When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music (African American Life Series)
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. --Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel<br /><br />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! --Pastor Marvin L. Winans, Perfecting Church, DetroitDoctor 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! --Pastor Marvin L. Winans, Perfecting Church, Detroit