Gospel Pearls. Edited and Compiled for Special Use in The Sunday School Church

(TOWNSEND, Willa A.)

Published by Sunday School Publishing Board, Nashville, Tennessee, 1965

About this Item

Facsimile reprint printed from the original 1921 plates. Pictorial cloth. About fine. A cornerstone title in the history of gospel music, Horace C. Boyer in *The Golden Age of Gospel* states: "Gospel Pearls, [was] the first collection of songs published by a black congregation using the term 'gospel' to refer not only to the 'good news' but to the new kind of song and singing that was stirring the nation. Gospel Pearls is a boon to Gospel Singers, for it contains the songs that have been sung most effectively. a new and different style of singing that sought to capture the ecstasy of Holiness church singers, but without the excesses. The publication of Gospel Pearls' profoundly affected the singing of gospel music in the African-American community." Willa A. Townsend was born in Tennessee in 1880 and was also the author of *Because He Lives* (1924). This edition is a facsimile reprint probably done on or slightly after 1965 (with a zip code in the publisher's address). Very scarce. A cornerstone title in the history of gospel music-- Horace C. Boyer in 'The Golden Age of Gospel' states: "Gospel Pearls, [was] the first collection of songs published by a black congregation using the term 'gospel' to refer not only to the 'good news' but to the new kind of song and singing that was stirring the nation. Gospel Pearls is a boon to Gospel Singers, for it contains the songs that have been sung most effectively. a new and different style of singing that sought to capture the ecstasy of Holiness church singers but without the excesses. The publication of Gospel Pearls' profoundly affected the singing of gospel music in the African-American community." ['Golden Age of Gospel,' p. 42]. Willa A. Townsend was born in Tennessee in 1880. She is also the author of 'Because He Lives' (1924) [see Richardson, 'Black Women and Religion: A Bibliography,' No. 378; c.f. Jordan, 'Bibliographical Guide to African-American Women Writers,' No. 632.1]. OCLC lists only the 1921 printing of 'Gospel Pearls' (with only sixteen worldwide holdings-- presumably most of the holdings were printed after 1921). [with 1921 copyright date on title page, but actually printed circa 1960's (with post-1964 zip code included in publisher's printed address on title page; printed using the original 1921 plates, but with revised publisher's address][not in Richardson, 'Black Women and Religion: A Bibliography,' which does note one other title by this author; not in Blockson or Matthews, 'Black American Writers']. Octavo, red pictorial cloth printed in black , pp. [iv], [156]. Seller Inventory # 518359

Bibliographic Details

Title: Gospel Pearls. Edited and Compiled for ...

Publisher: Sunday School Publishing Board, Nashville, Tennessee

Publication Date: 1965

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fine