Urban Contemporary Gospel
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Urban contemporary gospel is the radio-format sound named for the "urban contemporary" (UC) programming lane: mid-tempo, R&B-smooth gospel with quiet-storm keyboards, rounded bass, brushed programmed drums, and richly harmonized lead-and-background vocals. It prizes the melisma-laden solo voice, the slow-build ballad and the mass-appeal praise anthem, all mixed with the sheen of adult-contemporary soul. Lyrics center testimony, encouragement and worship rather than doctrine, aiming for the widest possible listener. The signature is a polished, emotionally cresting vocal performance over lush, unhurried production.
History
As gospel radio consolidated around the "urban contemporary gospel" format in the 1990s, a class of vocalists built careers designed for that airplay: Yolanda Adams, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin defined the sound, with Adams's "Open My Heart" (2001) crossing to mainstream urban charts. The style leaned on the studio craft of producers in Houston, Detroit, Nashville and Atlanta, and on labels such as Verity, Elektra and Gospo Centric that marketed gospel like R&B. Marvin Sapp's "Never Would Have Made It" (2007) became one of the format's biggest crossover records ever, and Mary Mary, Deitrick Haddon and Kierra Sheard kept it stocked with youthful hits. The lane remains the commercial backbone of gospel radio and the Stellar and Dove awards.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Open My Heart(2001) — Yolanda AdamsSpotifyYouTube
- Never Would Have Made It(2007) — Marvin SappSpotifyYouTube
- Shackles (Praise You)(2000) — Mary MarySpotifyYouTube
- Addictive Love(1991) — BeBe & CeCe WinansSpotifyYouTube
- Stomp(1997) — Kirk FranklinSpotifyYouTube
- No Weapon(1998) — Fred HammondSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Deborah Smith Pollard, When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music (2008)
- Bil Carpenter, Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia (2005)
- Mellonee V. Burnim and Portia K. Maultsby, African American Music: An Introduction (2014)