DarrellLHines, Jun 3, 2010
Bishop Darrell Hines Live in Concert. Album out June 15,
2010.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents two AI Overview write-ups about the influence of Blues on Gospel music and the influence of Ska on Gospel music.
This post also showcases three Blues influenced video renditions and three Ska influenced video renditions of the African American Gospel song "You Bought Me From A Mighty Long Way". (also known as "Thank You Jesus", "Mighty Long Way" and similar titles).
The content of this post is presented for religious, socio-cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
A number of Gospel songs have this title or similar titles. One of those composers is Kenneth Morris. Thanks to all the composers that are given for this Gospel song and for similarly titled Gospel songs. Thanks to all those who are featured in these YouTube videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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AFRICAN AMERICAN BLUES MUSIC'S INFLUENCE ON GOSPEL MUSIC
AI Overview (January 26, 2026)
"Blues profoundly shaped Black Gospel music by introducing
secular techniques—blue notes, rhythmic swing, and raw emotional
expression—into sacred spaces, creating "gospel blues" in the 1930s.
Pioneered by figures like Thomas A. Dorsey, this fusion allowed gospel to shift
from hymns to a more emotive, personalized, and rhythmic style.
Key Aspects of Influence:
Thomas A. Dorsey's Role: As the "father of modern
gospel," Dorsey, a former blues pianist, blended blues, jazz, and ragtime
with sacred, emotional lyrics.
Vocal & Musical Techniques: Gospel adopted the 12-bar
blues structure, guitar riffs, and the "blue notes" (bent notes) that
define the genre.
Performance Style: Gospel adopted the raw, emotive, and
call-and-response, shouting, and grunting techniques from blues.
Thematic Overlap: While gospel focuses on faith, it shares
the blues' themes of sorrow, loss, and resilience in the face of struggle.
Controversy and Acceptance: Initially, churches condemned
the blues as "the devil's music," but gospel blues persisted,
eventually bridging the gap between Saturday night secular life and Sunday
morning worship.
Shared Personnel: Many performers moved between, or
simultaneously performed, both genres (e.g., Sam Cooke, Sister Rosetta Tharpe),
as both were often recorded by the same labels.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- BLUES INFLUENCED RENDITION: "You Bought Me From A Mighty Long Way"
Leroy Morgan, Oct 15, 2018
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- BLUES INFLUENCED RENDITION: Rev. Jerry Black Lord You Brought Me From a Mighty Long Way
BrothaRollins, Jun 16, 2021
Pastor Jerry Black Singing You Brought Me From a Mighty Long Way
Pastor Black is the Pastor of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia.
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JAMAICAN SKA'S INFLUENCE ON GOSPEL MUSIC
AI Overview (January 26,2026)
"Ska music (c. 1960s) brought a fast-paced, upbeat, and
horn-driven sound to Jamaican music, significantly impacting the performance of
Gospel songs by injecting them with energetic, dance-oriented rhythms. This
influence translated traditional, slow hymns into "jump up" styles,
incorporating Revivalist energy, syncopated offbeat accents, and horn sections
into religious, fostering a vibrant, celebratory, and culturally resonant style
of Jamaican Gospel.
Key Influences of Ska on Gospel Performance:
The "Jump Up" Feeling: Ska introduced a
high-energy, celebratory feel that transformed traditional church music. This
style, rooted in Revival Zion music, encouraged movement and excitement during
worship, often referred to as "jumping up".
Syncopated Rhythms: The hallmark of ska—accenting the
offbeat (or "and" of the beat) on the guitar or piano—was
incorporated into gospel songs. This created a driving, upbeat rhythm that
contrasted with slower, traditional hymns.
Horn Section Integration: The prominent horn sections
characteristic of ska bands like The Skatalites were adapted, bringing a
brass-heavy, bright sound to gospel performances.
Vocal Style and Energy: Early ska often utilized vocal
percussion (like "hup, hup, hup" or "ch-ch-ch-ch"), which
blended with the already animated, call-and-response, and percussion-heavy
nature of Jamaican Revivalist singing, such as Pocomania.
Transformation of Tempo: Fast-paced ska tempos were applied
to gospel, making the songs, even if traditional in lyrical content, feel
modern and danceable, acting as a precursor to contemporary gospel dancehall.
Cultural Identity: As Jamaica moved towards independence,
the upbeat, energetic sound of ska became a symbol of national pride, allowing
gospel music to feel uniquely Jamaican rather than merely a reflection of
Western hymnody.
Related Information:
Artists like Toots Hibbert, who started singing gospel,
brought that fervent, spiritual energy into his ska and rocksteady recordings.
The evolution of Jamaican music, from ska to rocksteady to
reggae, maintained this underlying rhythmic, offbeat focus, which continues to
influence Jamaican gospel music today.
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JAMAICAN SKA INFLUENCED RENDITION: SHOWCASE VIDEO #1-
Mighty Long Way Lord
FUTIM-NJ, Feb 12, 2014 [First United Tabernacle International Ministries, East Orange, New Jersey]
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JAMAICAN SKA INFLUENCED RENDITION: SHOWCASE VIDEO #2-
Mighty Long Way Lord (Look Where You Brought Me From) || Praise Sanctuary
@R__RMcHugh, November 20, 2023
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JAMAICAN SKA INFLUENCED RENDITION: SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- Mighty Long Way Lord. Christ Cathedral Global Ordination
#gospelmusic #praise #caymanislands
@Calude2bify, June 1, 2025
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