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The artist-driven genre of gospel music has evolved from its traditional roots to include a more contemporary sound, which local artists say is gaining popularity in communities, but is struggling to find a place in church.

The popularity of gospel has gained momentum nationwide as a marketable genre of music and has come to include hip-hop, rock, jazz and even comedy influences, said Todd Ledbetter of Laurel, a gospel jazz instrumentalist.

Ledbetter, 39, got his start in music as a child in Pittsburgh, where he was inspired by the city's tradition of jazz and was introduced to gospel music at church.

"God gave me the desire to bring the two together," he said.

When Ledbetter began his career in gospel music nearly 20 years ago, he said he his style of gospel music wasn't very well received.

Since then, the field has gained energy, but only because it is a genre driven by the strength of its artists, not by popularity, he said.

Gospel artist and long-time Beltsville resident Rob Mercer said the key to contemporary gospel music acceptance in worship communities is presentation.

Same message, new form

Contemporary forms of gospel need to be presented in a good light, Mercer says, to prove that although the music may use electric guitars the lyrics and meaning are still sacred.

"I am still representing God," Mercer said.

It seems most people have trouble combining popular sounds with a sacred meaning, said gospel publicist Andrea R. Williams of Fort Washington.

"When you look at holy hip-hop or gospel jazz, they are a little more difficult for people to swallow because the sound is secular," she said.

Embry A.M.E. Church in College Park is one church that is trying to bridge the gap between contemporary and traditional gospel.

Dianne Dwight, president of the Embry A.M.E. Church's gospel choir, said that the 15-member group performs a mix of gospel genres at Sunday services, because of the church's spectrum of demographics.

"In many regards it's a very traditional church … but, we also have a number of youth and mid-life members," Dwight said, adding that the choir tries to balance the needs of all members.

"It would be difficult to go full-fledged," Dwight said, referring to performing only contemporary gospel at services.

Williams said she understands the aversion of breaking from traditional roots.

"My parents and church choir [members] and those type of people are rooted in the traditional," Williams said.

Williams started her publicity firm, Tehillah Enterprises, which represent gospel artists and Christian authors, in 1999 after working for the Grammy music awards, where she noticed a change within the gospel industry and wanted to introduce people to the fresh sounds.

National shift

In the last 10 years, she said she has seen the field of gospel music shift tremendously.

"Gospel [music] has come a long way and hopefully the music and its changing sounds is actually drawing people in," Williams said, adding that gospel musicians today are making a big name for themselves and getting mainstream airplay.

Even within the traditional field, these contemporary gospel artists are slowly making ground and topping the gospel charts, she said, adding that many popular rhythm and blues artists have turned to gospel for a new and fresh sound.

Mercer's describes his music as "not even close to traditional"— contemporary both lyrically and instrumentally, with rock and hip-hop influences.

"We sort of try to communicate like people communicate in the street," Mercer said. "We just present our lyrics in a way people talk."

Mercer, 31, found gospel music through his mother at the age of 4, while living in Jacksonville, Fla.

His mother encouraged his love for music and entered him in talent shows throughout Florida.

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore where he received a graduate degree in policy, Mercer decided to pursue gospel music as a profession.

Ledbetter's music is primarily instrumental, which has been a possible barrier for popularity, he said.

Audiences have been trained to use lyrics to connect to music and sacred music without words is something that requires getting used to, he said.

Dwight said the Embry A.M.E. Church's choir had not considered performing jazz gospel music because it is largely instrumental.

However instrumental music can also be a way to attract all cultures, he said.

"Instrumental music transcends culture and language and administers the soul," Ledbetter said.

Ledbetter and Mercer agreed that their music is generally well-received in coffeehouse and concert venues and that the audiences are generally encouraging.

"Music touches people in a powerful, emotional way," Ledbetter said. "Especially in times like these whenever people don't know if they can pay the bills."

Both artists also perform at churches from time to time, but said sometimes the parishes aren't ready for their unique sound.

The Embry A.M.E. Church's gospel choir has not performed music with rock or hip-hop influences, Dwight said, because an introduction to the genre would not be widely accepted.

"I would say that the congregation would take some time to get used to it, because of the demographics [of the church,]" she said.

"When introduced slowly, it gradually changes people ideas of what's acceptable as service music."

And that is what Mercer and Ledbetter are aiming to do: change the definition and expectation of acceptable service music.

Ledbetter held a gospel conference in Silver Spring in early October in an effort to reach out to other gospel jazz artists and introduce the community to the soulful sounds.

The conference, had about 12 participants throughout the day, but Ledbetter said he was not discouraged by the turnout, because everyone who participated was very passionate about their craft.

Neither Ledbetter or Mercer is sure of what new forms of gospel may sprout up over the next few years.

However, both artists said they only see gospel music becoming more popular, as more people are introduced to it. Mercer said he sees the field expanding as more members of the youth population are reached.

Teenagers and young adults are the ones buying contemporary gospel and downloading songs or albums online, Mercer said.

Williams said she understands the gospel artists she represents aren't going to fit everyone's taste.

There are people who haven't latched on to the movement, Williams said, but with more styles of gospel emerging each year it will appeal to more people.

"But that is the cool thing about it … now there is gospel for everybody," Williams said.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net