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GOSPEL TIMELINE
1920s: Arizona Dranes introduces a fusion of Christian lyrics and barrelhouse piano music with her early gospel recordings, paving the way for the influence of jazz, blues, and later rock and R&B on contemporary gospel songs. 1932: After creating the first known gospel choir in Chicago, Thomas Dorsey composes his most famous song, Precious Lord. It has been performed not only by gospel artists, but also mainstream artists like Aretha Franklin, and became a favorite of Mahalia Jackson who sang it at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1947: Mahalia Jacksons first hit, Move On Up a Little Higher, sells an unprecedented eight million copies. It is now in the Grammy Hall of Fame, the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 1950: Gospel music is performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the first-ever Negro Gospel and Religious Music Festival, organized by Joe Bostic. 1967: The Gospel Music Workshop of America is founded by Rev. James Cleveland, and the first convention is held in Detroit one year later. 1969: Edwin Hawkins Oh Happy Day wins a Grammy award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. The song is known as a starting point for contemporary gospel music. 1981: Introducing the Winans is released, ushering the family dynasty into gospel music for many years to come. 1997: Gods Propertys Stomp, featuring Kirk Franklin and Salt-NPepas Cheryl Salt James, makes Billboards Top 40. The album, Gods Property From Kirk Franklins Nu Nation, is the first gospel album to top Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. 2000: Mary Marys crossover hit Shackles (Praise You) reaches #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. 2004: Andra Crouch becomes the only living gospel artist and one of only three to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He will be joined by BeBe and CeCe Winans this year. 2011: American Idol winner Fantasia Burrino is cast to play gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in a biopic of the queen of gospels life. The film is set for release in December.

The Power of Praise

How Sweet The Sound brings choirs from communities across the country together regionally and then nationally at its grand finale to celebrate the local church choir. It is more than a contest; its inspiration on tour for impassioned church choirs and families with open hearts. Tonight, youll hear the best choirs in your community and be lifted by the power of song.

Thomas Dorseys (above) best-known song, Precious Lord, was written in reaction to a personal tragedy, and marks a turn in gospel music composition. It is a very personal description of ones plight and ones relationship with God.

Gospel music brightens lives and unites communities

has also influenced contemporary lyrics, is one of the things that makes gospel music such an inspirational part of a worship service. Though Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and other early stars had means of publishing and recording their music, the beginning of contemporary black gospel music, Dent says, is marked with Oakland, Calif., composer Edwin Hawkins Oh Happy Day. Heavily influenced by popular, secular music, the song was the first gospel song to be widely distributed and heard internationally. Dent says the 1970s were a turning point, when gospel music began to sound more like mainstream music. The rhythms were more associated with dance rhythms. The instruments were contemporary, there was a use of synthesizers and more horns, whereas up to that point it was mainly piano and organ, he says. But the message reigned true to inspiring the masses. Dent also cites Andra Crouch as a pioneer of contemporary gospel music, noting that he was the one of the first to achieve widespread appeal for his music across the country. Today, many of the regional differences in gospel music have dissolved due to technological advancement, but Dent says there was a time when you could hear the difference between a recording from an artist in Detroit

trong voices and a stronger message. Those are the transcending elements that have held gospel music together from its inception. In the 1920s, 30s and 40s, as African Americans began migrating north, Chicago became the home of gospel music, and singers became voices of praise and faith. Thomas Dorsey, known as the father of gospel music, founded what is considered to be the first gospel choir at Chicagos Ebenezer Baptist Church with Prof. Theodore Frye, and also the first gospel choral union, the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, which first met at Chicagos Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1933. It was here that gospel musics role in establishing a community began. An important aspect about the development of gospel music is that it developed in an urban setting, says Dr. Cedric Dent, professor at Middle Tennessee State Universitys School of Music and member emeritus of the Grammy award-winning vocal group TAKE 6. Lyrically it owes a lot to people dealing with tough times. Dorseys best-known song, Precious Lord, was written in reaction to a family tragedy and marks a turn in gospel music composition. It is a very personal description of ones plight and ones relationship with God, says Dent. The personal nature of the song, which

and a recording from an artist in Los Angeles. The choirs have also evolved to speak to a growing demographic, but continue to be at the heart of the church community, particularly with the rise of recording choirs at megachurches. Gospel music has always drawn upon two major influences: whats happening in the church, and whats happening in popular music. Contemporary gospel greats like Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary have enjoyed chart-topping success. How Sweet The Sound resident judge Marvin Sapp has broken records with Never Would Have Made It, the first gospel song to sell a million digital downloads. The song earned spots on Billboards Hot 100 and R&B/Hip Hop charts and is the longest-running number 1 radio single, staying at the top on Gospel radio for 47 weeks. In addition to the more traditional style of artists like Shirley Caesar and Paul Morton, hip hop- and rap-infused gospel music from musicians such as LaCrae and Da T.R.U.T.H has climbed up the Billboard charts in recent years, and Dent expects that trend to continue. The musical taste of young people is a good indication of where gospel music is going, Dent says. And with its time-tested message of joy, gospel musics vibrant journey beyond the doors of the church will continue for generations to come.

