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    The Saxophone as a Solo Instument in Gospel Music: The Musical Contributions of Dr. Vernard Johnson

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    Issue Date
    2015-08-31
    Author
    McCray, Brandon W
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    43 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    D.M.A.
    Discipline
    Music
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
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    Abstract
    Dr. Vernard Johnson (b.1948) is an African American musician who introduced the saxophone as a solo instrument to the gospel music tradition in the black church. Though Johnson is not the first to play the saxophone in church, he is the one who popularized and blazed the trail for other instrumentalists to appear as soloists with choral accompaniment. Previously, instruments played a limited role as added features to the standard five-piece rhythm section, which consisted of organ, piano, drums, bass and lead guitars. Because of Johnson’s innovation, many pastors began to encourage young parishioners to bring their gifts of music to worship services. This document intends to show how Johnson left a Kansas City nightclub and brought the signature instrument of jazz into the sacred sanctuary of the church. Through interviews, testimonies, periodicals, concert reviews, solo recordings, and the author’s experience as a Church of God in Christ minister, this research will detail how Johnson used his saxophone to place himself in the heart of the gospel community as a solo artist.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19429
    Collections
    • Dissertations [4475]
    • Music Dissertations and Theses [335]

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    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
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    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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