Well, I've always said that country music has always shared a very unique relationship with gospel music - the hooting and hollering, you know, always in abundance.
The falsetto stuff, it must be a reaction to the black gospel singers that I really enjoy listening to.
I have sung at Christmas many times in Finland, especially in churches.
Women are a key part of the sound of the groups that accompany male singers like Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, and myself.
People have this perception of soul music of somebody shouting.
Gospel music was very prevalent in my house. My mother also loved Nat King Cole. That was some of the first music that I heard. Mahalia Jackson, Nat King Cole and the Mississippi Mass Choir.
Once the Mass is restored to its rightful place, we will again see choirs being developed.
Every good gospel singer you can hear is a scat singer; they're just using different syllables. There are a lot of jazz singers out there, and more coming out of the churches.
The black church in the South is the home of rock & roll.
I remember really getting into 'The Wiz' and an old musical called 'Purlie,' which Melba Moore sang. I liked those roof-raising shows because I connected deeply with the gospel aspects of those musicals.
