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THE CHANGING FACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC: Gospel music defined in the words of Kim Burrell

(October 2, 2006)

There was a time that the definition of "Gospel" music went unchallenged. Rather than being debated, it was simply understood: gospel music was church music, more sepcifically, Black church music indigenous to the South.

Unlike any other form of American music it was born out of the Black experience with themes that incorporated setting the captives and giving hope for the future.

Dictionary.com defines Gospel music as "a genre of a capella music originating with Black slaves in the United States and featuring call and response; influential on the development of other genres of popular music (especially soul)."

Some agree with this representation of gospel music and others claim that it is severely archaic. Some ascertain that Webster's definition of gospel music is even more farfetched: "a style of folk singing originally associated with evangelistic revival meetings." Neither definition catches up with the times. The reality is that the Gospel music is multi-faceted and growing in its diverstiy with regularity.

Rather than join the debate, EUR Gospel has spoken to several gospel artists and gathered a melange of opinions that we will share with you in a series called 'The Changing faces of Gospel." The opninions represented in this special feature will come from artists in the gospel community as well as other artist who have been influenced by gospel music.

We begin with thoughts from Kim Burrell:

"Gospel Music is a profound language that speaks to the soul and speaks to the heart. Speaks [sic] to the spirit of men and women to change their outlook on the choices in life that will be conducive to holy living. They're other people/artists who sing other music, who sing gospel music, but proclaimed gospel artists have a devout duty to proclaim ... that it is the Good News of Jesus Christ and not necessarity our own ideas. It's okay to give our own opninions at times, but when you are singing to the glory and honor of The Lord ... it is imperative that we sing what is necessary to make Gospel music stays Gospel music ... It's a personality. Gospel music is not just something to do. It is a lifestyle and that's how I feel."

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Kim Burrell

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