These days I am reminded of how closely blues and gospel are linked. Especially the older black gospel. I'm getting quite a bit of initial interest in our Gospel Messengers CD from blues people in Europe... first Poland, and now the UK. They want to give air time to the CD, and do magazine reviews. But, this thread is not about our CD... it's just a reflection on the common roots of blues and black gospel. Most blues guitarists did at least some gospel and many black gospel singers did some blues. My friend Frankie described the difference once by saying Saturday night you dancedto the blues and wagged your tail feathers, and Sunday you danced to gospel in church and jumped up and down. I liked that definition.. the primary difference between blues and gospel lays in the hips. :-)
When I learned finger-picked blues guitar from Dave Van Ronk, it never occurred to me that I'd use it to drive black gospel. I can think of many blues guitarists who also did gospel... even B.B. King.

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this subject..

Jerry