Urban Contemporary Gospel Music

1. Urban Contemporary Gospel Music

2. What Is GospelMusic Gospel music in general is characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) It is to give Christians alternative choice to mainstream secular music that is against their religion. Gospel music is music that is written to express personal belief regarding Christian life. A common theme of most Gospel music is praise, worship or thanks to God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit.

3. History Of UC Gospel Music • There is no exact starting date for urban contemporary Gospel but it started during the slave trade when the Africans were introduced to the Christian religion. They used their way of worship and praise, that they did in their native land to help them conform more to the Christian religion. Back in their homeland they sang songs, gave testimonies as a form of worship and praise to their cultural gods and deities. During slavery there were three types of Gospel music: work songs, jubilees and social Gospel. These types of Gospel is still around today. Work songs were songs the slaves would sing while working on the fields or plantation. These songs referred to slavery in the bible but at the same time had a message of hope and freedom. Jubilees are songs that are sang in the church; this type of music really shows the adaptation of slaves to the regular Christian form of music of that time period. Social Gospel is music that has a social message with biblical references.

4. Key Artists ( Development) (1904 – 1994), also known as Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, was an American gospel singer. She was raised in the Baptist church and began singing with her sisters in a family group known as "The Ford Sisters" after the family moved to St. Louis. She was also a major figure within the Baptist Church as the Director of its Education Department of the National Baptist Convention before she became a member of a Pentecostal denomination. She considered herself a preacher and imbued her singing and sermonettes with an evangelical fervor. She was noted for her finesse, control and subtlety, but could also, like her protégé Brother Joe May, belt out hymns. Willie Mae Ford Smith He is known as "the father of gospel music". Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom. His conception also deviates from what had been, to that time, standard hymnal practice by referring explicitly to the self, and the self's relation to faith and God, rather than the individual subsumed into the group via belief. Thomas A. Dorsey

5. Key ARTISTS Priscilla Winans Love (born on October 8, 1964) and known professionally as CeCe Winans, is an American Gospel singer and winner of numerous Grammy Awards and Stellar Awards. "Singing for God and his people, It's more home for me," she says. "I'm most comfortable because I don't even have to think hard. It's something I love and I've been doing it for a long time. It comes from the heart. It touches the heart. I get lost in His will. I guess I have more fun shouting from the mountaintop." Kirk Dwayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970(1970-01-26) in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American Gospel music singer and author and is most notably known as the leader of urban contemporary gospel choirs such as the Family, God's Property and 1NC (One Nation Crew).

6. SUB GENRES In London there's a new kind of gospel movement that is developing. Which has developed from urban contemporary music. It consists of grime, r&b and hip hop all combined in one genre. GFORCE, GUNVNAB are key artists that have made this genre succeed, by winning various awards e.g.. Mobo awards and hosting life changing events ( kicc events)

7. Audience • This type of genre of music, is rather unique. It appeals to all ages, all genders no matter what kind of personality, however the audience mainly does appeal to the black (African or American) section of society because it originates from when slaves of America were separated from civilization, so they developed this kind of soul try gospel vibe. This type of genre is also allocated to Christians, ( type of religion) and also curious people who want to know who God is and What he is. • On the other hand, urban contemporary music that is developing now, does have a specific type of audience; which is targeting the young generation Christians to develop their faith and knowledge in God.

8. Record labels RIAA Pure springs Gospel The Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) is a trade group that claims to represent the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of a large number of private corporate entities such as record labels and distributors, which the RIAA claims "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States". PureSprings Gospel (formerly WellSpring Gospel) is a gospel music record label by gospel artist CeCe Winans. Winans founded the label in 1999 when Pioneer folded and released Alabaster Box as an experimental album and the album did well. Winans appointed Demetrius Stewart to oversee the label. The label has signed several artists though Winans remains the flagship artist of the label. The label has also ventured into compilation CDs and children releases.

9. Mainstream or niche? • The gospel genre is aimed at a section of society it does not have the amount of popular admiration of supporters as say R&B does. • UC Gospel music in America especially within the black ethnic community is very mainstream. However if one was to generalize the genre to the whole word, it would appear niche. Nevertheless this genre is widely credited all over the world, but just parts of sections all over the world. E.g. black communities in Spain, brazil, London etc.

10. CROSS-MEDIA There are a number of cross media that promotes uc contemporary gospel music.