Part 4: Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul Podcast
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- Music
This episode tells the story behind The Edwin Hawkins Singers' ceiling-shattering song, "Oh Happy Day". It was the first gospel song to top the secular charts. Hawkins' use of contemporary sounds — a Latin groove, synthesizers and a soul-influenced lead vocal performance — created a new model for gospel music. But some in the church didn’t want sanctified music to leave the sanctuary.
This episode tells the story behind The Edwin Hawkins Singers' ceiling-shattering song, "Oh Happy Day". It was the first gospel song to top the secular charts. Hawkins' use of contemporary sounds — a Latin groove, synthesizers and a soul-influenced lead vocal performance — created a new model for gospel music. But some in the church didn’t want sanctified music to leave the sanctuary.
17 min