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Gospel Music Crossovers Trivia Quiz

There is a long history of artists crossing over from gospel to secular music and vice versa. Here are a few questions about some of those artist and their music.

A multiple-choice quiz by Saturnwreck. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Saturnwreck

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
282,973

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
444

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What gospel group's version of Tom Wait's "Way Down in the Hole" was used for the first season of The Wire? Hint

Neville Brothers

Mighty Clouds of Joy

The Winans

Blind Boys of Alabama

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Question 2 of 10

2. What famous artist was criticized for secularizing gospel music by putting secular lyrics to gospel tunes? Hint

Solomon Burke

Nat King Cole

Aretha Franklin

Ray Charles

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Question 3 of 10

3. Of the Neville Brothers, which one is also well-known for his solo gospel singing? Hint

Art

Aaron

Charles

Cyril

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which gospel album by Elvis Presley won a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance in 1967? Hint

His Hand in Mine

Peace in the Valley

He Touched Me

How Great Thou Art

5. Sam Cooke began his career as a gospel singer, joining the Soul Stirrers in 1951. Later, he became famous as a soul singer. What posthumous single of 1965 showed his return to his gospel roots? Hint

A Change is Gonna Come

Shake

Jesus Gave Me Water

Love Will Find A Way

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Question 6 of 10

6. Mighty Clouds of Joy are a Los Angeles-based gospel group. What unusual thing happened with their song, "Mighty High"? Hint

It ranked #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

It became a disco hit.

It was used as a theme song in a movie about car racing

It was claimed that it was about marijuana use.

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Question 7 of 10

7. What song by the rock band Foreigner featured the New Jersey Mass Choir on background vocals? Hint

I Want to Know What Love Is

Until the End of Time

Cold as Ice

Say You Will

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Question 8 of 10

8. Reverend James Cleveland & the Southern California Community Choir provides background vocal duties on the album "Amazing Grace". What famous singer recorded this album? Hint

Aretha Franklin

Linda Ronstadt

Whitney Houston

Mahalia Jackson

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Question 9 of 10

9. What album featuring a collaboration between Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama won a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album in 2005? Hint

Lifeline

Higher Ground

There Will be a Light

Fight for Your Mind

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Question 10 of 10

10. What movie's soundtrack featured both R&B and gospel songs performed by Whitney Houston, the Georgia Mass Choir, Shirley Caesar and Cissy Houston? Hint

The Preacher's Wife

Ray

The Bodyguard

The Gospel

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What gospel group's version of Tom Wait's "Way Down in the Hole" was used for the first season of The Wire?

Answer: Blind Boys of Alabama

Tom Waits wrote and recorded "Way Down in the Hole" back in 1987, but it has become best known as the theme for the TV series, "The Wire". Each season has featured a different version of the song. In the first season, it was performed by the Blind Boys of Alabama and in the second season by Tom Waits himself. Season three featured the Neville Brothers, season four a specially-recorded version by some Baltimore teenagers and season five features the singing of Steve Earle.

2. What famous artist was criticized for secularizing gospel music by putting secular lyrics to gospel tunes?

Answer: Ray Charles

Ray Charles, was a pioneering pianist and singer who helped shape the sound of rhythm and blues. The gospel sound he'd heard growing up in the church found its way into the music he made as an adult. Charles' adaptations, putting secular lyrics to many gospel songs, and then playing them with jazz backgrounds, was controversial at the time.

3. Of the Neville Brothers, which one is also well-known for his solo gospel singing?

Answer: Aaron

Besides being a singer with The Neville Brothers, Aaron Neville has also had a considerable presence as a solo artist. Many of his albums include gospel songs, and he has released two albums, "Devotion" and "Believe", which revolve around spiritual music, including both classic and contemporary gospel songs.

4. Which gospel album by Elvis Presley won a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance in 1967?

Answer: How Great Thou Art

Elvis received 14 Grammy nominations in his lifetime, but his only three wins were all for his gospel recordings: "How Great Thou Art" (1967), "He Touched Me" (1972) and "How Great Thou Art, concert performance" (1974).

Answer: A Change is Gonna Come

Sam Cooke was one of the most influential black singers to emerge in the late 50s, He created a blend of gospel music and secular themes and was, essentially, the inventor of soul music. "A Change Is Gonna Come" was released in 1965 after his death. It represented a return to Cooke's gospel roots and made an important civil rights statement.

6. Mighty Clouds of Joy are a Los Angeles-based gospel group. What unusual thing happened with their song, "Mighty High"?

Answer: It became a disco hit.

The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in Los Angeles during the 1950s and in the years since, the group has earned a reputation as one of gospel's greatest showmen. In 1975, they became the first gospel act ever to appear on TV's "Soul Train", where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High."

7. What song by the rock band Foreigner featured the New Jersey Mass Choir on background vocals?

Answer: I Want to Know What Love Is

Foreigner released the album "Agent Provocateur" in 1984. The over-the-top, gospel-inflected ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is" became one of the biggest MTV and radio hits that year.

8. Reverend James Cleveland & the Southern California Community Choir provides background vocal duties on the album "Amazing Grace". What famous singer recorded this album?

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Soul legend Aretha Franklin released the landmark "Amazing Grace" album in 1972. It has been hailed as one of the most successful and best-selling gospel recordings of all time.

9. What album featuring a collaboration between Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama won a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album in 2005?

Answer: There Will be a Light

Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama first recorded together in 2002, when Harper had a guest appearance on the Blind Boys' album "Higher Ground". "There Will be a Light" was produced by Ben Harper and combines his distinctive vocals with the Blind Boys' resonant harmonies.

10. What movie's soundtrack featured both R&B and gospel songs performed by Whitney Houston, the Georgia Mass Choir, Shirley Caesar and Cissy Houston?

Answer: The Preacher's Wife

The soundtrack for "Preacher's Wife" was a success on the charts, with the lead single being "I Believe In You And Me". The album was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, but Whitney Houston did not attend because she was unhappy that the album was not nominated in the Gospel categories since the album was predominately gospel-related.

Source: Author Saturnwreck

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