Gospel Music

Musical hall of faming doesn't stop at rock 'n' roll. At least not for the founders of Detroit's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. This Motown institution offers you the opportunity to learn about the history of this vibrant genre and its leading lights.

The honorees include Thomas A. Dorsey, "The Father of Gospel"; Hurd Fairfax, the first recorded black female gospel singer; the great Mahalia Jackson; and Whitney Houston's mom, Cissy Houston. The hall traces gospel's influence on contemporary artists, including Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston, both of whom have integrated their childhood experiences of gospel into their commercial work.

18301 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI, Phone: 313/592-0017. Cost: $2. By appointment only.www.gmhf.org