consulted to draw up lists of potential titles to review. Though neither of them featured a heading as specific as "gospel music periodicals," it was possible to create a working list. Titles were found by looking under the headings "Music," "Folklore," "Religions and Theology," and "Religions and Theology--Protestantism." More titles were found by consulting standard bibliographical sources such as The Music Index and Religion Index One. A few of the titles were available locally but the majority were acquired by writing to various publishers and editors for review copies. Thus, the titles under review represent the majority of titles available in the United States plus a few British titles as well.

CORE TITLES

Baptist History and Heritage. 1965-. Q. $3.50/issue; $10.95; $13.45 foreign. Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Auxiliary Southern Baptist Historical Society, 901 Commerce St., Ste. 400, Nashville, TN 37203-3630; (615) 244-0344. Ed.: Lynn E. May, Jr. Circ.: 1,800. Indexed: America." History

and Life, CERDIC, Historical Abstracts, Religious and Theological Abstracts, Religion Index One, and Southern Baptist Periodical Index. ISSN 0005-5719. The Baptist denominations of the Protestant church have historically been and continue to be a major influence on gospel music. The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest single Protestant denomination in the United States. 15 It is also one of the most conservative although there are a significant number of more moderate/liberal members. 16 Although Baptis t History and Heritage does not focus exclusively on music, it is an important periodical that deserves to be in a core collection of gospel music periodicals. It provides valuable insights into the development of gospel music and traces important events and personalities connected to the music. The emphasis is on white gospel music. This periodical does have a strong religious flavor (most visible in the proselytizing advertisements) but the articles are well researched and scholarly. Most of the authors are academics and articles are documented with footnotes. There are no illustrations. Baptist History and Heritage is a valuable resource for secular enthusiasts of gospel music, too. This title would be of most interest to libraries with collecting - - FROM SPIRITUALS TO GOSPEL RAP - -

interests in Southern and religious history and is suitable for academic libraries as well as religious institutions.

Black Sacred Music. 1987-. S/A. $15 individual; $30 institutional. Duke University Press, PO Box 6697, College Station, Durham, NC 27708; (919)684-2173, fax (919) 684-8644. Ed.: Jon Michael Spencer. Indexed: Religion Index One, The Index to Book Reviews in Religion, The Music Index, and Music Article Guide. ISSN 1043-9455. In recent years this periodical has appeared more often than not in the form of a "special issue," each of which is devoted to a particular topic in black sacred music. Each issue is essentially a monograph in length (around 300 pages). The writing is scholarly; virtually all of the authors are connected to academic institutions. However, much of the writing is lively and issues are illustrated with numerous photographs. The perspective is both cultural and musicological and is sometimes quite provocative. Black Sacred Music covers both historical and present-day issues, for example "Sacred Music of the Secular City: From Blues to Rap," vol. 6, no. 1 (Spring 1992). It also carries book reviews. This title would fit well in black studies, popular culture, and musicology collections. The audience is primarily college level. The seven titles that follow are all published by The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. They are unabashedly evangelistic in tone and are designed for use by church choirs and musicians. They provide valuable examples of the presentday state of gospel music as sanctioned by the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. The reader should be aware that not all Southern Baptist choral music is necessarily gospel music and that there are other Protestant denominations such as the Church of Christ, the Church of God in Christ, and the black Baptists of the National Baptist Convention who use their own musical arrangements and gospel tunebooks. The titles reviewed here are intended to appeal to different age levels, to music directors, and to musicians. These publications state the following credo inside their front cover: "We believe the Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error for its matter. The 1963 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guidance." These seven titles are intended for practitioners of gospel music rather than scholars or hobbyists.

Celebrate Choral Music. 1990-. Q. $7.10; $14/2 yrs.; $20.90/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 127 9th. Ave. North, NashWINTER

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ville, TN 37234; (800) 458-2772. Music Ed.: Crystal Waters Mangrum. ISSN 1046-378X. Celebrate Choral Music is essentially annotated choral music arranged for youth and adult choirs. Notations consist primarily of performance suggestions. Each issue (approximately 30 pages) contains at least five or six pieces published in clear and uncluttered type. Brief biographical statements indicate that most of the composers are directly associated with music ministries in Baptist churches and primarily located in the South. This publication is most useful to church musicians, directors, and choirs. Some scholars and gospel music enthusiasts would enjoy Celebrate. It is not appropriate for the general public or for those scholars searching for analytical articles about gospel music. Contemporary Praise. 1990-. Q. $7.10/yr.; $14/2 yrs.; $20.90/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ed.: Crystal Waters Mangrum. ISSN 1046-3801. This publication is similar to Celebrate Choral Music (some of the composers are the same). However, the emphasis here is on "choral music in a contemporary style." The music published in Contemporary Praise is not exactly Christian rock but it is aimed primarily at a youth and young adult audience. Contemporary Praise provides a good example of current trends in evangelical church music in general. Exaltation. 1990-. Q. $7.10/yr.; $14.00/2 yrs.; $20.90/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ed.: Crystal Waters Mangrum. ISSN 1046-3798. Lovers of traditional gospel and church music will appreciate Exaltation. It is a collection of musical scores plus annotations. Exaltation's motto is "choral music in a traditional style for adult and youth choirs." As such, it sometimes features new arrangements of old hymns, for example "Awake, Awake to Love and Work" from Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second, originally published in 1813.17 Though Exaltation appeals to adult and youth choir leaders, it would be of value also to gospel music scholars and musicologists. Glory Songs. Q. $6/yr.; $11.70/2 yrs.; $17.50/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ed.: Crystal Waters Mangrum. ISSN 0731-0781. Glory Songs provides a collection of contemporary Baptist hymns with performance suggestions and annotations. It is intended for volunteer and part-time church music directors and their choirs. In addition, Glory Songs provides brief essays concerning church 70

