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| Let The Dance Floor Say AMEN!! |
The boisterous preacher is in full throttle at the
weekend church revival as he shouts in
traditional MLK fashion, “Don’t give up, your
faith will see you through, nobody but God
matters, nobody but God matters.” Suddenly
congregants leap to their feet shouting and
waving their hands in spiritual ecstasy. Some
do a Holy Ghost dance while others just jump
for joy as the preacher continues to holler
through the pulpit microphone “Follow the
light, live in the light, love is the answer, love
is the way!”
By now the organist ramps louder and louder
as the church house is brought into an
uncontrollable spiritual fiesta. Meanwhile
church ushers are doing their best to fan down
the weary and overcome congregants. But
right when the preacher appears to climax his
sermon, he starts shouting again, “Believe in
yourself if no one else will. Love yourself if no
one else will. Jesus will see you through!”
Once again, the church is overcome with the
presence of the Holy Spirit, the shouting starts
again, the ushers rush in again, and the cycle
is repeated for several hours well into the
morning as congregants reluctantly leave as
the service finally comes to an end.
Sounds like a high spirited church revival?
Well yes and no. The preacher is really a
vocalist on a 12-inch vinyl; the organist
actually a DJ on the turntable; the ushers are
really bartenders trying to fulfill drink orders
from water to vodka; the church is actually a
black gay club hidden on the other side of
town; the sanctuary is a crowded dance floor,
and the congregants are men and women of
all walks of life seeking refuge, inspiration and
a good-ole time amongst one another.
Welcome to the Ministry of Gospel House
Music where souls are nurtured and affirmed
and where everyone can worship God in spirit
and truth without condemnation, all while
getting their groove on.
But to put it more succinctly as did DJ Eddie
Amador in his 1998 club hit, “House Music”
where he resonates “Not everyone
understands house music. It’s a spiritual thing.
A body thing. A soul thing.” With this as its
anthem, the genre of gospel house music
becomes a spiritual connection to something
far greater and more powerful than itself.
weekend church revival as he shouts in
traditional MLK fashion, “Don’t give up, your
faith will see you through, nobody but God
matters, nobody but God matters.” Suddenly
congregants leap to their feet shouting and
waving their hands in spiritual ecstasy. Some
do a Holy Ghost dance while others just jump
for joy as the preacher continues to holler
through the pulpit microphone “Follow the
light, live in the light, love is the answer, love
is the way!”
By now the organist ramps louder and louder
as the church house is brought into an
uncontrollable spiritual fiesta. Meanwhile
church ushers are doing their best to fan down
the weary and overcome congregants. But
right when the preacher appears to climax his
sermon, he starts shouting again, “Believe in
yourself if no one else will. Love yourself if no
one else will. Jesus will see you through!”
Once again, the church is overcome with the
presence of the Holy Spirit, the shouting starts
again, the ushers rush in again, and the cycle
is repeated for several hours well into the
morning as congregants reluctantly leave as
the service finally comes to an end.
Sounds like a high spirited church revival?
Well yes and no. The preacher is really a
vocalist on a 12-inch vinyl; the organist
actually a DJ on the turntable; the ushers are
really bartenders trying to fulfill drink orders
from water to vodka; the church is actually a
black gay club hidden on the other side of
town; the sanctuary is a crowded dance floor,
and the congregants are men and women of
all walks of life seeking refuge, inspiration and
a good-ole time amongst one another.
Welcome to the Ministry of Gospel House
Music where souls are nurtured and affirmed
and where everyone can worship God in spirit
and truth without condemnation, all while
getting their groove on.
But to put it more succinctly as did DJ Eddie
Amador in his 1998 club hit, “House Music”
where he resonates “Not everyone
understands house music. It’s a spiritual thing.
A body thing. A soul thing.” With this as its
anthem, the genre of gospel house music
becomes a spiritual connection to something
far greater and more powerful than itself.
| By: Herndon L. Davis |
| The Origins of Gospel House Music |
House music is a genre of music that’s been around since the early 80’s post-disco era, fueled primarily by DJ, Frankie Knuckles
and other underground DJ’s. Initially it began as a sped up version of disco tunes with electronically synthesized tracks, a
continuous repeating bass line, and a kick drum on every beat.
Soon the sampling of other tunes began, then samplings of entire songs from other genres of music from jazz, blues, and
gospel. Eventually, “gospel house” was created and caught on for several unique reasons.
