Is Chicago the Birthplace of Gospel Music?

Ever wonder where Gospel music, as we know it, started?  Was it Mississippi or Georgia, Texas or somewhere in Ohio? Could it have been Chicago, Illinois?  

Well, we did too and to answer that question you would need a historian. Someone who has studied long and hard with a passion for truth and is qualified to shed light on this topic by sharing their knowledge, research and experience. We found several individuals and tonight’s guest is one of them.

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host.  “Gospel Memories,” a radio program of classic gospel, spiritual, and jubilee music, airs on Chicago’s WLUW-FM.

Bob writes about classic and contemporary gospel music as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gospel Music (www.journalofgospelmusic.com).  The website, formerly known as The Black Gospel Blog, was nominated for a Rhythm of Gospel Award in 2013. 

Bob’s work has been published widely in reference books and His first book, “A City Called Heaven: Chicago and the Birth of Gospel Music”, will be published in March 2015 by the University of Illinois Press - Music in American Life Series.

 Join Host Petula Beckles as Bob shares his wealth of Gospel Music knowledge with us tonight.