Watch Annie Caldwell Discuss the Power of Gospel Music

Last year, we got a very cool reminder of the essential role that gospel music plays in the story of popular music in general and Nashville music specifically. Third Man Records released Give Me My Flowers, a collection of tracks initially released on Nashville-based Nashboro Records in the 1950s and ’60s. As of Friday, Sept. 13, we’ll have another reminder of the power of gospel music courtesy of the Luaka Bop release The Time for Peace Is Now, a comp featuring 14 secular gospel recordings from the ’70s. The label has a great in-depth website devoted to the record, and during this week’s AmericanaFest, you’ve got several opportunities to see and hear from one of the artists featured on the comp.

As a youngster, Annie Caldwell sang with her family’s band, The Staples Jr. Singers, named after (but not related to) The Staple Singers. Caldwell wrote and sang lead on The Staples Jr. Singers’ fervent and groovy “We Got a Race to Run,” which appears on Time for Peace. Above, we're very pleased to premiere a short clip from a documentary film about the album, in which Caldwell discusses her inspiration for making music from her boutique in West Point, Miss. You’ll also be able to hear her speak and sing in person during several appearances this week. 

First up, if you’re registered for the full conference and have a badge, check out the discussion Navigating African American Gospel in the 1970s, Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the conference room called Gulch III at The Westin. Joining Caldwell on the panel are Luaka Bop staffer Yale Evelev and Kevin Nutt, host of Sinner’s Crossroads on radio station WFMU. 

Then, on Saturday, Caldwell and her group The Caldwell Singers will perform at Grimey’s during the first run of the annual Americanarama party at their new spot on Trinity Lane. (See a couple of clips of the group performing below.) The party starts at noon, and Aaron Lee Tasjan and Chris Stamey are also set to perform. And then on Sunday, the group will appear again at The Ninth Annual Gospel Brunch. The show kicks off at 11 a.m. and the lineup also includes Bobby Rush and Delbert McClinton, among others.