First, the music was originally geared towards blacks as well as to the gay community. In fact it was often referred to as “gay
gospel” because dance clubs were often the only places of refuge where gays/lesbians felt comfortable exuding any type of
spirituality without meeting the stern hand of church homophobia.
According to Deacon Meredith Moise, a black, out lesbian in Baltimore, MD, "A lot of us go to the club and get our lives, which is
basically finding our souls, on the dance floor. If you observe the gay partygoers at any one of these house music parties, you
will see that the vibe is basically that of a Yoruba (Ifa) Bembe (Celebration) or a Black church service.”
Deacon Moise adds that “If you are spiritually aware, you can feel the spirits congregate on the floor. People are drinking and
get possessed or rather these spirits are possessing the people through the pulsating beats coming from the giant speakers. In
lieu of a spiritual home, many gays and lesbians have made the club their de facto place of worship.”
In addition, gospel house music often encompassed many original song lyrics that were written expressly for the genre as well as
remixes of existing standard gospel songs that were re-tooled specifically for the dance floor. Hence, the sound of gospel house
is familiar and the words penetrating to those seeking spiritual guidance and comfort within their lives.
and other underground DJ’s. Initially it began as a sped up version of disco tunes with electronically synthesized tracks, a
continuous repeating bass line, and a kick drum on every beat.
Soon the sampling of other tunes began, then samplings of entire songs from other genres of music from jazz, blues, and
gospel. Eventually, “gospel house” was created and caught on for several unique reasons.
First, the music was originally geared towards blacks as well as to the gay community. In fact it was often referred to as “gay
gospel” because dance clubs were often the only places of refuge where gays/lesbians felt comfortable exuding any type of
spirituality without meeting the stern hand of church homophobia.
According to Deacon Meredith Moise, a black, out lesbian in Baltimore, MD, "A lot of us go to the club and get our lives, which is
basically finding our souls, on the dance floor. If you observe the gay partygoers at any one of these house music parties, you
will see that the vibe is basically that of a Yoruba (Ifa) Bembe (Celebration) or a Black church service.”
Deacon Moise adds that “If you are spiritually aware, you can feel the spirits congregate on the floor. People are drinking and
get possessed or rather these spirits are possessing the people through the pulsating beats coming from the giant speakers. In
lieu of a spiritual home, many gays and lesbians have made the club their de facto place of worship.”
In addition, gospel house music often encompassed many original song lyrics that were written expressly for the genre as well as
remixes of existing standard gospel songs that were re-tooled specifically for the dance floor. Hence, the sound of gospel house
is familiar and the words penetrating to those seeking spiritual guidance and comfort within their lives.
| Gospel House Music Goes Mainstream |
It’s hard to keep anything a secret for long. Twenty-five years after bursting onto the scene, house music and its derivative, gospel
house, continue to be heavily embraced by both the black and gay communities but is now actually finding broader, mainstream
acceptance. Boosted primarily because of its uplifting messages of hope, inspiration and courage especially during current times of
uncertainty, gospel house music sends a strong message and resonates with many diverse communities.
In fact an entire website, www.gospelhousemusic.com has been dedicated to fueling the growing fascination with this unique style of
music. The creator and webmaster of the site, Thomas Strand, streams gospel house music continuously from the site and also sells
gospel house music CDs there as well.
Once a break dancing kid from Rochester, Minnesota, Thomas explains that “[My life] evolved through many styles of music and I have
learned a lot about the spiritual influences in music. I have seemingly plateaued in gospel house music. [I] grew up catholic and then I
got lost and fell away from the faith and got heavy into sin, and didn’t know if I believed in God. So during college I needed to find a
career and thought I needed to know if there is a God or not for sure first before a career.”
As a result, Thomas actively prayed for the direction in which he should take his life further. “I searched for about two years with an
open heart, and God started to show himself to me in mysterious ways, so did the devil, the choice was easy... go with God. So that
started my spiritual journey and I have been to all sorts of congregations. Now, I have what also seems to be a plateau.
Because of Thomas’ love for God and house music, he felt moved to create www.gospelhousemusic.com in order to minister to others
seeking a spiritual path in the footsteps of Jesus and away from negative and demonic forces of the world. However, he admits that this
has been a difficult task for him to achieve at times, adding that he’s been criticized by others who believe that gospel music should not
be remixed to a dance beat let alone played within a club.
