Gospel: The Midwife of Secular Music
A Juneteenth Celebration at the Louis Armstrong House Museum
Featuring Joy Brown
Join the Louis Armstrong House Museum this Juneteenth for Gospel: The Midwife of Secular Music, a powerful live performance and musical exploration featuring acclaimed vocalist and educator Joy Brown.
This special program traces the profound influence of gospel music on the evolution of rhythm & blues, soul, funk, and jazz. Through live music and storytelling, Joy Brown highlights the enduring impact of the Black church tradition on legendary artists including James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Sam Cooke, while illuminating gospel’s deep roots within jazz through improvisation, swing, blues expression, and collective musical dialogue.
Presented with a vibrant ensemble of vocalists and musicians featuring horns, Hammond organ, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, this Juneteenth celebration honors gospel music as a cornerstone of Black American culture and one of the essential foundations of jazz itself.
Friday, June 20 at 3:00pm
Louis Armstrong House Museum Garden
34-56 107th Street, Corona, Queens