THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHICAGO

BY MACARI RAMSEY I started playing drums when I was 3 years old at my home church, and I had the experience of going to a shed. “A musical shed is a safe space where vocalists and instrumentalists can learn techniques and repertoire, stretch out or fall flat without judgment,” according to clevescene.com.

Church musicians are the foundation of gospel music. Most church bands have mostly an organist/pianist, drummer, and a bass player. These musicians have to come together to make the best of what they have. The musicians job is to make the choir sound good. A choir has the job of working with the musicians by harmonizing with the lyrics they are given.

When everyone brings their talents together a song is created.

The gospel choir foundation comes from Chicago. Some of the most famous gospel singers ever came from right here in Chicago including The Staples Singers, Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway, James Cleveland, and Dr. Clay Evans.

Today Chicago continues to have some of the greatest and most creative musicians in our time. Mooch Brown, Josiah Maddox, and William Whitehead have set a great example for musicians like me.