GOSPEL ROOTS

I found Lynell George’s article on local and national black gospel music quite interesting and thought-provoking (“The Spirit Grooves Them,” Oct. 4). However, I was disappointed not to see even one mention of Art Rupe, a white Angeleno who was a major, historic figure in the popularization of black gospel.

Rupe was the founder, owner, producer and talent scout for Specialty Records, based in Los Angeles. In its heyday in the 1950s and early ‘60s, Specialty was best known nationally for such secular rock ‘n’ roll pioneers as (Little) Richard Penniman, Lloyd Price and Larry Williams. But Rupe’s label also issued and promoted gospel artists and groups nationwide, foremost among these being the Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke.

Also, Kirk Franklin’s eye-catching stage attire is not new to gospel performances. In the ‘50s and ‘60s I attended huge gospel concerts where the performers wore outfits that made the rhinestoned stars of the Grand Ole Opry look like Trappist monks in comparison.

ANDY BOEHM

Goleta

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Anyone in the gospel music world who says that mixing rap with gospel is “too worldly, far too incongruous” doesn’t know much about the history of their music. The Trumpeteers, a gospel quartet from Baltimore whose “Milky White Way” was a major, long-lasting hit on the “race” charts in 1948, recorded a spiritual a year later called “John de Revelator” whose vocal performance (by lead singer Joseph Johnson) was pure rap.

JIM DAWSON

Hollywood