After years of planning, gospel museum may have a home on the South Side.
Plans are moving forward to open a gospel music museum in the area where many contend the music genre was born.
The Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum is expected to open later this year in a vacant 1,000-square foot building next to Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church in Bronzeville.
“This has been in the works since 2002 when we applied for non-profit status. It’s been a trying time to find the funding and a location to have a museum that will detail the city’s rich gospel heritage. Now, the dream is finally coming true,” the Rev. Stanley Keeble told the Defender, who is in the midst of securing financing.
Keeble is one of the founders of the Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum, a non-profit organization.
When the option to use the boarded-up building, at 4108 S. King Dr., came up, Keeble said it was an easy decision to go for the space. The Rev. Leon Finney is the pastor of Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church whic owns the building that will house the museum.
“I’m happy they found a home close the history of gospel in our community,” said Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), referring to the many gospel greats who have sang at Metropolitan and the nearby Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Keeble said it will take about $250,000 to open the museum that will be stocked with numerous album covers, some 45-inch and 78-inch vinyl records, tons of pictures, old microphones and the tuxedo that the late James Cleveland wore when he accepted his first Grammy Award.
“We’ve been storing all the memorabilia in various places. Now, it will have one home. And, to have the museum located close to where the music all began is a plus” Keeble said.
Pilgrim Baptist Church, a few miles away from where the museum will be, is known as the birthplace of gospel music. Legends such as the late Mahalia Jackson sang in the choir and the Rev. Thomas Dorsey served as musical director there for many years.
Dorsey, Cleveland and Jackson are considered among the “Magnificent Seven” of the gospel era. Others include Theodore Frye, Sally Martin, Roberta Martin and Milton Brunson, according to Keeble.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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