Eugene Smith, gospel music pioneer, dies at 88
Gospel music pioneer and performer Eugene "Gene" Smith died in his sleep Saturday at age 88, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Smith was the "presiding spirit of gospel music in Chicago," said Anthony Heilbut, a gospel expert, record producer and author of "The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times" told the Tribune. "Gene was very much aware that he was the last of the era."
Smith got his start after gospel giant Roberta Martin heard him sing and asked his parents if their son could join her group, which later became the well-known Roberta Martin Singers. To read more, click here.
