Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Self
Series
Watch Gospel (2024) Online
Synopsis
Dig deep into the origin story of Black gospel music, coming out of slavery, blending with the blues tradition, and soaring to new heights during the Great Migration. From Mahalia to Kirk Franklin, in the last century, gospel music has become the dominant form of African American religious expression and provided a soundtrack of healing and uplift to those at the front lines of protest and change.
Episodes
Season 1
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1. The Gospel TrainNow viewing2024-02-1253mGOSPEL’s hour 1 takes the gospel train north to Chicago, where southern migrants Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe blended the melodic sounds and instrumentation of blues and jazz with lyrics about God’s goodness. Like the blues, gospel would become a commodity, but one built by Black-owned publishing companies like Martin and Morris and sustained by Black audiences.
2. Take The Message Everywhere2024-02-13Starting in the 1940s, GOSPEL’s hour 2 explores the Golden Age of Gospel — the dramatic explosion of Black sacred music and the segregated highways of the American South — through the successful careers of Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. As the lines between the sacred and secular blur, gospel music becomes the powerful soundtrack of the freedom struggle.
3. Take the Message Everywhere2024-02-1353mGOSPEL’s hour 3 reveals how gospel was going mainstream and family dynasties, many raised in the Church of God in Christ, would dominate the charts. Meanwhile, other children of the church used their heavenly voice to influence soul music. As gospel artists took the message everywhere, Black pastors continued to distinguish their message through a prophetic voice and sound with sermonettes.
4. Gospel's Second Century2024-02-1453mGOSPEL’s hour 4 opens in the 1990s, when a new generation of music producers, record executives and artists embraced the secular rhythms of R&B and hip-hop to modernize the gospel sound. The launch of the Platinum Age of Gospel brought commercially successful songs about faith to millions in clubs, on cable TV and on urban radio, but drew criticism that gospel music had gone too far.
Cast
Top Billed Cast
Availability
Where To Watch Legally
PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV StoreStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gospel available to watch online?
Yes - see the "Where to watch legally" section on this page for streaming, rental and purchase options.
How many seasons does Gospel have?
Gospel has 1 season and 4 episodes.
When did Gospel first air?
Gospel first aired in 2024.
Is Gospel still running?
Yes, Gospel is an ongoing series.
What genre is Gospel?
Gospel is classified as Documentary.