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How Sweet the Sound coming to staples center O

n Saturday, Oct. 1, Verizon will bring How Sweet The Sound, A Verizon Experience to STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Raise your praise hands and experience an anointing as incredible choirs and top gospel celebrities rock the house during this empowering evening that will leave you inspired and amazed.

Competing choirs
Large Choir Category
The Voices of Faith Faith Inspirational Missionary Baptist Church, Compton New Direction Mass Choir New Direction Community Church, Pomona Family Life Center Sanctuary Choir Family Life Center Apostolic Church, Whittier Tri Valley Choir Central Valley Evangelistic Outreach, Stockton

Small/Medium Choir Category

Lincoln Avenue Celestial Temple Choir L.A.C.T. Church of God In Christ, Pasadena The Mighty Men of the Mount New Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Inglewood Greater New Bethel Young Adult Choir Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, Inglewood The Bel-Vue Heritage Choir Bel-Vue Community Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles

Saturday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.

1111 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA; Tickets: $10/$15 Box office information
Tickets available at the STAPLES Center Box Office or staplescenter.com Ticketmaster outlets or ticketmaster.com Ticketmaster charge by phone (800) 745-3000

For more information HowSweetTheSound.com staplescenter.com

Gospel legend CeCe Winans and Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter and producer Donald Lawrence will co-host Verizons How Sweet the Sound in Los Angeles.

From top; The competition will be judged by best-selling gospel music artist Marvin Sapp, as well as Stellar Award winners Kurt Carr and Ricky Dillard.

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City of Angels gospel music reaches heavenly heights

found comfort in worship and soul-stirring music. A lot of black people used the church as a place to go and put their problems, so people found the church to be a very important center, Djedje says. Various churches began to try and find music to connect with those people who were migrating, so you found gospel serving as a catalyst for establishing community. But the sound, especially in those early days of gospel, was different than what you might find elsewhere in the country. Many of the people who were performing gospel were trained in western music, she says. It was not a downhome sound like you would find in Chicago, but it was smoother and a little more polished. The group Echoes of Eden, formed in the late 1940s, was one of the first large gospel choirs to perform in Los Angeles as well as one of the first to make a major recording and to perform on the radio. Reverend James Cleveland, who sang in the choir with Chicagos Thomas Dorsey as a boy and made a name for himself in L.A. under the tutelage of Thurston Frazier, worked with a current star composer of contemporary

Los Angeles was one of those major centers for gospel music, says Jacqueline C. Djedje. A lot of people from Chicago came here after the 1960s because you had the music industry here, and there were also a lot of composers.
gospel, Andra Crouch. Once these master musicians from other places came, people from Los Angeles learned from them and became stars, Djedje says. As evidenced by the large number of L.A.s famous artists who later founded churches, the connection between gospel music and the church has always been strong, and the music is a critical part of spreading the word. If you have a great gospel choir, people will come to church, Djedje says.

os Angeles was one of those major centers for gospel music, says Jacqueline C. Djedje, long-time professor of ethnomusicology at Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California-Los Angeles. A lot of people from Chicago came here after the 1960s because you had the music industry here, and there were also a lot of composers. Earlier still, in the 1930s and 40s, gospel music helped to build a community in Los Angeles during the Great Migration. It was a time of great change, and people

Voices of Destiny, from Greater Zion Church Family in Compton, pose backstage during Verizons How Sweet The Sound 2010 Finale at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Voices of Destiny was the 2010 Overall Los Angeles winner and the Verizon V CAST Peoples Choice Winner. The Los Angeles Best Small/ Medium Choir winner was Worship in Truth COGIC, Rancho Cucamonga.

