Gospel music culture often refers to Christian music that grew out of the early African-American church, which was later adopted by most modern churches and influenced many gospel and R&B singers. Gospel music culture is known for its unique rhythms and infectious tempos that will have people swaying and dancing along with the choir. Spiritual music is mainly influenced by African music brought by African slaves. The use of the drum, dance, and clapping distinguish gospel songs from other forms of music. Gospel music culture experienced a time of repression in the early years of slavery, where most slave owners separated their slaves from each other to facilitate integration into the new culture. However, the slaves found a way to practice their music, which was perhaps the only thing they had in common that they could remember, whether it was singing and dancing after work or at night, in places where their owners would not easily hear them. . Later, the owners realized that the slaves were more efficient if they were allowed to sing. This led to an infusion of African music with the traditions of the Christian religion and the English language that formed the foundation of the gospel song.

Slaves developed work songs, which they sang while working in the fields. As they became more Christianized, the songs evolved into something else that contained deeper biblical context while retaining the message of the harshness of life, work, and oppression under their white owners. Gospel music culture began to evolve further when slaves began gathering in tented congregations after work to hear the gospel preached. There they learned about the old classical Christian hymns that they would later infuse with the musical techniques that they brought from Africa. Improvisations of old and classic hymns led to totally different songs and new arrangements for the hymns.

A large part of gospel music employs the call and response technique, which is a technique between the soloist and the congregation. This is a direct influence from the African music that the slaves brought to America. The soloist was allowed to improvise with the song’s text and melody during the call and response technique.

Gospel music began with Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the father of gospel music, who composed such gospel landmarks as “There Shall Be Peace in the Valley.” Dorsey was an accomplished musician who often played the blues and performed with Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. Attending the meetings of the National Baptist Convention led him to change his musical preferences and he began to write gospel songs, including “If you see my savior”.

Spiritual songs gained little importance before the civil war. After the war ended, a new interest in gospel songs flourished, and the music slowly began to gain recognition outside of slave circles. The abolition of slavery helped pave the way for the popularity of gospel music culture because by then slaves were allowed to sing their gospel music freely.