Gospel quartet singing, formally a capella but now mostly accompanied, has been surpassed in popularity by other styles of gospel music yet retains a small but steady and devoted following. One particular acapella close-harmony quartet in the Baton Rouge area is the Zion Travelers Spiritual Singers, led and managed by Burnell J. Offlee. The quartet has tenaciously maintained its unique performance style and traditional concepts of quartet harmony. WIBR has presented the Zion Travelers on live broadcast every Sunday morning for over thirty-five years. D.C. The mere fact that this small folk group has maintained its original acapella singing style for over forty years demonstrates its importance in traditional Black culture.
Disc jockeys play an important role in airing and promoting community gospel groups and programs.
She gives a complete rundown on gospel programs and special church activities in the area, along with religious music and special requests for particular tunes. Another important figure in the urban gospel network is the gospel booking agent and promoter. Later, he directed gospel choirs, though at the present time he books and promotes only. Ootsey occasionally brings in well-known groups from hundreds, even thousands of miles away. These are usually held at high school auditoriums where admission can be charged.