1967-1969United States

Contemporary Gospel

Also known as urban contemporary gospel

A modern gospel lane that kept the church at its center while opening the door to R&B polish, pop hooks, and broader crossover appeal.

Origins and context

The genre emerged from African American gospel traditions that began absorbing R&B and other contemporary popular styles in the late 1960s and 1970s, then broadened commercially in the 1990s through artists such as Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams.

United States

History

Contemporary gospel took shape in the late 1960s and 1970s, when gospel artists began folding in R&B phrasing, steadier grooves, and pop-minded production. Carnegie Hall’s timeline notes roots in the late-1960s work of artists such as Edwin Hawkins, Andraé Crouch, and the Rance Allen Group, whose music opened the door to a more modern urban gospel sound. By the 1990s, the style had become a major commercial force. Kirk Franklin’s early recordings helped define the era, with his official artist pages and profile noting that his 1993 debut with The Family crossed into the R&B and pop charts, while Yolanda Adams’ artist pages describe her as a leading contemporary gospel singer who brought classic soul and R&B into the genre.