Speaker: Black worship should incorporate hip-hop, other new styles

Published: 2007-07-18

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CNS) -- Kevin Johnson had one hand on a piano keyboard as the other guided a room full of participants through seamless key changes from one gospel song to another. "I could go on and on playing just song after song," said Johnson, associate professor of music and chairman of the music department at Spelman College in Atlanta, as he led participants in "African-American Catholic Worship" through the greatest hits of that worship. The July 13 workshop was part of the 10th National Black Catholic Congress, held July 12-15 in Buffalo. Although innovation, musical evolution and songwriting have not stopped, few publishers are producing new black Catholic music, Johnson said during his workshop. To inject new life into Masses at black Catholic parishes, he suggested parishioners seek out new music and new directions in music, such as hip-hop or rhythm-and-blues influences, to reflect what is popular among today's youths and young adults.

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