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==Origins and Development

1980s-1990s

In the 1980s and 1990s, some gospel groups (such as The Rance Allen Group) emerged by singing with elements of Motown sound, emulating quartets such as The Temptations but still propagating biblical messages. The members of many such groups later established their own gospel music careers (but still returned for occasional reunions). For example, Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond started out in the group Commissioned.

Other groups and individual artists such as Hezekiah Walker took gospel congregational songs from the 1950s and 1960s and adapted them to a more upbeat feel similar to ‘80s and ‘90s pop. Examples of this include “99 ½” by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.

Though they began in the 60s and 70s, The Clark Sisters, with hits like “You Brought the Sunshine” and “Name It, Claim It,” were also major influences on urban contemporary gospel in this period.

2000s-2010s

In the 2000s, many gospel artists from the previous two decades began establishing records and gaining established places in the gospel music canon, as recognized by annual WOW Gospel albums (after beginning in the late 1990s). They were accompanied by younger gospel artists/groups like Mary Mary, Sheri Jones-Moffett, and Brian Courtney Wilson, who leaned the genre towards hip-hop, funk, and ‘90s R&B, respectively.

Groups like Tye Tribbett & G.A. and Myron Butler & Levi released songs with more complicated instrumental riffs and melodies that hint at a contemporary jazz influence (though some say it goes the other way around ).

Gospel artists had collaborated with secular artists in the past, but in the 2000s and 2010s, this became far more pronounced. Kirk Franklin is widely known for this, working with Kanye West on his gospel album, JESUS IS KING, and with DaBaby on the song “We Win” for the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy. Franklin also sung with Stevie Wonder on “Why” in the former’s 2005 album, Hero. Rance Allen sung with Snoop Dogg on the song “Blessing Me Again” in 2018.

Eventually, secular artists began releasing gospel albums full of such collaborations. Examples include PJ Morton’s 2020 album Gospel According to PJ and Snoop Dogg’s 2018 album Bible of Love.