When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music

by Deborah Smith Pollard

Overview

A look at the innovations of contemporary performers of modern gospel music and their roots in the African American Christian church.

In When the Church Becomes Your Party, author Deborah Smith Pollard assesses contemporary gospel music as the genre enters the twenty-first century. She argues that although the flashy clothing, informal language, and elaborate stage presentation found in some of the newest gospel music might not be what some worshippers expect, this new aesthetic rests on the same Christian principles as more traditional forms and actually extends its message to a wider and younger audience.

In this volume Pollard looks at contemporary gospel music with the insider’s perspective she has acquired as a regular participant in praise and worship services in the Detroit area and through her work as a successful gospel concert producer (The Motor City Praisefest and the McDonald’s GospelFest) and host of a popular Sunday morning gospel show on Detroit’s FM 98 WJLB. Among the topics she considers in When the Church Becomes Your Party are praise and worship music, gospel musical stage plays, the changing dress code of gospel performance, women gospel announcers, and holy hip hop. She draws on Detroit’s thriving gospel scene as well as her knowledge of the national gospel music industry to identify important trends in each area and trace the cultural transformations that brought them about. In addition, Pollard includes interviews with contemporary gospel artists, allowing them to explain why they rap, make particular choices in attire, or participate in gospel radio, praise and worship, or gospel musical plays.

While other studies address some of the subtopics included in this volume, When the Church Becomes Your Party offers a comprehensive picture of the history and future of contemporary gospel music. Scholars of music and African American cultural studies will enjoy this intriguing volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814332184
Publisher:	Wayne State University Press
Publication date:	04/11/2008
Series:	African American Life Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Deborah Smith Pollard is associate professor of English literature and humanities and former director of the African American studies program at the University of Michigan–Dearborn. In 2005 she was named gospel music announcer of the year during the 20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Table of Contents

Preface     vii
Acknowledgments     xi
Introduction     1
"Praise is What We Do": The Rise of Praise and Worship Music in the Urban Church     17
Right Under Our (Upturned) Noses: The Phenomenon Known as the Gospel Musical Stage Play     55
Muscle T-Shirts, Tight Jeans, and Cleavage: (W)rapping the Gospel for a New Generation     79
From Princess Premium Stuff and Miss Mandy to Holy Boldness: The Influence of Women Gospel Announcers     111
Preachers in Disguise: Bringing the Holy to Hip Hop     137
Epilogue     161
Appendixes A-E     167
Notes     181
Works Cited     203
Index     213

What People are Saying About This

Associate Professor of Music at the University of Tulsa - Teresa Reed

As both a long-time, award-winning gospel announcer and a university-trained scholar, Pollard is uniquely positioned to offer this book to a loyal audience of listeners who are interested in what she has to say.

Horace Clarence Boyer of the Golden Age of Gospel

There is no doubt that 'today's gospel is not your mother's gospel' so we should be thankful that we have Deborah Smith Pollard's When the Church Becomes Your Party to serve as our interpreter. From the contemporary sound that is sometimes indistinguishable from R&B, presented in attire that equals that of the latest secular artist, and often coupled with holy hip hop, today's gospel is urban and commercial. Yet the message-Jesus is lord-is still loud and clear. In entertaining yet scholarly writing, Pollard tells us how, when, why, and where these changes took place and gives us some indication of how the changes are being received in the Black Church community."

Professor of Ethnomusicology and Folklore at Indiana University and Co-Editor of African American Music: an Introduc - Portia K. Maultsby

When the Church Becomes Your Party provides a fascinating journey through the controversial changes in the sound, image, and language expressions of African American gospel music that have taken place over the last forty years. Deborah Smith Pollard not only describes these changes but contextualizes them within an African cultural continuum, the 'Classic Era' of gospel, and the development of a gospel music industry. When the Church Becomes Your Party is a must-read, if only to gain a perspective on the meaning of 'party' in sacred contexts."

Editorial Reviews

Doctor Deb (as she is affectionately called) has taken us beyond the platform and into the art form. This is a must-read for all those who love and are inquisitive about the various avenues in the genre of gospel music. Although you might not agree with the summations, you must respect the research. Thanks Deborah, for opening our eyes!"

Perfecting Church, Detroit - Pastor Marvin L. Winans

When the Church Becomes Your Party is Pollard's behind-the-scenes look at contemporary gospel music, the first book (to my knowledge) to focus on its lens exclusively on the multi-faceted gospel scene of today. Pollard's book is an important companion for gospel music historians, announcers, and enthusiasts who want to better understand the connection between today's gospel music and its antecedents. In other words, the link between the artistry of Thomas Dorsey and Tye Tribbett is stronger than one might think."

The Black Gospel Blog

This engaging book explores the history of African American gospel music over the past forty years, but primarily over the past two decades, and focuses especially, although not exclusively, on Detroit. Overall, this book is engagingly written and is important for anyone who wishes to understand contemporary developments in gospel music."

Journal of American Ethnic History

I will always admire the work of Dr. Pollard. We will all be enriched by her research in When the Church Becomes Your Party. This industry highly applauds all of her wonderful contributions."

host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel and producer of Video Gospel on BET - Bobby Jones

This is unlike any other book about gospel music I've read. The fact that it is so readable and fascinating is probably due to the background of author Deborah Smith Pollard. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in music, religion, or African American culture."

AfroAmerican Heritage

A major strength of When the Church Becomes Your Party is its accessibility to historical and cultural information in a format that easily engages not only scholars but laypersons. A volume of vibrant anecdotes and vivid photos balances the scholarly notes and documentation to tell a fascinating story of gospel music in a book that deserves a wide reading audience."

American Music

Although some may find this book controversial in places, it is a work of serious scholarship, complete with an extensive discography and bibliography, a good number of personal interviews, and outlines of service formats with emphasis on Detroit venues."

Choice

As both a long-time, award-winning gospel announcer and a university-trained scholar, Pollard is uniquely positioned to offer this book to a loyal audience of listeners who are interested in what she has to say.

associate professor of music at the University of Tulsa - Teresa Reed

When the Church Becomes Your Party provides a fascinating journey through the controversial changes in the sound, image, and language expressions of African American gospel music that have taken place over the last forty years. Deborah Smith Pollard not only describes these changes but contextualizes them within an African cultural continuum, the 'Classic Era' of gospel, and the development of a gospel music industry. When the Church Becomes Your Party is a must-read, if only to gain a perspective on the meaning of 'party' in sacred contexts."

professor of ethnomusicology and folklore at Indiana University and co-editor of African American Music: An Introduc - Portia K. Maultsby

There is no doubt that 'today's gospel is not your mother's gospel' so we should be thankful that we have Deborah Smith Pollard's When the Church Becomes Your Party to serve as our interpreter. From the contemporary sound that is sometimes indistinguishable from R&B, presented in attire that equals that of the latest secular artist, and often coupled with holy hip hop, today's gospel is urban and commercial. Yet the message-Jesus is lord-is still loud and clear. In entertaining yet scholarly writing, Pollard tells us how, when, why, and where these changes took place and gives us some indication of how the changes are being received in the Black Church community."

author of The Golden Age of Gospel - Horace Clarence Boyer

As both a long-time, award-winning gospel announcer and a university-trained scholar, Pollard is uniquely positioned to offer this book to a loyal audience of listeners who are interested in what she has to say.

associate professor of music at the University of Tulsa - Teresa Reed