A chronological overview of a unique form of musical expression, "Gospel Music: The Sound of Hope" highlights influential individuals and pivotal events that created, developed, and sustained the gospel music genre. Thoughtfully constructed and expressed, the book gives a general outline of the black experience and examines the importance and impact of gospel music around the world. This study of the genre prior to and during the transatlantic slave trade, to its progression during the civil rights era, and on to the present day is told via extensive research and examples of representative lyrics and musical scores.