GALLERIES

WADE IN THE WATER

THE HISTORY, INFLUENCE AND SURVIVAL OF RELIGIOUS MUSIC

The Wade in The Water gallery documents the history and influence of religious music from indigenous African music that survived during slavery, to the formation of African American spirituals and hymns, to the “Golden Age of Gospel” in the 1940s–1960s and its commercial growth. Exploration includes the influence of gospel vocal groups on secular singing in doo-wop, R&B, and soul music, as well as the impact that religious music had throughout the 20th century and into the new millennium.