The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognizes gospel music as the foundation for other musical genres during the ” Rock My Soul Gospel Music Celebration” Honoring Gospel Music legend, Kirk Franklin.
Kirk Franklin will perform along with various Gospel artists including Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, and church ensembles from across Cleveland.
Gospel music was the core for all African-American music and family values in the early 1900’s. It has long since been considered a fundamental American art form. During those times, almost every family member had to learn music through the church. It was eventually engrained into the young minds of the time and became the reference point for all other music, including jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul.
“Africans were brought over to this country, they were converted to Christianity and took the music portion of it and completely reinvented it,” said Curatorial Director for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Howard Kramer. According to Kramer, this art form was the cultural cradle for all eastern and western music throughout the country.
Encased in glass capsules throughout The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, so to speak, are timeless relics of the past that would eventually bridge the future of music. Pictures of some of the greatest names in gospel are on display, like Mahalia Jackson, The Soul Stirrers Quartet, and even Aretha Franklin .