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music, instructional techniques, and issues of interest primarily to church musicians and music directors. The Music Leader. 1970-. Q. $1.95/issue for "bulk shipment to one address"; otherwise $8/yr.; $17.30/2 yrs.; $25.80/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ed.: Derrell Billingsley. Indexed: Music Article Guide. ISSN 0027-4372. The Music Leader is a combination of musical scores, instructions, and lesson plans for choir leaders of preschool and children's choirs. These are arranged by age group, for example, "Music for Threes," "PreSchool Choir," "Music Makers Choir" (Grades 1-3); "Young Musicians Choir" (Grades 4-6); and "The Children's Choir" (Grades 1-6). There are short, inspirational essays or stories intended to be read by choir leaders to children (for example, "A Lesson from a Cookie"). TM The more casual fan of gospel music or nonChristian reader is not likely to find The Music Leader appealing. It is of most interest to evangelical Protestant choir leaders who work with children's choirs. Music Time. 1979-. Q. $1.30/issue for "bulk shipment to one address"; otherwise $5.90/yr.; $11.50/2 yrs.; $17.10/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. ISSN 0164-7180. This small periodical (5 3/8" by 8") might seem cute and even cloying to an adult non-evangelical reader. Music Time is mainly intended for parents to read to (and with) their young children. It is colorfully illustrated with water color drawings and paintings and consists primarily of short, inspirational stories designed to teach children Christian values. There are activities and games for parents to play with their children. There are several short and simple songs for children to learn, not all of which are religious in content, for example "Mississippi Mudcat. "19 Music Time is broken into different sections, each designed to be covered over a one-week period. The evangelical intent of Music Time is also visible in the illustrations and stories: children from virtually every major ethnic and racial group are represented. Music Time will appeal to parents interested in instilling Christian values in their children. This publication could also be appropriate for sectarian elementary school libraries. The nonreligious or scholarly researcher might find that Music Time provides insights into contemporary evangelical Protestant culture, especially in regard to the transmittal of ethics from one generation to another. Pedalpoint. 1981-. Q. $27.30/yr.; $54.30/2 yrs.; $81.30/3 yrs. The Sunday School Board of the South-

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ern Baptist Convention. Ed.: Crystal Waters Mangrum. ISSN 0272-9199. Pedalpoint provides gospel sheet music, notations, and "study helps for pianists and organists." Unlike most of the other Sunday School Board publications reviewed here, Pedalpoint features a substantial amount of text in addition to musical scores and annotations. The issue reviewed here includes an interview with a church organist, several short articles on topics of concern to church organists or pianists, plus an inspirational essay. Pedalpoint runs a few ads for music and supplies as well. The main audience for Pedalpoint is church pianists and organists. Music teachers and musicologists might also find Pedalpoint to be useful.

The Church Music Report. 1984-. M. $39.95. PO Box 1179, Grapevine, TX 76099-1179; (817)488-0141, fax (817) 481-4191. Ed.: Bill Rayborn. Circ.: 6,600. The Church Music Report is a brief newsletter that functions essentially as a bulletin about record company activity and new releases of Christian music. It is filled with lively bits of information about mostly white gospel and contemporary Christian music. Other media are covered in departments such as "Video Views," "Bookbeat," and even "Software Selections." The Church Music Report features a "Church Music Chart" with at least eight categories of music derived from a "monthly sample of gospel/evangelical print music sales." There are occasional brief editorials and "The Sounding Board," which functions as a classified listing of jobs for Report subscribers. There is also some religious advertising. This newsletter provides an evangelical contemporary Christian perspective on the current gospel music scene. It would fit in with some public library collections and possibly in academic libraries with music collections. Contemporary Christian Music. (Short Title: C. C.M.). 1978-. M. $19.95/yr.; $37.95/2 yrs.; $54.95/3 yrs.; $27/yr. in Canada. C.C.M., PO Box 55996, Boulder, CO 80321-5996. Ed.: John W. Styli. Circ.: 50,000. ISSN 1049-3379. Contemporary Christian Music (C.C.M.) is devoted to the latest development in the gospel music tradition, known as contemporary Christian music. This even includes Christian rap. C.C.M. has glossy paper and numerous color photographs, and features articles about and interviews with contemporary Christian musicians. C.C.M. maintains an enthusiastic tone. The primary audience for C.C.M. would include rockoriented evangelical Christians ranging from teenagers through at least the baby boom generation of adults.

