We Sang Together: The Diverse and Cooperative History of Gospel Music

In the midst of debates about cultural appropriation and racial disunity, Alva Steffler's We Sang Together provides a refreshing and evenhanded narrative of how gospel music developed through cultures complementing one another and people worshipping together. Togetherness in song is a rich and continually developing tradition, making gospel music much richer than simply an art form.The musical genre of gospel music evolved across the decades of the twentieth century, naturally affected by rapid cultural changes through war time, depression, countercultural revolution and rock ’n’ roll, civil rights, and the growing world of Christian contemporary music. Christians sang out their struggles and fears, their celebrations and joys, and their hope for healing, wholeness, and heaven. Through their music they engaged with and shaped American culture. Read more