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The Gospel Truth: Episode 2

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Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - The Gospel Truth, Episode 2

Alvin Hall explains how gospel became a global force in popular music.

Alvin Hall explains how gospel became a global force in popular music. He reveals how Aretha Franklin's marriage of pop to gospel sold millions of records.

Gospel's uplifting and rejoicing sound is world famous, a multi million-dollar music genre that in many ways has ended up the beating heart of American popular music. But can gospel be gospel if it entertains, makes money and praises the Lord at the same time? Financial educator Alvin Hall explores how this American religious music genre has been affected by both commercialisation and secularisation.

In this second part, Alvin explains how gospel became a global force in popular music. He reveals how Aretha Franklin's marriage of pop to gospel sold millions of records, introducing gospel to a world audience in the process. He looks at the rise of the gospel choir in the 1970s and 80s and discovers how it increasingly became a money-making industry. He also meets leading gospel stars Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin to ask whether they think today's gospel stars have been affected by money and celebrity.

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Alvin Hall explores how gospel has been affected by commercialisation.

Financial educator Alvin Hall explores how this American religious music genre has been affected by commercialisation.

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