British Black Gospel

Gospel music in Britain today is a rapidly emerging genre and its effect and influence on other areas of the record industry cannot be underestimated. The style of gospel is wide and apart form the traditional hymn based choir arrangements there is a whole range of subgenres incorporating Soul, Jazz, Funk, Reggae, R n B, Calypso, classical music, hip hop and praise and worship which form part of this colourful and inspirational market. Steve Smith traces the roots of modern black gospel from 19th Century Black pioneers such as Thomas Rutling and the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who performed for Queen Victoria, to the contemporary sound of the London Community Gospel Choir. He tells his story with a wealth of anecdotes and photos. The book is accompanied by an audio CD of the spectrum of British black gospel.

Smith, Steve Alexander