Overview
Around 1968, at the close of the golden age of gospel, music approaches applied new stylistic labels to gospel such as urban contemporary gospel, holy hip-hop, hip-hop gospel, or just contemporary gospel, to name a few. Many continue to use these labels to describe gospel music from the late 1960s to the present day. As gospel music's boundaries concerning its stylistic labels continue to expand, notable differences in music characteristics and performance practices contribute to gospel music's broad appeal at this juncture.
Be ready to:
- List important events and artists' accomplishments that contributed to the contemporary gospel.
- Recall specific performers/composers and their songs that engendered the transition between the golden age of gospel and contemporary gospel.
- Identify contemporary gospel songs that borrow music elements from secular songs, specifically how they incorporate music characteristics and performance practices similar to those found in soul, funk, and disco music.
- Explain the use of many stylistic labels as applied to contemporary gospel music.
