WXPN/Philadelphia Spotlights Gospel Music’s Influences

Deep Roots

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Triple A WXPN/PHILADELPHIA has just launched a new multi-platform project that focuses on Gospel music’s significance.  Through live performances, a radio documentary series, and content-rich website, WXPN will explore the roots of gospel and its influence on secular popular music

WXPN’s “Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul” project will offer free events and performances, and local and national radio broadcasts, including a national radio documentary.  Online, Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul provides an in-depth, interactive experience with interviews, music, videos, and other ongoing, exclusive contributions from some of the most acclaimed and authoritative voices in gospel and popular music.

“Our aim is to illuminate and educate, as well as to celebrate gospel music and its impact on secular music, as Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul brings together those who may be new to gospel music with faith-based audiences,” said WXPN GM ROGER LAMAY.  “Listeners of WXPN and our nationally-syndicated music program World Cafe will embrace the gospel roots found in much of the pop, rock and soul music they have long enjoyed, while fans of gospel music will appreciate its wide-ranging influence on popular music.”

LAMAY and BRUCE WARREN, WXPN’s Associate GM for Programming, are the project’s executive producers.

“Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul will draw upon and highlight PHILLY's deep gospel history, contributions, and talented voices,” said WARREN, who led a team that conducted extensive field work and research for the project

The PEW CENTER FOR ARTS & HERITAGE has awarded WXPN two previous grants for similarly deep musical investigations: one for the “Mississippi Blues Project” (2013), and “Zydeco Crossroads” (2015).  Like these projects, Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul supports WXPN’s mission to connect artists with audiences, and to expand the capacity, reach and value of its services to an increasingly diverse community.

Learn More at XPNGospelRoots.org.

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