Website
Other

African Genesis: Black Gospel Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This Black Gospel Music site provides information on the history, artists, and spirituality of black gospel music.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Lesson Three: Gospel Music Meets a Wide Audience

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The third lesson deals with the emergence of gospel as a form of popular music among a general public. Gospel is a musical genre with roots in the African American church, particularly in the South. Between the 1940s and the 1960s,...
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music

For Students 9th - 10th
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
Website
Indiana University

Archives of African American Music and Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains resources on black culture and music from the early 1900s to the present.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sam and Dave

For Students 9th - 10th
Sam and Dave were known as "the greatest of all soul duos". Read about the history behind this famous duo and learn about their music and songs. They were 1992 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Mahalia Jackson

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the " Queen of Gospel", New Orleans born singer Mahalia Jackson.
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Mahalia Jackson

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1998 to commemorate Mahalia Jackson, known as the "Queen of Gospel Music". With a short biographical passage.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Learning the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan introduces students to the blues. The origin and development of the blues is explored as well as its distinctive structure.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Al Green

For Students 9th - 10th
Gifted 1970s soul singer, Al Green, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. After a rewarding R&B singing career, he became a Reverend in 1976 and moved to gospel music.
Website
Other

Ray Charles Online

For Students 9th - 10th
This personal website of Ray Charles contains a very interesting autobiography, including discussions with the artist on how he writes and arranges music in his head, how soul music and rock and roll originated, and much more.
Primary
British Library

British Library: Virtual Books: Turning the Pages

For Students 9th - 10th
Prepare for hours of fascination leafing through pages of 15 incredible original texts, from the Diamond Sutra, the oldest printed book, to an original copy of "Alice's Adventures Underground." Along the way, check out such varied texts...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: The Soul Stirrers

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica's Guide to Black History features the Soul Stirrers, an American gospel group who were one of the first male quintets and one of the most enduring male groups. Several singers emerged from the...
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PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Hank Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Featured is a biographical essay on the life of country crooner, Hank Williams. There is a career timeline and video footage interviews from those who knew him well.
Graphic
Curated OER

Singer Mahalia Jackson Practices With Gospel Legend Thomas A. Dorsey

For Students 9th - 10th
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Isley Brothers

For Students 9th - 10th
Originally from Cincinnati, The Isley Brothers had their breakthrough hit in 1962 with "Shout". Over the years, the group consisted of various family members and in 1969 won a Grammy for "It's Your Thing". They remain one of the most...
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Aretha Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the life history of the "Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin. In 1987, she was the first woman inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Temptations

For Students 9th - 10th
The Temptations typified what Motown was all about in the 1960s. Read the history behind this Grammy winning group that at one time ruled the Top Forty and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Handout
Classical Bands

Classicbands: Al Green

For Students 9th - 10th
Great resource for information on the life of soul legend, Al Green, who later became an ordained pastor.
Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Aretha Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn much about "The first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". PBS portrays the life of "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Drifters

For Students 9th - 10th
Considered one of the greatest vocal groups of the 1950s and 1960s, The Drifters were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988 and have three songs on the list of the top 500 most influential songs.
Graphic
Curated OER

Rev. James Cleveland

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a Biography on Rev. James Cleveland, a singer, song-writer, director and composer of gospel music.
Website
Other

The Charles Ives Society

For Students 9th - 10th
While there is very good biographical information here, the Society is more of a scholarly institution. There are audio clips (look for the Real Player logo), links and suggested readings as well.
Graphic
Curated OER

Bob Wills

For Students 9th - 10th
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.
Graphic
Curated OER

Santiago Jimenez Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.

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