JCL BOOK CLUB: British Black Gospel – The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound by Steve Alexander Smith

THIS insightful book is the result of a 10-year quest by author Steve Smith to discover the origins and development of gospel music in Britain. Written in first-person, Smith believes this music’s history should be documented and merits the attention already given to calypso, ska and reggae, all of which – like black British gospel – owe their presence in Britain to Afro-Caribbean immigration.

Using interesting illustrations and commentary by gospel artists, Smith pinpoints key movements in the music, beginning with a UK visit in 1873 of the black American Fisk Jubilee singers, and ending with speculations about British gospel music’s future directions.

Author Steve Alexander Smith

He succeeds in shattering the image of British gospel music as nothing more than choirs singing a capella and banging tambourines, though he notes how some churches resisted the use of instruments. Smith also highlights the diversity of gospel music and yet outlines the difficulty of defining it against conflicts about where to draw the line between the sacred and the secular, both musically and in the way gospel is performed for church and outside the church. A CD recording of black British gospel comes free with the book and there is a reference list for further reading.
The book would be ideal if adapted for film documentary. It is also a recommended read for gospel enthusiasts, those interested in black British history, and music lovers generally because of gospel music’s influence on other musical genres. Source: voice-online.co.uk

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British Black Gospel

Review

‘British Black Gospel’ by Steve Smith is quite simply a must read for anyone who has the slightest interest in the development of this musical genre in Britain. How fascinating to learn that so many of our current leaders, preachers, Gospel and R&B artists are also pioneers of British Black Gospel. It is amazing that this is a first book on the subject and I hope that there is more to come from Steve and others, further exploring this musical legacy. –Bishop Dr Joe Aldred, Churches Together in England

Product Description

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.