LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — September marks Gospel Music Heritage Month, and Louisville is celebrating in a special way.
The Louisville Story Program is honoring the city’s rich gospel history with its latest project, "I'm Glad About It," a tribute to the soul-stirring music that has shaped generations.
The project is nothing short of a cultural treasure, reviving nearly 1,000 gospel recordings and photos from 1958 to 1981, many of which were at risk of being lost to Father Time.
Darcy Thompson, a representative of the Louisville Story Program, joined WDRB Mornings on Sunday to shed light on the inspiration behind the remarkable effort.
Thompson said the idea for the project came from a desire to preserve the stories and sounds that were so vital to the city’s African American communities.
"This is about more than music," Thompson said. "It’s about preserving a legacy and sharing the stories of a generation whose voices may have faded, but whose impact still resonates today."
The process of restoring the old recordings was no small feat. The Louisville Story Program worked tirelessly to digitize the original vinyl recordings, facing challenges like worn-out records and degraded sound quality. Despite the hurdles, the team persevered, ensuring that these gospel treasures would be available for future generations.
One of the standout features of Louisville’s gospel history is Cable Baptist Church on South Wenzel Street, which earned a reputation as the "music church." Gospel heavyweights like Albertina Walker of The Caravans and James Cleveland would often drop by, giving impromptu performances that left lasting impressions on the community.
Reading through historic accounts of these spontaneous performances has been nothing short of fascinating for the project team.
To mark the release of "I'm Glad About It," the Louisville Story Program is hosting a special Book and Album Release Concert on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brown Theater. The event will feature live performances celebrating the legacy of Louisville’s gospel heritage.
Tickets are available, and can be purchased by clicking here.
To view the promo video for the release of "I'm Glad About It," click here.
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