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Members of the music industry would likely be interested in this periodical, too. Special features of C.C.M. include a listing of music festivals, an "In Concert" section that reviews concerts, and a calendar of events. The "Charts" section lists at least seven types of contemporary Christian music including "Christian Hit Radio," "Adult Contemporary," and even "Metal." This periodical is appropriate for large public libraries and academic libraries collecting popular music publications. It would also be of some interest to scholars of popular culture.

The Hymn: A Journal of Congregational Song. 1949-. Q. Subscription by membership: $35/yr. individual; $20/yr. student; $35/yr. institution. Canadian and foreign: $5 extra. The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, Inc., 2800 University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Ed.: David W. Music. Circ.: 3,500. Indexed: Christian Periodical Index, Index to Book Reviews in Religion, Religion One Index, Religious and Theological Abstracts, The Music Index, and Music Article Guide. ISSN 0018-8271. According to this periodical's editorial policy, The Hymn "is a journal of congregational song for church musicians, clergy, scholars, poets, and others with varied backgrounds and interests. A journal of research and opinion, containing practical and scholarly articles, The Hymn reflects diverse cultural and theological identities, and also provides exemplary hymn texts and tunes in various styles."2° The Hymn is one of the more appealing periodicals including coverage of gospel music. The format is handsome, with thick, glossy paper and numerous illustrations. At the same time, the articles are well written. Many are by academics, freelance writers, and even librarians and the style of writing is accessible to most readers. Topics vary from somewhat technical musical analyses to historical articles to contemporary issues in church music. Every issue features book reviews and reviews of hymn recordings. Although the primary focus is on white Protestant church music, black gospel is well represented here, too. The Hymn is a good religious music periodical that appeals to a wide audience. This publication would be a good addition to academic, church, and many public libraries, especially in the South. National Sacred Harp Newsletter. 1985-. 6/yr. $8. PO Box 1828, Carrollton, GA 30117. Eds.: Hugh McGraw and Richard DeLong. Circ.: 1,500. ISSN 1064-0754. The term "Sacred Harp" refers to a unique type of traditional gospel music. Sacred Harp singing is a form of shape-note hymnody, which The New Grove WINTER 1994

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Dictionary of American Music defines as "a body of rural American sacred music published in any of several musical notations in which a notehead of a certain shape is assigned to each of the solmization syllables fa, sol, la, mi .... ,21 This style of music appeared in the early nineteenth century in the South and Midwest and was based on eighteenth-century shape-note hymn books published in New England. Folk hymns and Southern spirituals were added to the repertoire and shape-note singing became an important social component of Southern life. One of the bestknown collections of this music was The Sacred Harp, compiled by Benjamin F. White and E.J. King in 1844. The Sacred Harp style of gospel music is most popular in Georgia and Alabama and has spread to such other states as Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Florida. 22 The National Sacred Harp Newsletter is an enthusiastic publication that provides the reader with a true feeling for the cultural and religious roots of white gospel music. Although intended for a national audience, the Newsletter has a southern flavor that is not surprising, considering that the stronghold of Sacred Harp singing is the Deep South. The newsletter contains news about singing and music conventions on a national level but mostly concentrated in Alabama and Georgia. Especially valuable are the schedules for "singings." There are short letters to the editor, occasional poems, reminiscences, obituaries, and inspirational prayer and verse. The newsletter appears to be a desktop computer publication and has occasional black-and-white photographs. It is written in a popular style, easily accessible to the general reader. This publication is interesting to enthusiasts of Sacred Harp singing, musicologists, and folklorists. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the perpetuation of an authentic form of American traditional music. The newsletter has recently suffered from a lapse in publication but according to the editors will resume its usual schedule in the summer of 1994. z~

Rejoice! 1988-. Q. $12; $16 Canada; $22 foreign; $2.50/issue. Center for the Study of Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677; (601) 232-5742. Ed.: W.K. McNeil. ISSN 1044-1034. Rejoice! is the single most comprehensive, informative, and well-written gospel music periodical available. Its definition and coverage of gospel music are extremely broad: white and black gospel and traditional style through the present day (even up to gospel rap and heavy metal). Articles cover every topic from the early history of gospel music in the nineteenth century to Elvis Presley to the latest in contemporary Christian music. Rejoice! features many interviews with

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gospel musicians. Rejoice! is profusely illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs. Although published by an academic institution, Rejoice! is definitely accessible to the general public. The only complaint from this reviewer is that sometimes the articles are not analytical enough for the more serious scholar of gospel music. In 1994, this periodical changed from a bi-monthly to a quarterly publication frequency. Most issues of Rejoicel contain five or six feature articles along with brief editorials. One valuable component is the record, video, and book reviews. Here, the gospel music enthusiast, scholar, and librarian can find out about new releases and reissues of older materials. If a library or individual can subscribe to only a single gospel music periodical, Rejoice! would definitely be the most appropriate choice.

