The Gospel Sound – Good News and Bad Times – Anthony Heilbut

Written in 1971 with an update in 1975, and another in the 80’s, this book tells the story of the old-school

gospel singers and groups. As I have started to learn a bit about this genre, there were some that I was familiar with – Sam Cooke, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson, of course – as well as others such as the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Sensational Nightingales, Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Sallie Martin, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Ward Singers and many more. Heilbut is not afraid to criticize when he feels that artists have strayed from the path or lost their touch.

While I shouldn’t be surprised, as I certainly understand the hypocrisy of religion, the continual stories of drinking, drugs, gambling and carrying on – and groupies! – were more than I expected. Heilbut does not whitewash the reality of the gospel scene. Of course, artists of any type have always had admirers, but the Gospel Groupies apparently were just as flagrant, blatant and organized as the later rock’n’roll peers – right down to demanding free entry because of their groupie status! As in r’n’r, marriages often ended early and stars would wed numerous times – not exactly the “to death do us part” that the vows indicate!

There is a chapter on gospel radio DJ’s and the power they wielded, as well as the independent record companies that released a good number of the gospel records and created regional hits and stars. Towards the end a chapter is dedicated to those who had passed and the manner in which they passed – whether their funerals were extravagant or modest, whether they were remembered or forgotten – and a listing of some of the up-and-coming singers.

Heilbut does tie in modern culture with the genre and the changes that took place, with pop singers recording gospel, gospel singers recording pop and the cross-over of influences on both fields, as well as the fans reactions. He closes with a selected discography that gives some good tips on records to look for, though since the last update was several decades ago, some of these albums are no longer available, though others have taken their place.

All in all, a good overview of the gospel sound, even if Heilbut does assume some knowledge of the field – if you are not versed in Church of God in Christ, you may not fully understand some terms that he uses, though you get the gist within context. A little more explanation would have been nice for outsiders. In any case, an entertaining read.