Missouri History Museum’s One-Day Gospel Fest to honor deep St. Louis roots

St. Louis is often regarded as one of the most influential cities for rock, blues, jazz and R&B music, but it also played a big role in the development of gospel music.

The O’Neal Twins, Martha Bass and many more influential singers are seared into St. Louis gospel history and have shaped the genre.

To highlight those contributions, the Missouri History Museum will host its One-Day Gospel Fest on Saturday. From 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., participants will celebrate the region's contributions to gospel with live music, roundtable discussions and a screening of the 1982 documentary film “Say Amen, Somebody.” It focuses on the history of gospel music in the U.S. and St. Louis-based gospel singer Willie Mae Ford Smith.

The roundtable discussion will feature conversations with local influential gospel artists and leaders Zella Jackson Price, Dr. Marabeth Gentry and Ethel Foster. The discussion will be moderated by film producer and Gospel Music Hall of Fame of Missouri founder Monica R. Butler.