Score Magazine." America's Leading Gospel News Magazine. 1989-. Bi-M. $20; $35 foreign; $3/issue. PO Box 292494, Nashville, TN 37229; 1 (800) 4726731. Pub.: Teresa E. Hairston. The leading black gospel music periodical is Score Magazine. This attractive, glossy periodical provides comprehensive coverage of current developments in gospel music from traditional styles to gospel rap. At the same time, Score goes beyond music to cover issues of interest to the African-American Christian community. Each issue features a cover story, usually of a major black gospel music star or group such as the Winans (see November/December 1993) or Shirley Caesar (see January/February 1994). Each issue contains five or six other articles about gospel music or interviews with gospel singers or musicians or other topics of interest to Christian African-Americans. As of March/April 1994, Score also runs 12 "departments" including "Top 40" (the top 40 most popular current black gospel music releases according to gospel music radio programmers), "Quartet Corner" (profiles of gospel quartets), book reviews, "Bits and Pieces" (short news articles), "Publisher's Notes" (editorial), and "Observations from the Pulpit" (guest editorial by AfricanAmerican pastors). Score is an upbeat, dynamic periodical that combines current information on the state of black gospel music with a nurturance of the African-American community in general. Score is more inspirational than analytical but anyone interested in black gospel music-traditional or contemporary--would be well served by this periodical. Score would be an excellent addition to public libraries and black studies and music collections in academic libraries.

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Song of Zion: A Newsletter for Latter Day Saint Musicians. 1980-. Q. Free. Jackman Music Corp., 97 S. Mountainway Drive, PO Box 1900, Orem, UT 84059; (801) 225-0859, fax (801) 225-0851. Ed.: Melissa H. Hintze. Circ.: 17,000. Song of Zion is a glossy newsletter for Mormon musicians. It announces music workshops, new publications, and choir news and supplies information on new musical releases. The newsletter also carries short articles and obituaries. There is even a "Song of Zion Crossword Puzzle" based on musical themes and articles found in the same issue. While of most interest to members of and musicians associated with the Church of Latter Day Saints, this newsletter is also useful to the reader interested in information on new releases of choir and gospel music. The Volunteer Choir. Bi-M. "Quantity subscriptions for choirs (10 or more copies bi-monthly to one address)": $9/8 mos. (4 issues); $12/yr. (6 issues); $22/2 yr. (12 issues). Postage extra. Lorenz Publishing Co., 501 East Third St., PO Box 802, Dayton, OH 45401-0802; (513)228-6118. Ed.: Eugene McCluskey. The Volunteer Choir is primarily a collection of published church music scores, ranging from transcriptions of older (i.e., nineteenth century) hymns to current music (but not of the Christian rock variety). One of the more helpful features of The Volunteer Choir is the brief musical analyses, descriptions, histories, and performance suggestions provided in the "Editorial Notes" following the musical scores. As is true of Worship Leader and most of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention periodicals, The Volunteer Choir is geared toward church musicians and choirs. As such, it is a useful source of primary information on the current state of Protestant church music including gospel music in the United States. This periodical is most appropriate for libraries maintaining musical and religious collections. Worship Leader. 1992-. Bi-M. "Free to qualified subscribers"; all others $19.95; $27 Canada. PO Box 40985, Nashville, TN 37204; (800) 331-8947. Exec. ed.: Chuck Fromm. Circ.: 50,000. The focus of Worship Leader is on religious worship as much as it is on gospel music per se. Nevertheless, this periodical is useful for identifying the issues that concern present-day church musicians and music directors. Several regular columns address specific issues such as the impact of guitars on church music [see "Communication" in vol. 2, no. 2 (April/May 1993): 7]. Worship Leader includes reviews of musical releases, instruments, and equipment.

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Worship Leader provides a current perspective on gospel music from the practitioner's point of view. It is most appropriate for "pastors, ministers of music, worship leaders.., including members of worship teams and choirs. "24 In addition to the core titles reviewed above, there are a number of other periodicals that do not exclusively feature gospel music but deserve mention because of the depth and quality of gospel music articles for researchers. Just as gospel music itself is related to and derived from several styles of American music, so, too, the periodical literature on gospel music is found in a number of publications not strictly focussed on gospel music as such. American Music. 1983-. Q. Members of Sonneck Society receive subscription. $30/individual, $37 (foreign); $42/institutional, $49 (foreign). The Sonneck Society, University of Illinois Press, 54 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-0950, fax (217) 244-8082. Ed.: Wayne Shirley. Circ.: 27,000. Indexed: Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Current Contents, Music Article Guide, and The Music lndex. ISSN 07344392. Self-described as "a quarterly journal devoted to all aspects of American music and music in America," American Music is a scholarly, eclectic, and highquality journal published on acid-free paper. It literally covers all aspects and styles of American music from classical to folk, jazz, blues, and yes, gospel. American Music covers all eras, too. It presents articles with a sociological or cultural focus as well as purely musical analyses, for example, "The Hymnody of the African Methodist Episcopal Church" covering the time period 1787 through 1984 [see vol. 8, no. 3 (Fall 1990): 27493 by Jon Michael Spencer (editor of Black Sacred Music); see above]. This journal also provides detailed record and book reviews. While of only occasional interest to the hardcore gospel music enthusiast, American Music is of real value to the serious music scholar, especially one interested in the broader connections of gospel music to other forms of American music. Most academic libraries will want to subscribe to American Music and possibly large public libraries will as well. American Organist. 1979-. M. $42; $52 foreign; $4/issue. American Guild of Organists, 475 Riverside Drive, Ste. 1260, New York, NY 10115; (212) 8702310, fax (212) 870-2163. Ed.: Anthony Baglivi. Circ.: 25,000. Indexed: Music Index and Music Article Guide. ISSN 0164-3150. This is the official journal of the American Guild of Organists, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, WINTER 1994

