Full Description
A Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2022 In September of 1963, Reverend Lawrence Roberts and the Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, New Jersey, teamed with rising gospel star James Cleveland to record Peace Be Still. The LP and its haunting title track became a phenomenon. Robert M. Marovich draws on extensive oral interviews and archival research to chart the history of Peace Be Still and the people who created it. Emerging from an established gospel music milieu, Peace Be Still spent several years as the bestselling gospel album of all time. As such, it forged a template for live recordings of services that transformed the gospel music business and Black worship. Marovich also delves into the music's connection to fans and churchgoers, its enormous popularity then and now, and the influence of the Civil Rights Movement on the music's message and reception.
The first in-depth history of a foundational recording, Peace Be Still shines a spotlight on the people and times that created a gospel music touchstone.
Contents
CoverTitleCopyrightContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Reverend Lawrence C. Roberts and the First Baptist Church of Nutley2. Gospel Music in Newark3. The Birth of the Angelic Choir4. The Arrival of James Cleveland5. In Search of the Authentic: The Live In-Service Recording6. This Sunday—In Person7. Peace Be Still8. The Performativity of "Peace Be Still"9. The Release of Peace Be Still10. I Stood on the Banks of Jordan11. DoxologyNotesBibliographyIndexBack cover
