Holiday Show

Holiday Show ( December 1990 )
Duration: 00:28:21
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Themes: Religion and Spiritual Life | Musical Roots and Branches |

Guests: Diane Campbell, Tina Brooks, Lisa Page, Keith Staten, Witness, Yolanda Harris
Host : Trudy Gallant


Summary: This program from December 1990 is a Christmas special devoted to gospel music. Host Trudy Gallant introduces two contemporary gospel music acts: a women's quartet known as Witness and solo performer Keith Staten.

Witness performs "Go Tell It On The Mountain." Afterwards, group members Yolanda Harris, Lisa Page, Tina Brooks and Diane Campbell talk with Gallant about their music.

Gallant asks about criticism from some gospel purists that their style, which is strongly influenced by pop and R&B, is too similar to popular music. The group members respond that the style is just a way to get the message across, and the message is spiritual.

After the interview, Gallant introduces Keith Staten, a former member of the gospel group Commissioned. Staten sings a pair of songs from his new solo album. On the second song, Witness sings back-up.

Staten talks with Gallant about his career and his goals as a gospel singer. "I want people's lives to be changed," he says. "I want it to be a job and a ministry."

After the Staten interview, Gallant narrates a five-minute segment of highlights from the 1990 Essence Magazine Awards, including an appearance by Winnie Mandela.

This program is notable for its documentation of the changes within gospel music in the late 1980s, as popular music influences began to be heard increasingly in the gospel realm.