Do you consider Gospel as legitimate of a musical style as, for instance, jazz and classical?

Yes. Why would it not be?

Absolutely. For example, this performance of Somebody to Love that Jordan Smith sang on the Voice last year that was backed by a gospel choir.

Definitely. One of the best things to come out of the South.

Ab-so-freaking-lutely. Some of the greatest artists in R&B, among others, have gospel music as an early influence. The influence of Gospel on the blues, and through the blues on every type of popular music today, can never be overstated.

Yes.

Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Dianna Ross and most of Motown came out of the gospel church choirs. We would never have had what became known as the Motown genre without gospel music.

It’s an odd category, since gospel is defined by the content of the lyrics, and no other musical style is defined in that way. But where to put it otherwise? Under R&B? R&B is more or less defined by the race of the people who make the music, so… that’s not better, is it? Then the portion of gospel music made by white people would then fall under pop, country or whatever style is characterized by the melodies/instruments involved.

Honestly, I think that neither gospel nor R&B would exist at all if the distinctions were decided today, rather than many decades ago.

Sure, it’s just not my cup of tea. But that doesn’t make it not a legitimate music genre.

IMO- I think that styles of music ( as some mentioned above ) exist, and Gospel fits under those various genres. Musical Artists adapted it to fit under each of the parameters of those various styles. Hymnals and it’s strict proprieties birthed and gave way to Gospels. Rockn’Roll did not start out from a Gospel beginning, but now Gospel has found another style to assimilate into. Country music had been reshaped in it’s parts with a Gospel infusion a long time ago.
It’s as if Gospel music helped or helps other established music styles to expand with it’s inclusion. It’s heartfelt religiosly-based translation and style fits and changes the genres it enters into.
Gospel did not play a major role in voted/given musical awards until it grew in strength under larger established musical genres (which people were more-familiar with.) Almost like a chameleon with positive effects left to grow under a style, after Gospel continues along on it’s journey throughout the musical world genres.
Again, IMO.

Gospel music certainly has been a huge influence on modern American music. Hard to imagine that Country, Jazz and many other genre’s would have developed without Gospel. The fact that it started as, and remains, Christian based shouldn’t diminish it’s importance, IMO.

Gospel Music is an interesting subject, if you’ve not looked into it specifically.
That’s not the best reference, just a handy one!.

I would say no. And I sign gospel songs. The reason why is that gospel songs can be in any number of genres—the ones I sing are bluegrass, but there can be soul gospel, jazz gospel, etc. I would say gospel is a subject matter within a genre of music.

@Rarebear Actually, bluegrass gospel is considered a subgenre of gospel, rooted (as is bluegrass proper) in American mountain music; I would actually call it a hybrid. Gospel Music is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary as A kind of Christian music based on American folk music, typically marked by strong rhythms and elaborated refrains and incorporating elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz.

Gospel music, IMHO, is true folk music. It has roots stretching back centuries, and spanning continents; it brings influence in from many other genres. Whether you are talking about Bluegrass Gospel like Ricky Skaggs; or Southern Gospel a la The Statler Brothers; or what’s called “traditional” Gospel like Might Clouds of Joy I don’t think it’s any more traditional than any of the other types or subgenres! —They all fit within the definition above.

That’s fine. It’s all good. I love playing gospel, and I’m an atheist Jew.

@Rarebear I know what you mean. It’s playing where you can play what you love. If it helps someone else do what they want to do, so much the better!

Gospel is one of my favorites, too, @Rarebear, and I’m agnostic.

The Wiki article talks about many different kinds of Gospel, including Bluegrass, British and even Irish.