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and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. As such the focus is on organ music and on organ technology. Articles tend to be scholarly and contributors are usually academics or organ music practitioners. Most articles are not directly concerned with gospel music. However, some are of interest to scholarly researchers (for example "Hymnody in the Anglican and English Protestant Churches," by Vincent A. Lenti, which provides historical background on some of the hymns that still form the basis of traditional gospel music), z~ American Organist also functions as a news bulletin featuring letters to the editor, news concerning workshops, recitals, and "Pipings" (professional appointments). The book and musical recording reviews sometimes cover items of particular interest to gospel music enthusiasts. American Organist is a handsome, illustrated, professional journal. However, it is not very accessible to the casual reader or hobbyist. This periodical is most appropriate for academic library music collections.

BillboardMagazine. 1894-. W. $225; $4.95/issue. BPI Communications, One Astor Plaza, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; (800)669-1002. Ed. :Timothy White. Circ. :46,675. Indexed: Business Index, Music Index, Popular Magazine Index, and DIALOG. ISSN 0006-2510. Billboard Magazine is the leading music industry periodical. It appears as a large weekly tabloid and is filled with music trade information including information on contemporary gospel music. Billboardprovides comprehensive news coverage on nearly all types of music ranging from rock to rap to country to gospel. The news mainly consists of brief articles covering current musicians, sales, programs, new releases, and recent developments in popular music. Of most value to the gospel music enthusiast are the "Top Gospel Albums" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts, which are compiled from a national sample of retail store and one-stop sales reports, and two columns ("Gospel Lectern" and "In the Spirit"), which provide news on recent developments in the gospel music field. Although expensive, Billboard Magazine would be a useful component of any large public or academic library collection featuring contemporary music or popular culture. Black Music Research Journal. 1980-. S/A. $15; $20 foreign. Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. Ed.: Samuel A. Floyd, Jr. Indexed: Arts and Humanities Citation Index, The Music Index, RILM Abstracts of Music Literature, and International Bibliography of Periodical Literature. 74

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This scholarly publication covers an extremely broad spectrum of black musical styles of all eras. The focus is on African-American music but articles frequently cover connections to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Each issue contains five to six articles, frequently from a musicological, historical, or cultural perspective. Occasionally, the analysis is quite dense and technical. There are few illustrations. Gospel music is featured occasionally here and the connections with other styles of black music are made clear. Black Music Research Journal is a high-quality, scholarly journal. It is recommended for academic libraries and would be useful for both music and black studies collections.

Blue Suede News. 1986-. Q. $10; $12 Canada; $18 foreign or $16 foreign via surface mail. Box 25, Duvall, WA 98019-0025; (206) 788-2776. Ed./Pub.: Marc Bristol. As the title suggests, this is a fun periodical dedicated to exploring the roots of rock 'n' roll. Blue Suede News covers all styles of roots music with a primary focus on 1950s rock 'n' roll pioneers, including those still active today. Traditional gospel music and performers are occasionally featured in Blue Suede News. Each issue typically carries one in-depth feature article or interview, followed by some shorter, less analytical pieces. The remaining bulk of each issue is devoted to record, book, and video reviews. Each issue is profusely illustrated with black-andwhite photographs and there is advertising for musical products and events. This inexpensive periodical is fun to read. Serious researchers should be aware that Blue Suede News emphasizes enthusiasm rather than analysis (although a few contributors are academics) and that there are occasional errors of fact. Articles are undocumented and there are no bibliographies. Blue Suede News belongs in public libraries and will be enjoyed by most early rock 'n' roll/roots music enthusiasts. Some music historians and scholars of popular culture are likely to find this periodical appealing as well. Blues & Rhythm." The Gospel Truth. "Approx. every 5 weeks." £2.85; £3.15 issue/foreign. 13 Ingleborough Drive, Morley, Leeds, LS 27 9DT, England; (0532) 531960, fax (0532) 529806. Ed.: Tony Burke. In recent decades, European enthusiasts of American roots music have begun publishing periodicals. Since the 1970s, European record companies have continuously reissued older recordings of American music. In fact, in recent years, vintage African-American gospel music has been programmed on British radio to popular acclaim. 26 Blues & Rhythm is one of the

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major European periodicals in this genre; its subtitle, "the gospel truth," does refer in part to gospel music. For the American collector of traditional gospel music (as well as vintage rhythm and blues, blues, country and western, and others), Blues & Rhythm is a godsend. This glossy periodical features many blackand-white photographs and is filled with fascinating articles and interviews. At least one-half of each issue is devoted to music reviews. The reissue market is burgeoning and Blues & Rhythm is a good way to find out what is new in gospel music rereleases. Blues & Rhythm also reviews books and films. Roots music and traditional gospel music fans, as well as record collectors, will love Blues & Rhythm. This is not a particularly scholarly publication (i.e., little documentation and sometimes not very analytical writing) but it would not be out of place in libraries covering the fields of popular culture, black studies, or music. The only significant drawback of Blues & Rhythm is the very small print.

