Southern working people's music also borrowed much from both ... "rural blues" became "rhythm and blues," and the gospel style of the old shape-note publishing houses became a polished and dynamic ...

Mrs. Hicks, 70, said she is a big fan of Gospel music, and started singing in church when she was 12 years old. This whole endeavor ... of when he sings hymns and Southern Gospel songs.

Michael Robertson grew up singing church songs out of hymn books—classics like “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” and “Lord, I ...