Gospel Music Crossovers Trivia Quiz

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.