John Malveaux: LinkTV.org: Los Angeles’s Role in the Rise and Mainstreaming of Gospel Music

Mount Moriah Baptist Choir at Taborian Hall, site of the church in 1949 | Courtesy of Shades of L.A. Photo Collection, Los Angeles Public Library

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com 

writes:

HOW SWEET THE SOUND-Gospel in Los Angeles

https://www.linktv.org/shows/artbound/los-angeless-role-in-the-rise-and-mainstreaming-of-gospel-music?mc_cid=3de408fe0b&mc_eid=bb219d9a53

Link TV

June 5, 2019

Praise and worship songs stealing the limelight at a secular music festival in Southern California might seem unthinkable, but Kanye West gave a riveting gospel-inspired performance when Coachella coincided with Easter in 2019.

He rapped his hit “Jesus Walks,” mixed the music of gospel legends The Clark Sisters on his turntable and played house music classic “Brighter Days,” with the refrain: “Lift me up! Oh, won’t you lift me up!” It was all part of the music series West calls his “Sunday Service,” but instead of church robes, his choir wore Yeezy sweats. 

What happened at Coachella might have been unexpected, but it falls in line with Southern California’s history. Along with cities such as Chicago and Detroit, Los Angeles has influenced gospel music for decades. And transplants like West, who came to L.A. by way of Chicago, have often been the architects of the movement.

“Los Angeles can stand up with any other city in terms of gospel music,” according to Aundrae Russell, program director for the R&B and gospel radio station KJLH. “It’s in the top three cities in the country.”