Choral Journal. 1959-. M. Library rates: $25; $35 Canada; $38 foreign surface mail; $75 foreign airmail. American Choral Directors Association, 502 S.W. 38th St., Lawton, OK 73505; (405) 355-8161. Ed.: John Silantien. Circ.: 15,700. Indexed: Music Index, RILM Abstracts, and Music Article Guide. ISSN 0009-5028. Choral Journal is the "official publication of the American Choral Directors Association." The main audience is choral directors, which means that the articles are aimed at a professional, knowledgeable readership rather than the general public. Choral Journal is an attractive periodical whose main focus is on Christian and mainly European choral music. Each issue features four or more in-depth scholarly articles. Most contributors are associated with academic institutions. This periodical is illustrated. The "Choral Reviews" and "Compact Disc Reviews" sections are most relevant to the gospel music researcher: both black and white traditions are covered, although the emphasis is on white traditions. Choral Journal is most appropriate for music collections in academic libraries. FolkRoots. 1979-. M. £23.20; £28.50 foreign. Southern Rag Ltd., PO Box 337, London N4T 1TW, England; (081) 340-9651, fax (081) 348-5826. Ed.: Ian A. Anderson. Circ.: 13,000. ISSN 0951-1326. Folk Roots is a high-quality, glossy, British periodical with an extremely broad focus. It covers "not only British, American and European folk music but roots-based popular music from anywhere in the world." Because the focus is so broad, gospel music is only occasionally discussed in depth.

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This large (over 80 pages per issue), profusely illustrated periodical contains detailed articles, interviews, news bulletins, and record and book reviews. The emphasis is on present-day performers. FolkRoots features columns such as "Rooting About: What's Happening" and "Root Salad," a detailed discussion of recent folk music performances and recordings. Folk Roots' eclectic and broad coverage of folk (roots) music worldwide provides a fascinating perspective on the interconnectedness of authentic folk music. Anyone interested in the broader connections of gospel music to folk music and folk culture would be well served by this British perspective on folk music. Folk Roots would be a good addition to both public and academic library collections emphasizing folklore, music, or international studies.

Inside Bluegrass. 1974-. M. $15; $24 Canada. PO Box 11419, St. Paul, MN 5511-0419; (612) 378-0377. Ed.: Bill Nicholson. Circ.: 800. ISSN 0891-0537. The musical connections between bluegrass and white traditional gospel music are evident to anyone familiar with the music, hence the coverage of Inside Bluegrass in this article. However, explicit coverage of gospel music as such is rare for Inside Bluegrass. Inside Bluegrass is the official publication of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association. This periodical is a handsome publication filled with black-and-white illustrations and photographs. It features articles on both historical and current bluegrass performers, interviews, and transcriptions/analyses of bluegrass songs. Most articles are not scholarly although there is strong musicological analysis. Much of the scholarship is that of the amateur music enthusiast--a true love of the music is evident. Inside Bluegrass functions also as a bulletin board and news magazine: it contains reviews of festivals and coming events, and provides radio program listings. Although most of the news coverage, radio programs, and events are of greater interest to readers in the Minnesota area, the interviews, articles, and musical analyses will definitely appeal to a broader audience. Inside Bluegrass is of interest primarily to bluegrass fans, but also to persons interested in folk and "old-timey" music in general. This periodical would make a good addition to public libraries and to some academic libraries having collections of literature on music or folklore. North Carolina Folklore Journal. 1948-. S/A. $7.50 individual; $10 institution. North Carolina Folklore Society, c/o Department of English, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608; (704) 262-2323. Circ.: 700. Indexed: Abstracts of Folklore Studies (ceased), WINTER 1994

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Historical Abstracts, M.L.A., and The Music Index. ISSN 0090-5844. The North Carolina Folklore Journal is a scholarly and well-written periodical concerning North Carolina folklore and folklife. The journal has lengthy, analytical articles, oral history and interviews, and book reviews. Also there are some black-and-white photographs, illustrations, and musical transcriptions and annotations. The North Carolina Folklore Journal only occasionally covers gospel music but when it does, the articles are well written and fascinating. Coverage is both musicological and folkloric. Articles are scholarly and heavily documented. For example, "A Singing Stream: A Black Family Chronicle" contains over 60 pages of information about the Golden Echoes gospel group and its relation to North Carolina [vol. 36, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1989)]. Or consider "The Art of Meditation in Afro-American Folksong: Roy Dunn's Holy Blues" in vol. 34, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1987). The North Carolina Folklore Journal definitely has a regional focus, but it would be a good addition to academic libraries collecting material on folklore, folklife, or the South.

illustrations. Old-Time Herald features articles, interviews, news, music reviews, and classified ads concerning "old-time music." There is information on radio programs, dances, and musical tours, interviews with current practitioners of the music, and obituaries. A "Workshop" section provides instruction in musical performance, such as how to play the fiddle. Contributors range from music industry associates to various humanists, including academics, musicians, and even "a trout-fishing poet" from West Virginia. Old-Time Herald is a handsome publication accessible to both scholars and the general public. Its primary audience is lovers of old-time and folk music. This periodical is appropriate for academic and public libraries maintaining collections in music and folklore.

