Gospel

Season 1

From acclaimed scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Gospel explores Black spirituality in sermon and song. From the blues to hip-hop, African Americans have been the driving force of sonic innovation for over a century. While musical styles come and go, there is one sound that has been a constant source of strength, courage, and wisdom from the pulpit to the choir lofts on any given Sunday: gospel.

IMDb 7.720242 episodesX-RayTV-PG

Documentary•Historical

Free trial of PBS Documentaries or buy

Save on each episode with a TV Season Pass. Get current episodes now and future ones when available.

Terms apply

Prime membership required

S1 E1 - The Gospel Train
February 11, 2024
1 h 44 min
TV-PG
Gospel’s part one takes viewers north to Chicago, where artists blended blues and jazz with lyrics about God’s goodness. Gospel would become a commodity, but one built by Black-owned publishing companies and sustained by Black audiences. The Golden Age of Gospel emerges as the lines between the sacred and secular blur and gospel music becomes the powerful soundtrack of the freedom struggle.
Free trial of PBS Documentaries or buy
S1 E2 - Take the Message Everywhere
February 12, 2024
1 h 44 min
TV-PG
Gospel’s part two reveals how gospel was going mainstream. As artists took the message everywhere, Black pastors continued to distinguish their message and sound with sermonettes. A new generation embraced secular music to modernize the gospel sound. The launch of the Platinum Age of Gospel brought commercially successful songs about faith to millions but drew criticism that it went too far.
Free trial of PBS Documentaries or buy