Pair of Gospel Documentaries on the Festival Circuit

For fans of gospel music or those looking for some different streaming options around the Easter holiday, April brings two documentaries about the roots and development of gospel.

How They Got Over is the slightly better of the two options. It mixes some talking heads with archival performances, the better to understand the contributions of gospel to the development of rock and roll. There is a particular focus on quartets as an entry into the business for African-American singers and how these groups contributed to the role of harmony and backup singers. The film may play better for those with at least a smattering of musical training. At one point, the film compares a track of well-known rock music with a sampling of one of the gospel quartets. The similarities are meant to be self-evident, but the very best documentaries are better able to educate viewers rather than simply assuming a level of knowledge.

Stay Prayed Up played at the 2022 Fullframe Documentary Film Festival. It focuses on one gospel trio, The Branchettes, and one vocalist — Lena Mae Perry. She is eighty-two years old and still singing; the film’s basic plot revolves around her recording a studio album with Phil Cooke. While not as broad in scope as How They Got Over, the documentary (as its name implies) focuses a bit more on the religious motivations and beliefs of its subject, examining the music on spiritual (and not just artistic) terms. Stay Prayed Up will also be shown outside the festival in May. News about distribution and screenings can be found here.