Gospel music is rooted in spirituals ... are still overwhelmingly from the South, and their lyrics often self-consciously reflect Southern preoccupations and longings. Southerners export musical ...

With a lot of churches, no matter the denomination, moving to a contemporary style of music, Brown felt people would enjoy the opportunity to sing hymns and Southern gospel songs, and he was right.

We sang some gospel music; we sang country ... but with country lyrics. We sounded as if we had a new, original style, but we got it from Southern gospel. The group got its start in Staunton ...

The Southern Gospel music world is grieving the loss of Squire Parsons, a celebrated singer, songwriter, and West Virginia ...