Modern Gospel Was Born on the South Side. Here’s Its Story.
Gospel music has roots in southern spirituals during slavery and migrated north during the Great Migration in the early 1900s. Chicago has staked its claim as the birthplace of modern gospel thanks to Bronzeville’s Pilgrim Baptist Church and Thomas Dorsey, its choir director for 50 years. In the 1930s, Dorsey blended the style and chords of blues music with the praise and worship of traditional gospel hymns, and iconic singers like Mahalia Jackson took the sound global. We talk with writer and producer Stacy Robinson about the new WTTW documentary “Birth of Gospel” and Chicago’s place in music history. It will premiere Friday at 8 p.m.
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
West Ridge YMCA For Sale, Indie Concerts Archive, and Chicago’s Worst Trades
Chicago YMCA locations have fallen on hard times in recent decades. After the West Ridge location closed in 2021, neighbors fought to sav...
South Side Birthing Center, 75th Street Welcomes Visitors, and Chicago’s ‘81 Club’
Just in time for Black Doula Day, the kick off to Black Maternal Health Week, the Chicago South Side Birthing Center broke ground this we...
Broadview Protesters Face Trial, Farmers Market Prices Rise, and Where to Karaoke in Chicago
The trial against the Broadview Four, a group of high-profile protesters arrested and charged with conspiracy back in September, is set t...
Why Can’t the Sky Keep Stars? Plus, The Hideout’s New Ownership
Earlier this week, the Chicago Sky traded All-Star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for two future first-round picks. Following...
What to Do on Route 66 in Chicago
In April 1926, Route 66 received its iconic number. The so-called Mother Road takes you all the way to California, but it begins in Chica...
Mayor Johnson vs CHA Board, Buses to O’Hare, and Hawks Miss Playoffs… Again
At the end of March, Chicago’s Housing Authority board voted 7-2 to appoint a new CEO. CHA has been without a permanent CEO since former...
'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Chicago
While both Chicago and Denver have a professional Women's Soccer team (go Stars!), Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a...
What Went Down At The Jeffs? Plus, Was Midway Blitz Martial Law?
Chicagoans are still asking if the feds will return to the city after Operation Midway blitz. WBEZ’s Curious City recently tackled whethe...
Accessing Immigration Courts, Regulating Prediction Markets, and Ranking Chicago Burgers
Why are immigration court watchers in Chicago struggling to observe virtual hearings? Will Illinois regulate rapidly growing prediction m...
Your Guide to April 2026 in Chicago
April showers are here, but luckily we’ve got your guide to what’s happening in Chicago this month — rain or shine. Host Jacoby Cochran i...