JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Uplifting, strengthening, calming: All three are words to describe music in the Black church.
UNCUT: Full interview with Rudolph McKissick Sr., Rudolph McKissick Jr.
“In many of your Black churches you had call and response, what is called Dr. Watts in the Black church, where the deacon would sing a line and then you’d repeat it,” McKissick Jr. said.
He describes his extended family as “a big time church family,” and references his own upbringing in The Bethel Church.
Local community advocate Marsha Oliver grew up in The Bethel Church, singing in the choir as a child and shares how she was able to detect her father’s mood based on the church songs he sang.