of the Bible, “You can be saved”.

Slavery was abolished in 1865. Then, some African Americans were allowed to go to school and be graduated. At Fisk University, one of the first universities for African American, in Nashville, Tennessee,

Dorsey was a planter so to speak. The fruits of that harvest were the exceptional singers who spread gospel around the world, and not just their country. Clara Ward (1924-1973) and the Ward Singers, on the other hand, took the opportunity, in Clara's words "to take God's words to His people wherever they were--even in night clubs."

From 1915 through 1925, many African American singers performed either at church or on stage, or even in movies, then Negro spirituals were traditional songs. However, in late 1930s, Sister Rosetta Tharpe sung gospel songs in a nightclub. This marked the start of singing Gospel songs in many kinds of places: churches, theaters, concert halls. Ministers, like James Cleveland, made tours with their choruses, in the United States and abroad.

In the 1920s, the Black Renaissance was an artist movement concerning poetry and music. Some composers arranged Negro spirituals in a new way, which was similar to the European classical music. The Black Renaissance had some influence on the way of singing and interpreting Negro spirituals. First, the historical meaning of these songs was put forward. Then, singers were pushed to be more educated. Educators thought that Negro spirituals are musical pieces.

Composers, such as Lucy Campbell ("Something Within") and Dr. Herbert Brewster ("Surely God is Able"), picked up the torch and the way was lit for another generation to take control. Dorsey founded The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1932.

In 1922 an 18 year old young lady by the name of Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904-1994) joined the family quartet, called the Ford Sisters. Their skill and powerful voices gave them an opportunity to minister at the National Baptist Convention and a singing career became inevitable; though at that stage it might as easily have been in secular as sacred music. However, Willie Mae was one of those few who never sold out, never gave up and never made a thing out of gospel other than the satisfaction of working for her Savior. If anyone qualifies as a gospel saint it's Willie Mae Ford Smith.

Charles Albert Tindley , born of slave parents 1856. In 1885, became a church minister and spent 17 years as an itinerant pastor. Tindley is remembered now as a pre-gospel hymn writer. He wrote Storm Is Passing Over, and We'll Understand It Better By And By.

Some topics in this essay:
Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey, , Leave Dorsey, Adams Singers, Becton's Encouraged, Sallie Martin, Sam Cooke, Ford Smith, Black Renaissance, gospel music, negro spirituals, mahalia jackson, willie mae, willie mae ford, ford smith, mae ford, thomas dorsey, gospel songs, mae ford smith, roberta martin, gospel singers, 1865 african americans, sounds sam cooke, national baptist convention,