How They Got Over

A time capsule documentary. When the people of the future ask what 20th century music was like this documentary will show them. When they ask where rock & roll, R&B, the blues, rap, pop, and jazz came from this documentary will show them. Gospel music shaped and formed the world's music. The Smithsonian museum should capture and bottle this documentary for our descendants to watch and learn.

The roots of a world wide phenomenon in music for the past 50+ years now know as rock, pop, r&b, etc. Was birthed in southern U. S. gospel. Great research, interviews, & most importantly quality film footage from 60 to 90 years ago. A common lyrical message: Jesus will be waiting on the other side of the river.

Robert Clem's documentary of the evolution of gospel and jubilee singing into rhythm & blues is composed of a lot of ragged, ancient photographs and videos from local television stations that gave these early groups some exposure. There are also the usual talking heads, often such survivors of those 1950s groups.

The result is good music and some upbeat history. There's a lot of fun in this movie, and plenty of hints that there is a great deal of great music sitting in archives. Here's hoping some of it gets out!