Oklahoma Bluegrass Gazette. 1975-. M. $8 annual dues to Oklahoma Bluegrass Club. 8700 Hillview, Midwest City, OK 73150; (405)737-9944. Ed.: Charlie Blackwell. Circ.: 1,000. The Oklahoma Bluegrass Gazette appears in newspaper format and serves mainly as a brief collection of bluegrass and folk music news, short stories, and information on bluegrass performances, primarily in the Oklahoma region. The "Calendar of Events" covers 15 states in the Midwest, West, and South. The Oklahoma Bluegrass Gazette features some music transcriptions and some music lessons such as "dobro instruction." Oklahoma Bluegrass Gazette is included here since gospel songs are a significant proportion of the repertoire of most bluegrass musicians. This publication is of most interest to bluegrass and folk music enthusiasts and practitioners.

Roots & Rhythm Newsletter. 1978-. 6/yr. $7.50; $15 foreign. Roots & Rhythm, 6921 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530; (510) 525-1494, fax (510) 5252904. Circ.: 13,000. The Roots & Rhythm Newsletter is essentially a glorified sales catalog but it is a treasure-trove for gospel music lovers and enthusiasts of roots music. Divided into various genres of music, the newsletter provides detailed reviews of new releases, rereleases, and previously unreleased musical recordings. Often, the reviews provide a little history of the featured artist and point out connections to other artists and related styles of music. Roots & Rhythm Newsletter would be especially valuable to institutions building collections of gospel music, blues, vintage rock 'n' roll, country and western, ethnic, and other types of roots music. One word of warning: many of the music releases reviewed in Roots & Rhythm Newsletter are imports and hence rather expensive. Bankruptcy is a real danger to the music enthusiast, thanks to the uniformly excellent selection of music releases offered for sale in each issue. Roots & Rhythm Newsletter is published on newsprint, but it is profusely illustrated and very legible.

Old-Time Herald. 1987-. Q. $15; $18 foreign; $21 libraries/institutions. The Old-Time Music Group, Inc., 1812 House Ave., Durham, NC 27707. Ed.: Alice Gerrard. Indexed: The Music Index. ISSN 1040-3582. "Old-time music" here seems to be essentially traditional, white, Southern folk music; mainly bluegrass, mountain folk music, country, a little gospel, and a little blues. Closer inspection reveals that OldTime Herald covers gospel music fairly extensively, especially in the record reviews. This periodical appears in an attractive glossy format and has many black-and-white photographic

Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin. 1935-. Q. $10 individual; $12 libraries and institutions; $5 extra foreign. Tennessee Folklore Society, Box 201, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; (615) 898-2576. Ed.: Charles K. Wolfe. Co-ed.: Guy F. Anderson. Circ.: 425. Indexed: Abstracts of Folk Studies (ceased), America: History and Life; Historical Abstracts; M.L.A., and The Music Index. ISSN 00403253. The Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin is aimed at both a scholarly and a more general audience. Its mission is to cover traditional life in the Tennessee

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region, sometimes including neighboring states. Folklore encompasses traditional music; and at least twice in recent issues The Bulletin has featured gospel music in some detail. The perspective here is on folklore, meaning that gospel music is discussed in relation to Tennessee culture not just in musical analysis. A good example is "Successes of the 'Spirit'" by Kip Lornell, which discusses the famous AfricanAmerican gospel group, the Spirit of Memphis Quartet, from the 1920s through the 1950sY Contributing authors to this large-format and occasionally illustrated periodical are usually academics or folklore professionals. Articles tend to be scholarly but not dense. Most adults should find the Bulletin to be quite accessible and the articles and interviews are fascinating. There are usually four or five substantial articles per issue (40-50 pages), plus obituaries, book reviews, an "Events and Comments" section, and a short listing of Society publications and musical recordings for sale (including gospel music). The Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin is appropriate for academic and public libraries and would fit in well with folklore, Southern life, anthropology, and sociology collections.

Tradition. 1976-. 6/yr. $12 annual dues. National Traditional Country Music Association, Inc., Prairie Press Ltd., Box 438, Walnut, IA 51577; (712) 7843001. Ed.: Robert P. Everhart. Circ.: 2,500. Tradition has a definite aim to keep acoustic, public-domain music alive. Tradition's mission statement declares that there is a real danger from commercial music publishing interests such as ASCAP and BMI and it is this sense of embattled crisis that informs much of the tone of this 8 1/2" by 11" newsprint periodical. This is an interesting periodical filled with biographies and obituaries of country musicians and provides numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs. Gospel music and country music have a long history of cross-fertilization and this sometimes comes out in the articles. The "News" section keeps the reader apprised of appearances of current singers of traditional music and events such as music festivals. Tradition is a nonscholarly periodical for country, bluegrass, and folk acoustic music enthusiasts and for those concerned with the overcommercialization of American music. Victory Music Review. 1976-. M. $20. Victory Music, PO Box 7515, Bonney Lake, WA 98890. Ed.: Judy Grantham. Circ.: 5,500. Victory Music Review is a fun periodical with a strong flavor of the 1970s hippie/folk enthusiast ethos. Like Tradition, its main mission is to support local - - FROM SPIRITUALS TO GOSPEL RAP - -

