The earliest documented gospel music can be traced to the 17th Century. Hymns and sacred songs were part of the repertoire of many spiritual communities and many churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment.
However, Gospel music gained momentum during the second major African-American migration that occurred at the turn of the 20th Century, when many people moved to the large urban areas of North America. By the 1930s, the African-American community was experiencing changes in religious consciousness. New geographies, realities and expectations became the standard of both those with long-standing residence in the north and those who had recently arrived. The new arrivals still welcomed the jubilant fervour and emotionalism of spiritual gatherings where gospel music was an integral element of the ceremonies.