Nat King Cole - Embraceable You

Gospel music took form through the 1920s and emerged in the 1930s, propelled in part by the great migration of African Americans northward fleeing the oppressive south and the advent of radio. Historically, the black church has been the cauldron from which African American artists emerge across all jazz genres. It is where African American artists learn to let go and let God. The spiritual nature of the music permits what academics call improvisation. Improvisation is a necessary component of all forms of jazz.

The traditional structure of gospel music shifted in the late 1930s when Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the father of gospel music, began working for Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. A former jazz pianist and composer who had worked with famous artists like Ma Rainey. Dorsey created a new style of gospel music called gospel blues, which infused blues into traditional gospel music. It was initially rejected, however, by the end of the ’30s, gospel blues won over acceptance as the new form of traditional gospel music.

At the heart of the gospel music tradition is the use of a choir. The gospel choirs followed the call and response format, similar to that used in virtually all forms of Black American music. The 1930’s also brought the rise of gospel quartets... many Black gospel musicians were performing in the 20s and 30s, usually strumming a guitar and singing in the streets of southern cities. Four main styles of gospel music evolved, quartet style, traditional gospel, contemporary gospel, and praise and worship. These styles remain prevalent today.

Source: Gospel Blues 1930 by Dakota A Pippins


Nat King Cole - Embraceable You

• Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
• Genre: Vocal Jazz
• Released on: The King Cole Trio

"As a piano player, he formed a jazz trio in 1938 that played Los Angeles nightclubs, one of the first jazz trios featuring guitar and piano. Prior to this he had played music since he was a child and had worked with bands since he was sixteen."

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