Historian James R. Goff Jr. explains the origin of Southern gospel as a convergence of personal faith and desire for educational improvements in the 19th century. These forces combined to inspire "singing schools" in New England, which influenced hymnal worship services. As evangelical Christianity spread southward, Goff writes, Southern states saw an influx of songwriting as a primary means of faith expression.
"The Southern Gospel News" traces the early pioneers of Southern gospel. Early practitioners such as Aldon Kieffer and Ephraim Roebush used "shape-notes," a method designed to make learning songs easier, and published popular books of hymns. Southern Gospel was characterized by attention to pitch and by harmonies that could be stunning and elaborate. Goff writes that the 1930s saw songwriting incorporating elements of echoes and alternating melodies.
One of the legends of early Southern gospel music was the Frank Stamps All-Star Quartet. This group made Southern Gospel's first record, in 1927, according to the "Southern Gospel News," and was led by innovative piano player Dwight Brock, who used a secular rhythm style to attract listeners used to pop music. The '30s and '40s saw stars like Howard Goodman and Hovie Lister and the Statesmen rise to prominence. By the '50s and '60s, Southern gospel was popular in mainstream culture, with vocal groups like the Rambos, the Bill Gaither Trio, and the Blackwood Brothers scoring recording contracts with national labels such as RCA/Victor. These groups often contained multiple family members among their ranks.
Southern gospel songs have become some of the most recognizable hymns in Christian worship. "Because He Lives" (written by Bill and Gloria Gaither), "My God Is Real" (by Kenneth Morris) and "Peace In The Valley" (by Thomas A. Dorsey) are just a few of the well-known Southern gospel compositions.
The Southern Gospel History website details how Southern gospel music started to affect popular culture by the 1950s and '60s. Pop singers like Elvis Presley and Pat Boone had hit records with cover versions of Southern gospel songs. In the decades that followed, Christian music labels began to attract national attention. This mainstream acceptance eventually led to the huge influence of Southern-gospel-oriented touring shows and videos, like the Gaither Homecoming Series, by the 1990s. The Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame at Dollywood Amusement Park opened in 1999.