Folk/Traditional Gospel Music: Album, Track and Artist Charts

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Description of Folk/Traditional Gospel

Broadly speaking, this is the music of African-Americans singing about faith and devotion to Christ. Folk/Traditional Gospel singers have a powerful vocal presence and often sing over rhythms and beats that in many cases can be traced to traditional African music. While Contemporary Gospel artists look to modern influences to expand their musical palettes, artists in this genre stick to the tried-and-true forms of soulful hymns and old standards. The arrangements might be a bit more familiar and a bit less innovative, but the music -- often sung with inimitable fervor by large choirs -- is as powerful and as moving as any other. Mahalia Jackson is widely credited with laying the foundations for today's take on traditional Gospel with her powerful contralto and stirring presence. Jackson, Gospel's first true superstar, gracefully bridged the gap between Southern Blues and songs of worship.

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Tracks

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Play/Add	Track	Artist
	1. Amazing Grace	The Blind Boys Of Alabama
	2. When The Gates Swing Open	The Dixie Hummingbirds
	3. Stand Still	Shirley Caesar
	4. Amazing Grace	Tramaine Hawkins
	5. Whalum's Weather Report (Interlude)	Take 6
	6. Sylvie	Sweet Honey in the Rock
	7. In Harm's Way	BeBe Winans
	8. (Peace To) The Neighborhood	Pops Staples
	9. Swing Down Chariot	Golden Gate Quartet
	10. Somebody Bigger Than You Or I	Marion Williams
	11. Motherless Children	Blind Willie Johnson
	12. King Of Kings (He's A Wonder)	Cece Winans
	13. Come On In This House	The Fairfield Four
	14. Walk With Me	Della Reese
	15. Amazing Grace	The Clark Sisters

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Albums

Filed Under

Christian/Gospel > Gospel > Folk/Traditional Gospel

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Artists

Albertina Walker

The singing diva who came
up with the Caravans,
Walker is one of the great
voices in Gospel.

Brother Joe May

Chosen Gospel Singers

Obscure male Gospel vocal
group active in the 50's and
'60s, most notable for the
fact that Lou Rawls was a
founding member.

Dixie Hummingbirds

Dorothy Love Coates

Onetime centerpiece to the
classic Gospel Harmonettes,
Dorothy Love Coates is an
exuberant, electrifying
gospel singer.

Pilgrim Jubilee Singers

Hard gospel group of the
1950s based in Chicago. The
Jubilee Singers sang
high-energy, R&B-heavy
Black Gospel.

Rance Allen

Rance Allen was among the
first Gospel artists to
incorporate jazz and rock
into his spiritually centered
music. Rance Allen Group...

Rev. C.L. Franklin

Detroit-based preacher
with a killer shout. The
Good Reverend is Aretha's
dad. The majority of his
material is spoken. Sermo...

Shirley Caesar

In more ways than one,
Caesar is a giant voice in
gospel. She sings with the
fiery passion and depth of a
true believer. As a memb...

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

With a warbling voice and
stellar guitar playing, Sister
Rosetta brought gospel
music to the mainstream in
the late 1930s. Sister Rose...

Spirit of Memphis Quartet

Classic 1950s Southern
Gospel group with
prominent R&B leanings.
They've continued to
perform through 2001.

The Blind Boys Of Alabama

Traditional Gospel from a
bona fide Golden Era of
Gospel Group. Expect Killer
hamonies and soaring leads.

The Brooklyn All-Stars

Soul-heavy, male vocal
gospel group who hit their
stride in the 1950s. The
All-Stars songs are often in
semi-sermon form. During...

The Caravans

Premier '50s and '60s Gospel
act the Caravans raised the
roof while singing about
how Jesus raised the dead.
Shirley Caesar, Inez Andr...

The Dixie Hummingbirds

This long-running,
pioneering gospel quartet
was loved for their deep
soul harmonies and
inventive arrangements. I...

The Fairfield Four

The Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi

Definitive male vocal gospel
group marked by stellar
harmonies and bedrock,
old school arrangements.
The Five Blind Boys of Mis...

The Gospel Harmonettes

Premier female Gospel
group from the salad days of
the genre. The Harmonettes
are among the more
R&B-heavy groups. Led by...

The Gospel Hummingbirds

Active since the 1970s, the
Gospel Hummingbirds
incorporate blues and soul
to their traditionally-styled
Black Gospel.

The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Mighty Clouds of Joy are
one of the few
Contemporary Gospel acts
working today who still sing
in the classic 1950s style.

The Pilgrim Travelers

Best-known for "Jesus Hits
Like An Atom Bomb," the
Pilgrim Travelers perfected
the "Walking Rhythm" sound
of classic Gospel. Formed...

The Sensational Nightingales

Strong soul and r&b
influenced "hard gospel,"
featuring the bear-like
vocals of Rev. Julius
Cheeks. Soloist Rev. Juliu...

The Soul Stirrers

Giants on the scene, the
Soul Stirrers had a hand in
developing the R&B-heavy
hard gospel of the genre's
classic period. Due to ico...

Folk/Traditional Gospel

Description of Folk/Traditional Gospel

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Tracks

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Albums

Filed Under

Folk/Traditional Gospel Key Artists

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