“There can be a mis-focus on entertainment and not God and his teachings and instructions - Torah. Most are into it for pleasure and
hopefully they will get inspiration and some teaching by listening to gospel house rather than just any type of house dance music. The
bible is not against dancing, or music. I have discovered there is a need in the church aerobics community for this music as well as the
clubs.”
Now living in Minneapolis, Thomas designed his site and has future plans to add new enhancements such as creating a weekly
broadcast schedule with shows dedicated to both gospel house music and to the spiritual and inspirational messages flowing though it.
house, continue to be heavily embraced by both the black and gay communities but is now actually finding broader, mainstream
acceptance. Boosted primarily because of its uplifting messages of hope, inspiration and courage especially during current times of
uncertainty, gospel house music sends a strong message and resonates with many diverse communities.
In fact an entire website, www.gospelhousemusic.com has been dedicated to fueling the growing fascination with this unique style of
music. The creator and webmaster of the site, Thomas Strand, streams gospel house music continuously from the site and also sells
gospel house music CDs there as well.
Once a break dancing kid from Rochester, Minnesota, Thomas explains that “[My life] evolved through many styles of music and I have
learned a lot about the spiritual influences in music. I have seemingly plateaued in gospel house music. [I] grew up catholic and then I
got lost and fell away from the faith and got heavy into sin, and didn’t know if I believed in God. So during college I needed to find a
career and thought I needed to know if there is a God or not for sure first before a career.”
As a result, Thomas actively prayed for the direction in which he should take his life further. “I searched for about two years with an
open heart, and God started to show himself to me in mysterious ways, so did the devil, the choice was easy... go with God. So that
started my spiritual journey and I have been to all sorts of congregations. Now, I have what also seems to be a plateau.
Because of Thomas’ love for God and house music, he felt moved to create www.gospelhousemusic.com in order to minister to others
seeking a spiritual path in the footsteps of Jesus and away from negative and demonic forces of the world. However, he admits that this
has been a difficult task for him to achieve at times, adding that he’s been criticized by others who believe that gospel music should not
be remixed to a dance beat let alone played within a club.
“There can be a mis-focus on entertainment and not God and his teachings and instructions - Torah. Most are into it for pleasure and
hopefully they will get inspiration and some teaching by listening to gospel house rather than just any type of house dance music. The
bible is not against dancing, or music. I have discovered there is a need in the church aerobics community for this music as well as the
clubs.”
Now living in Minneapolis, Thomas designed his site and has future plans to add new enhancements such as creating a weekly
broadcast schedule with shows dedicated to both gospel house music and to the spiritual and inspirational messages flowing though it.
| The Future of Gospel House Music |
From its humble beginnings in Chicago to its growth in Detroit, New York, Great Britain, Los Angeles, South Africa, and in many other
corridors of the world, Gospel House Music has morphed into a style of music that can be accessed and embraced by everyone.
As long as there are people in the world who are falsely told by others that God will never love them because of their personhood and
sexuality, there will always be a need for gospel house music to affirm who they are and to assure them that God’s unconditional love is
for everybody including themselves.
As long as there are people in the world struggling in the darkness of their lives reaching for the light and away from various
addictions, poverty, illness, and the emotional pains and scars of life, there will always be a need for gospel house music to embrace
and encourage them that there is indeed a new day and a new opportunity to rise.
And as long as there are wars and rumors of wars, there will always be a need for gospel house music to spread the good news of
love, peace, joy, resurrection, reconciliation, salvation, and the beautiful and vibrant life that lies just ahead.
Copyrighted 2006
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at http://herndondavis.com
corridors of the world, Gospel House Music has morphed into a style of music that can be accessed and embraced by everyone.
As long as there are people in the world who are falsely told by others that God will never love them because of their personhood and
sexuality, there will always be a need for gospel house music to affirm who they are and to assure them that God’s unconditional love is
for everybody including themselves.
As long as there are people in the world struggling in the darkness of their lives reaching for the light and away from various
addictions, poverty, illness, and the emotional pains and scars of life, there will always be a need for gospel house music to embrace
and encourage them that there is indeed a new day and a new opportunity to rise.
And as long as there are wars and rumors of wars, there will always be a need for gospel house music to spread the good news of
love, peace, joy, resurrection, reconciliation, salvation, and the beautiful and vibrant life that lies just ahead.
Copyrighted 2006
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at http://herndondavis.com
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