In the early days of rock ‘n’ roll a unique event happened quite by accident.
On this date in 1956.Four of the biggest stars at the time happened to be in the same recording studio .A

They were
Carl Perkins (1932–1998),
Johnny Cash (1932–2003),
Elvis Presley (1935–1977) and
Jerry Lee-Lewis (1935– ).

They had met to have a ‘jam’ session.
Someone left the tapes rolling and unknown to them their ‘jamming’ session was accidently recorded and then later released under the title, Million Dollar Quartet.

These four famous singers, when they got together for this impromptu session,
sang neither rock ‘n’ roll nor country and western songs.
They sang about Advent themes such as the prophets of the Old Testament,
the presence of the Holy One in their midst,
and the coming God’s kingdom on the earth,
i.e. hymns and gospel songs!

They had all grown up in Southern Pentecostal Churches that drew on a shared ground of Spirituals,
Gospel and the charismatic hymns that broke down the social and religious barriers that fragmented and categorised people.

Rock ‘n’ roll, the music genre that was once termed ‘the devil’s music’, began with Gospel music!
Many of the leading artists of Soul from Ray Charles (1930–2004), Sam Cooke (1931–1964) and Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) to Diana Ross (1944– ) got their start singing in a church choirs.

The sermon style of Gospel music appeals to the ear with its improvisation, repetition and dramatic pauses.
The act of call-and-response harnesses a relationship between the singer / preacher and the congregation.
The song/sermon is not just words written on a page, but a living, breathing creation that pulls on our heartstrings.