alphonso f. saville iv.
d-vine spirituals and sacred sound in memphis
role. associate research scholar
project. D-Vine Spirituals and Sacred Sound in Memphis
location. Memphis, TN
medium. exhibit
Welcome to a deep dive into the rich tapestry of Black sacred music in Memphis, TN. This story explores how the unique sound of gospel music in Memphis has been shaped by a confluence of diverse musical, social, and cultural traditions. Through interviews and vivid storytelling, we journey through Memphis to uncover the soulful origins and enduring legacy of its gospel music scene.
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Join us on this auditory and visual journey to understand how Memphis has nurtured a gospel tradition that resonates with spiritual depth and cultural significance. A full transcript of this piece is also available.
featured guests.
JIM COLE
lead archivist at the Memphis Listening Lab
ELIZABETH KING
lead vocalist and most prominently featured artist on the D-Vine Spirituals label
DAMIEN SAVAGE
Minister of music at Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church and Faith Covenant Church
REV. JUAN SHIPP
Host of "Gospel Talk, Back in the Day" and founder of
D-Vine Spirituals
Jim Cole: As the lead archivist at the Memphis Listening Lab, Jim Cole brings a historian's perspective, shedding light on the history of gospel music in Memphis, and the gospel music collection housed at the Memphis Listening Lab.
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Elizabeth King: The lead vocalist and most prominently featured artist on the D-Vine Spirituals label, Elizabeth King, offers a firsthand account of her experiences and the transformative power of gospel music.
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Damien Savage: Minister of music at Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church and Faith Covenant Church, Damien Savage also brings his rich background as a former road musician for acclaimed artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire and Isaac Hayes. His reflection highlights the interconnectedness of various musical genres and the vibrant gospel tradition in Memphis.
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Rev. Juan Shipp: Host of the radio program "Gospel Talk, Back in the Day," Rev. Shipp is also the founder of D-Vine Spirituals, a record label pivotal in recording and promoting gospel music in Memphis during the 1960s and 70s. He shares his invaluable insights into the label's impact and legacy.
music links.
Listeners can explore and purchase music from the D-Vine Spirituals label, delving deeper into the sounds that have defined Memphis gospel music.
Big Legal Mess Records reissued D-Vine Spirituals tracks from Elizabeth King and the Gospel Souls and released the two-volume, The D-Vine Spiritual Story.
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Citation: Saville IV, Alphonso F. “D-Vine Spirituals and Sacred Sound in Memphis." SPIRIT HOUSE: A Crossroads Project. July 2024. Date Accessed. https://www.crossroads-spirithouse.org/saville.
Alphonso F. Saville IV is Assistant Professor of American Religious History and Mission at the Charlotte campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary. His forthcoming book, The Gospel of John Marrant: Conjuring Christianity in the Black Atlantic, is the first full-length study of North America’s first black ordained minister and explores how black religious thinkers and practitioners utilized religion as a cultural response to the systemic and interpersonal oppression produced by racial slavery and social proscription. A second book project tentatively titled The Problem of God and Slavery at Georgetown, explores the history of slavery at Georgetown University and analyzes how debates on slavery shaped and informed discussions about the nature of God, religious experience, and public life in America. Saville earned his PhD in Religion at Emory University, and has been awarded research fellowships at Dartmouth College, William & Mary University, and Georgetown University. From 2021 to 2024 he was an Associate Research Scholar for The Crossroads Project in Princeton University's Center for Culture, Society and Religion.
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