Rejoice and Shout

Streaming video - 2011

This acclaimed documentary covers the 200 year history of African-American Christianity, featuring the legends of Gospel music, including The Staple Singers, The Clara Ward Singers, The Dixie Hummingbirds, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.. Culled from hundreds of hours of music, tracing the evolution of gospel music through its many styles – the spirituals and early hymns, the four-part harmony-based quartets, the integration of blues and swing, the emergence of “soul,” and the blending of rap and hip-hop elements. It connects the history of African-American culture with gospel as it first impacted popular culture at large and captures so much of what is special about this music and African-American Christianity. . Nominated for the 24 Bea...ts Per Second Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival.. "Rejoice provides both a melodic education and a once-in-a-lifetime concert in one soul-stirring package." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times more