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By J. MATTHEW COBB Gospel music is filled with rich history and of course, a heritage that closely knits us to the very fabrics of our ancestors and family roots. While we celebrate Black History Month annualy in the month of February, we here at PRAYZEHYMN are committed in perserving the legacies and rich traditions of our forefathers and will highlight dozens of important pioneers and events that helped shaped us as a people, as a nation and as a family. Keep your eye here throughout this month and watch this online scrapbook flourish with historical information on Gospel's influential trailblazers. - PH
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On August 20, 1972, over 100,000 people united at the L.A. Coliseum for a musical jam hosted by Memphis's Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. Critics and fans alike began to call Wattstax the "black version of Woodstock". On this special evening, Reverend Jesse Jackson delivered the invocation and set the tone for the very spiritual and funky celebration. At this particular time in history, Stax Records was at their zenith - holding an amazing line-up of legendary artists including the Staple Singers, the Soul Children, the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, the Emotions, Luther Ingram, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King and the Rance Allen Group. Gospel acts Rance Allen Group sung "Lying On The Truth", while the Emotions sung a version of "Peace Be Still". The Staple Singers delivered an amazing performance of "Respect Yourself" and "We The People". All of these artists and many others approached the stages and electrified the audiences unlike any other mega-concert this size at this time. The closing act was Isaac Hayes and delivered an amazing fifteen-minute rendition of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and also "Theme From Shaft" and "Soulsville". A documentary film was made featuring performances from that night and commentary and excerpts from Richard Pryor. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary Film in 1974.
The hit TV sitcom Amen made its debut on NBC on September 27, 1986. The show centered around a struggling church based in Philadelphia, PA named the First Community Church. Deacon Ernest Frye (Sherman Hemsley), head of the church, is trying to keep everything firmly under control. His new assistant, Rev. Reuben Gregory (Clifton Davis), however, has some very different ideas of how do things. The parishioners, seeing that the best path probably lies between the two, play the two squabbling men off each other to keep things on a more or less even keel. Adding to the fray is the Deacon's daughter Thelma (Anna Maria Horsford), who gradually becomes attracted to the new Reverend. While the show proved to be a hit in African-American communities and was one of the successful programs to be featured on NBC during the 1980s, it also opened up many doors for gospel legend Andrae' Crouch and the stellar Vanessa Bell Armstrong; whom performed the opening theme song 'Shine On Me". The song was also written by Andrae' Crouch. 
He is accredited for being one of the primary architects of soul music and for introducing the masses to the gospel sound. Sam Cooke was born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi; the son of Rev. Charles Cook, a Baptist minister, and Annie May Cook. After moving to Chicago in 1933, Sam Cooke became a lead vocalist of The Highway QCs - a local teenage gospel group. But news broke out that the legendary R. H. Harris was leaving his post as lead singer for the Soul Stirrers; one of the most popular gospel quartets in gospel music at the time. Their manager, Roy (S.R.) Crain heard Cooke's sultry, youthful voice and signed him to the group - and the rest was history. Then signed to Speciality Records, Cooke began writing for the group a number of now-classic hits including "Jesus Be A Fence", "Touch The Hem Of His Garment", "Be With Me Jesus", "Nearer To Thee", "Jesus Gave Me Water" and "Wonderful". Even though he left the group in 1956, his works and accomplishments to the field of gospel music forever altered and affected the course of its future. Cooke was also know for being one of the first modern black performers and composers to take control of their own career; establishing his own publishing company and record label (SAR/Derby Records). He went on to stardom by jumping to the pop charts with songs such as "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Cupid", "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Wonderful World". His life was tragically taken away from him on December 11, 1964 during a fatal gun shooting in Los Angeles, California. He was only thirty-three years old and died at the height of his musical career.
Known as the First Lady of Gospel, Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938) has been singing for Jesus a long time. Since the age of eight, Shirley has been recording gospel music and continues to dominate in the traditional gospel music style. After receiving her big break with the legendary gospel group Caravans after being discovered by group leader Albertina Walker. She sung lead vocals on primary hits from the Caravans' recording career including "Sweeping Through The City". She later branched off to record solo in 1966 and went to national acclaim on the HOB, Myrrh and Word music labels. Songs including "No Charge", "Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name", "This Joy", "Don't Drive Your Mama Away", "Stand Still", "Hold My Mule", "He's Working It Out For You" and "You're Next In Line For A Miracle". She has won eleven GRAMMY awards (the most from any gospel artist), seventeen Dove Awards (the most from any gospel artist), twelve Stellar awards and was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. Oprah Winfrey recently honored her in 2005 at her televised Legends' Ball - which aired on May 22, 2006 on ABC.