Gospel music originated in the United States during the religious revivals of the 19th century and evolved within both white and Black communities.
White gospel music arose from a mix of European American musical styles, such as Protestant hymns and revival spirituals. Black gospel music emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing from Black spirituals, songs of enslaved people, and white hymnody. The rise of Pentecostal churches also greatly influenced Black gospel music, adding energetic elements such as syncopation and improvisation.