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Holding on
But, there seems to be one unifying element that victims eventually grasp for HOPE. For some, that hope is in the form of a cell phone donated by HopeLine from Verizon, one kept hidden from an abuser who has ripped the house phones out of the walls and canceled the cell phone contracts. For others, its in the voice at the other end of a hotline who gives them the courage, comfort and strength theyve been living without for years. And for others, its in the form of an informed pastor, now armed with the knowledge to help members of his congregation move toward recognition, recovery and in some cases, survival. Verizons HopeLine does all of those things and more. Dr. Oliver J. Williams, a professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul, is the executive director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American A direct link to help Community. Through research and outreach #HOPE is a service available programs his group across Verizon Wireless aims to find ways to nationwide wireless network. offset the stigma of By dialing #HOPE (#4673) domestic violence, to then pressing send from any help others escape Verizon Wireless phone, callers are connected directly to the from dangerous National Domestic Violence situations, and to Hotline, where they can receive study the core roots the confidential help they need of the problem. None through empowerment-based of these efforts would crisis intervention, information be possible without and resources. Verizons support, which came in the form of a $50,000 grant presented at last years How Sweet the Sound finale. Verizon understands the reality of domestic violence. We must address the problems in various communities, and theyre willing to help, says Williams. The money we received makes a real difference in the lives of so many domestic violence victims and survivors. Lives like Jaycee Memmingers, whose ex-husband continued to stalk her during their separation and after their divorce. Memminger, a past recipient of a HopeLine phone, moved nine times to escape her husband, who continually ignored Personal Protection Orders issued by the courts. After she moved to Yipsilanti, Michigan, in 2004, Memmingers ex-husband put a GPS tracking device on her car, pinpointed her new residence and

Verizons HopeLine becomes a lifeline for many

ictims of domestic violence cant be identified by their income level, race or upbringing. They come from all walks of life and follow many different paths. broke into her apartment. When she returned home one evening, he forced her out into the parking lot and when she tried to escape, he shot her twice in the face. After a long and painful recovery, Memminger formed Angelic Impact, a program to help end domestic violence through shelter assistance, counseling, group support and other family services. Angelic Impact also receives assistance through HopeLine from Verizon. After I was shot, I was devastated. I wanted to die, she says. But eventually, I realized that Im not the voice of the victim, but Im a victim with a voice, and I decided I was going to use it.

Verizon understands the reality of domestic violence. We must address the problems in various communities, and theyre willing to help. The money we received makes a real difference in the lives of so many domestic violence victims and survivors.
she says, was the willingness of others to blame her for the shooting. Just about the whole community and the church blamed me, she says. They all said, Well, she shouldnt have come into the house. She shouldnt have done this or that. No one held him accountable. Morris-Grants body still holds two bullets from the shooting doctors felt that any attempt to remove them would cause severe damage but it is what she holds in her head and her heart that continues to inspire others. That desire to tell her story led her to write the book, Whom Shall I Fear: A Spiritual Journey of a Battered Woman, which she hopes serves as an inspiration to others. My story is the most powerful thing I have. I use that story to help battered women see me, Morris-Grant says. I need the women who are afraid to leave to know theyre not alone. I need them to see me, to see what can happen, to see the birth of a new life. And thanks to HopeLine from Verizon, theres a chance for women across the country to experience a personal rebirth.

Not alone
Williams says a battered woman may often feel isolated, as if shes the only one suffering through a situation marred by domestic violence. Batterers try to isolate their situation. They dont want people to know what theyre doing to their wife or girlfriend and they dont want her to have any support. They want her to feel all alone, says Williams. Memminger knows it can be difficult for women to acknowledge that theres a problem, especially if the domestic harassment is in the form of bullying, financial control or verbal abuse. In those cases, Memminger says women have to go with their gut feelings, no matter what anyone says. If theres something in your relationship that doesnt feel quite right, there are places you can go to talk with people, Memminger says. Talking to someone can be an amazing experience. You begin to recognize that theres a way out.

Breaking free
Lavon Morris-Grant is a survivor of domestic violence whose middle-class roots dont always fit societys definition of a battered woman. And as is the case for many women, Morris-Grant endured a situation that simmered slowly until it ultimately came to a boil. Separated from her husband for 10 months in 1995, Morris-Grant began taking steps to start a new life for herself and her children. She moved to upstate New York from New Jersey, hoping to put together the foundation for a new beginning. On a weekend trip to her house in New Jersey to help finalize school plans for the fall, Morris-Grants estranged husband shot her four times before turning the gun on himself. He died two days later. Morris-Grant survived. The most disheartening aspect of Morris-Grants recovery,

Group effort
Verizon Wireless partners with national and local organizations across the country to increase awareness of domestic violence and further prevention efforts. Together with these organizations Verizon Wireless works to use technology to empower domestic violence victims and help change lives. National HopeLine from Verizon partners includes many organizations, including: Family Violence Prevention Fund National Coalition Against Domestic Violence The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence Resource for Women & Their Families, Inc. Break the Cycle Casa de Esperanza Safe Horizon