TV Gospel Time
TV Gospel Time was an American Sunday morning live television Gospel music show that ran for three years on NBC network from 1962 to 1965. The show was based out of Chicago, broadcast live with running time of 30 minutes. TV Gospel Time was the first television show designed to appeal to black audiences, according to Billboard Music Week Oct 20, 1962, when it launched in 6 television markets.[1] TV Gospel Time was the first television broadcast dedicated to gospel music airing one year before a similar gospel theme broadcast Jubilee Showcase started to air also from Chicago, on ABC network in 1963. TV Gospel Time was also the first TV broadcast of music performed exclusively by black musicians.
In addition to the regularly featured choir, the TV audience got to see different black choirs from various cities each week - choirs they might not otherwise have been able to see. At that time travel for black Americans was difficult, with few hotels and restaurant options available to them. Perhaps the most remarkable note about Gospel Time was it was the very first all-black American TV show production. The hosts were black, as were the guests, audience, and the technical crew; even the advertising that appeared during the weekly broadcasts featured black talent.
Hosts and Guests
Hosts
TV Gospel Time featured a rotating host system. Among hosts during the three-year run were hosts: Sister Rosetta Tharpe,[2][3] James Cleveland, JJ Farley, Thomas Brown, Marie Knight, Archie Dennis, and Georgia Louis.[4]
Guests
The show featured live Gospel performances by famous Gospel choirs and artists including Clara Ward, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Barrett Sisters, The Harmonizing Four, the Highway QCs, the Thompson Community Singers, Roberta Martin, James Lowe, The Tears of Music and The Caravans.
Video
A two DVD collection of selected musical performances was released in 2010 by the title of Soul of the Church (Hollywood Select Video/Infinity Entertainment Group, 2010). Most of the content on the DVD set is from TV Gospel Time, but the TV show's title is not mentioned on the cover of the DVD.[5]
References
- ^ "Billboard Music Week, October 20, 1962". Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Wald, Gayle (2012-12-28). "Timeline: The Years of Sister Rosetta Tharpe". American Masters. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "'How Sweet It Was': The Cultural Impact Of Gospel". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ "Georgia Louis Obituary - Stamford, CT". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ "Soul Of The Church - Stamford, CT". Journal Of Gospel Music. Retrieved 2021-09-04.