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Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Clip: Episode 1 | 2m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Cory Henry plays "Just A Closer Walk with Thee."
Cory Henry plays "Just A Closer Walk with Thee" (arranged by Kenneth Morris) on the Hammond organ, an instrument integral to the gospel sound. Dr. Henry Louis Gates sits with Reverend James Bryson of the legendary First Church of Deliverance, who explains the reaction by some church members to this strange new instrument.
Corporate support for GOSPEL was provided by Bank of America. Major funding support was provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Emerson...
![Gospel](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/3aXOu8V-white-logo-41-VAyr5vU.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Clip: Episode 1 | 2m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Cory Henry plays "Just A Closer Walk with Thee" (arranged by Kenneth Morris) on the Hammond organ, an instrument integral to the gospel sound. Dr. Henry Louis Gates sits with Reverend James Bryson of the legendary First Church of Deliverance, who explains the reaction by some church members to this strange new instrument.
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GOSPEL Live!
GOSPEL Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a concert celebration honoring the legacy of Gospel music in America. As a companion to GOSPEL , hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., secular and gospel artists sing their favorite gospel classics.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThe construction of the Hammond with its knobs and drawbars, allow it a range of vocality that is rare among instruments.
Its ability to interact with and sometimes mimic the human voice and the way that Black people sing and the way music exists within Black community.
It brought this whole new sound to gospel because it was flexible, it was loud, it was powerful, it could rock, it could groove.
We were kind of criticized for bringing- - the devil's music.
the devil's music.
Just like Thomas Dorsey was accused of the same thing - bringing the devil's music into the house of God.
Well, we didn't feel that it was the devil's music.
And we just felt it was yet another way of expressing praise to God.
No one had done that in Chicago before, and once it took off, there was no turning back.
People start hearing the Hammond organ on their radio sets and are like, "What is this thing?"
People are coming to the midnight program to see the Hammond organ.
The Hammond quickly becomes an integral part of Black worship experience.
The Hammond is softly playing underneath the announcements, the welcome to the visitors, as the pastor is giving pastoral emphasis during the altar call.
What he was able to do at First Church of Deliverance still today is having a major impact on gospel music.
Video has Closed Captions
Thomas Dorsey co-founds the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1933. (2m)
Video has Closed Captions
Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. visits the Hampton University Ministers' Conference. (48s)
Mahalia Jackson's Major Label Debut
Video has Closed Captions
Mahalia Jackson recorded on a major label for the first time in 1937, to mixed reviews. (2m 2s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipCorporate support for GOSPEL was provided by Bank of America. Major funding support was provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Emerson...