We used to go to different people's houses, you know. In those days I mean they could hear music and - if somebody could play an instrument, man, they would get up at night, from one o'clock; and they'd fix food and they'd have drinks and they'd stay up till five, six o'clock in the morning and give you money. It wasn't a dance but a serenade; we'd go from house to house. In those days there wasn't too much things like juke boxes, high fidelity sound, wasn't nothing like that then; and whenever somebody could play and could play well, he was considered as somebody; he could go anywhere and he had it made, you know? - Baby Doo Caston, on playing music in Natchez in the 1920s, interview with Jeff Todd Titon
I haven't seen anyone mention the new documentary on PBS. "Gospel" traces the history of gospel music (surprise!) in four episodes, narrated by Henry Louis Gates Jr, with lots of interviews. We're thoroughly enjoying it. It's airing this week, but is also available to stream. https://www.pbs.org/video/gospel-extended-trailer/