Who is widely recognized as the "Father of Gospel Music"?

• A. Sam Cooke
• B. Thomas Dorsey
• C. Mahalia Jackson
• D. Marvin Gaye

Answer: (B)

Thomas Dorsey is widely recognized as the "Father of Gospel Music" due to his pivotal role in developing and popularizing the genre. He was a musician and composer who blended traditional African American spirituals with elements of jazz and blues, creating a new sound that resonated deeply with many.

Dorsey's significant contributions include writing numerous gospel songs, such as "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," which became foundational hymns within the gospel repertoire. His innovative approach made gospel music more mainstream and accessible, and he helped establish the Gospel Music movement in the 1930s onwards. Dorsey also founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, helping to formalize the structure and dissemination of gospel music.

While other notable figures like Sam Cooke and Mahalia Jackson made tremendous contributions to gospel music and its evolution into various forms, Dorsey's role in its foundational development is what earns him the title of the "Father of Gospel Music." Marvin Gaye, although a significant artist, is primarily associated with soul and R&B rather than gospel.