From the blues to hip hop, African-Americans have driven sonic innovation for more than a century.

while styles have changed, there's one sound that's remained constant a source of strength and courage.

Comfort and wisdom gospel.

Let's look at the gospel.

Gospel music is soul.

Gospel music is R&B.

Gospel music is funk -- it's hip-hop.

Gospel music is the full spectrum in terms of its sound of black music and beyond.

Mahalia Jackson What was special about her voice?

She believed every word she was singing, and she wanted you to believe it.

Preachers have style Gospel singers have stuff.

right <5Can't nobody do me like Jesus<5 black style in music and preaching is similar because it allows black people to believe that they can survive a bit longer.

My mother had gone to New Bethel Baptist Church.

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Franklin would preach and then Aretha would sing, Oh my God, if you ain't got the spirit, then you dead.

The sermon becomes the song.

The song becomes the sermon.

God, we ask that you would reinvigorate somebody.

It's almost as if there's a soundtrack in a church setting.

Amen, brother.

That was beautiful.

For generations, gospel music and preaching have formed the bedrock of the black religious experience.

The sound still connects people.

The sound still gathers people.

<5Can't nobody do me like Jesus<5 These astonishing art forms, caring and enduring tradition continue to evolve.

Do you think there will always be gospel music 100 years from now?

I don't see how we can thrive without gospel music That's why I say it's gonna always be there for ever.

Listen, as we tell the story of how a people learned to sing the Lord's song in a strange land.

This is a powerful story of gospel.

<5He's my friend<5