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Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church, the birthplace of gospel music, burned down last Friday. The 116-year-old historically significant structure, originally a synagogue, housed the Pilgrim congregation since 1922. At Pilgrim, church organist and music director Thomas A. Dorsey—composer of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"—fused hymns with blues, thus creating the then controversial genre known as gospel music. Dorsey's choir eventually went on to nurture the talents of some of gospel's brightest pioneers, including Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland and Sally Martin. Movie buffs will recognize Pilgrim Baptist as the church used at the beginning of The Blues Brothers. The church held a Sunday service, and vows to rebuild at the same site.

Speaking of Chicago legends, R&B and gospel music trendsetter Lou Rawls died Friday of lung and brain cancer. He was 72. Rawls was one of the first vocalists to make a successful "crossover" from the sacred notes of gospel—he was a member of several vocal groups, including the Chosen Gospel Singers and the Pilgrim Travelers—to the secular sounds of jazz, R&B, soul and pop music, recording over 70 albums during his versatile career. Though Rawls thrived singing mainstream styles, he never recorded a solo gospel album until 2001's I'm Blessed and 2002's Oh Happy Day.

Michael W. Smith has been nominated by the White House to serve a two-year term as a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, an entity that promotes volunteer service and encourages community participation among citizens. Smith joins former senator Bob Dole, ex-Washington Redskin Darrell Green, and other leaders representing private and non-profit sectors, entertainment, athletics, education and government.

After seven years and three different lead singers, alt-rock quintet Further Seems Forever is calling it quits. "FSF agrees it is time to move on to other things in our lives," the band wrote on its official website. "All of the members of FSF remain the best of friends and look forward to the future, whatever it may bring." According to the posting, the group will not record again, but that some unreleased material as well as a DVD of live footage and videos will be made available soon.

On the heels of Grammy nominations for Best Gospel Performance, Best Gospel Song and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, Yolanda Adams is ready to launch the Yolanda Today Tour, a national church trek in support of her latest album, Day by Day. The tour will launch on January 10 with a special benefit show for Katrina survivors in Baton Rouge, La., and will extend for 25 dates through February 12. Gospel newcomer J Moss and hip-hop violinists Nuttin But Stringz are scheduled to be the opening acts.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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