acoustic music. Victory Music Review definitely has a mission: the promotion and preservation of acoustic music in all its forms. Each issue (30 to 40 pages) is filled with musical recording reviews, a calendar of events, radio program listings, and several short analytical articles. While most of the events and radio shows are confined to the Seattle-Vancouver area, the music recording reviews and articles are of interest to a wider audience. Acoustic music is broadly defined by Victory Music Review, which does include a section on "blues and gospel." The musical performances occasionally list gospel musicians, or more often folk musicians or blues musicians who include at least some traditional gospel in their repertoire. Victory Music offers practical columns such as "Shop Talk" (aimed at musicians with advice on financial recordkeeping and taxes) and "A Womyn's Place" (items of special interest to female musicians). There are many classified ads, too. Victory Music Review functions as a combined bulletin board and musical review. It even maintains a musicians' referral service. Folk music enthusiasts and persons inclined to alternative lifestyles will find Victory Music Review to be useful and enjoyable. The focus of Victory Music Review is so broad that there is something for almost everyone interested in acoustic/traditional music, including gospel. This review of gospel music periodicals covers most of the titles currently published in this genre in the United States plus a few from Great Britain. The very breadth of current religious music contributes to the division of this review into core and non-core titles. The core titles are, in my opinion, the most important ones for building a focused gospel music collection. They vary in coverage from traditional gospel music to the most recent styles of contemporary Christian music. Both black and white gospel music is represented although the majority of currently published titles tend to feature contemporary white gospel music. The non-core titles are valuable for maintaining a truly comprehensive collection of periodical literature on the subject. Some of these titles also help to bring more black gospel music styles into focus as well. Gospel music is so interrelated to other forms of American music that it would be a disservice not to review at least some of the periodicals that aren't devoted exclusively to gospel music. Gospel music periodicals range from popular to scholarly to very religious in style and audience. All have something to offer the researcher. With the exception of a few of the titles reviewed here, most gospel music periodicals are not very easy to locate. Two excellent periodicals, Inside Music, which covered

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contemporary Christian music, and Keskidee, a British journal, which covered traditional black music in general, ceased publication while this article was being researched. Some periodicals in this field are very specialized or are aimed at a small audience. Some noncore titles may not be obvious resources to the gospel music researcher. Just as gospel music scholars benefit from learning about the music's connection to jazz, blues, folk, country, and other styles, so too will scholars of various forms of American music benefit from reading about the decided impact of gospel music on American popular music in general.

12. Heilbut, x. 13. Cusic, 112-113. 14.

Cusic, 158-160.

15. Walter B. Shurden, "Southern Baptist Convention," in Encyclopedia of Religion in the South, ed. by Samuel S. Hill (Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1984), 720. 16. Gustav Niebuhr, "[Jimmy] Carter Supports Dissidents in Southern Baptist Schism," Washington Post (28 January 1993): 13A. 17. See Exaltation 3, no. 2 (January-March 1993): 1-4.

NOTES 1. Anthony Heilbut, The Gospel Sound (New York: Limelite Editions, 1992), xii.

18. The Music Leader 23, no. 2 (January-March 1993): 4-5. 19. Week 10 Issue, Music Time (January-March 1993).

2.

Heilbut, xiv. 20.

3. Viv Broughton, Black Gospel: An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound (London: Blandford Press, 1985), 7. 4. "Gospel Music," New Grove Dictionary of American Music, vol. 2 (New York: Grove's Dictionaries of American Music, Inc., 1986), 248. 5. "Gospel Music," 258 and Don Cusic, The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel Music (Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1990), 26, 32. 6.

"Gospel Music," 249-250.

7.

"Gospel Music," 251.

8.

"Gospel Music," 255.

9.

"Gospel Music," 255.

10.

"Gospel Music," 255 and Heilbut.

11. It was Number 10 on the most-played rhythm and blues jukebox hits for 1950 according to Ray Funk, "Let's Go Out to the Programs (The Peacock Gospel Years)," in Duke~Peacock Records: An Illustrated History with Discography, eel. by Galen Gart and Roy C. Ames (Milford, NH: Big Nickel Publications, 1991), 37. See also Arsenio Orteza, "Standing Room Only: Catching Up with Sandy Foster and the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi," Rejoice t. 4, no. 6 (January 1993): 9.

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The Hymn 44, no. 1 (January 1993): 2.

21. Harry Eskew and James C. Downing, "Shape-Note Hymnody" in The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, ed by H. Wiley Hitchcock and Stanley Sadie. Vol. 4, (New York: Grove's Dictionaries of American Music, Inc., 1986), 201. 22.

Eskew and Downing, 201-202.

23. In response to my inquiry, the editors wrote, "The newsletter is re-vamping and will be available this summer." ALS, Hugh McGraw, and Richard DeLong, eds., National Sacred Harp Newsletter, to Timothy Dodge, 23 February 1994. 24. Subscription Form Insert, Worship Leader 2, no. 2 (April/May 1993), between 8-9. 25. Vincent A. Lenti, "Hymnody in the Anglican and English Protestant Churches," American Organist 28, no. I (January 1994): 66-71. 26. Bob Laughton, Liner Notes to Jesus Is the Answer, Charly R & B L.P. CRB 1083 (1984). 27. Kip Lornell, "Successes of the 'Spirit,' Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin 44, no. 4 (1991): 134-138.

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