Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    The long history of LA's vibrant gospel scene

    LA has been an epicenter of gospel since the establishment of First A.M.E. church by a former slave in 1872, through the Golden Age of Gospel, to today.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • May 9, 2018 • 1 min read

    LA has been an epicenter of gospel since the establishment of First A.M.E. church by a former slave in 1872, through the Golden Age of Gospel, to today. Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace” was recorded at a Baptist Church in South LA, and is the best-selling gospel album of all time. A new exhibition at the California African American Museum charts LA’s rich gospel history. It’s called “How Sweet the Sound.”

    Victory Baptist Choir.

    Photos of "How Sweet the Sound" exhibition.

    Images courtesy of CAAM.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Gina Pollack

      Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Tyree Boyd-Pates

      California African American Museum

      News
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand