Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: SC-219

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection was donated by Mark Allen Powell after the creation of his Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. The collection contains a wide variety of materials related to contemporary Christian music such as LPs, CDs and subject folders. Contemporary Christian music (CCM) is represented by performers and groups performing in a musical style that was influenced by urban folk revival, rock music, or mainstream popular music of the 1960s through the 1980s. Several gospel musical styles are represented: urban, northern U.S., white gospel style (typical of northern evangelical churches and parachurch ministries); rural, southern U.S., white gospel style; and black gospel style (typical of northern, urban, African American churches). The collection is predominantly focused on years 1995-2000 with some material stretching outside that range. The collection covers a wide variety of genres within contemporary Christian music. Some examples include industrial, ska, rap, folk and pop. The collection includes information on artists both well known and those that few have heard of.

The subject folders that Powell created were used to contain gathered material over the course of his research. Folders contain printouts of various websites as well as photocopies of magazines. These printouts detail the impact of each artist or group over the years. Various folders have additional color marketing material or newspaper clippings. Some folders also contain handwritten material by Powell that he created over the course of his research.

The series for this collection are based upon material type.

The contents of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) Collection may be searched in the library catalog as keyword: SC/219

Dates

Created: 1948-2015
Other: Majority of material found in 1975-1995
Other: Date acquired: 08/14/2012

Creator

Powell, Mark Allan, 1953- (Person)

Biographical or Historical Information

This collection was created during the process of Mark Allan Powell's writing of the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. (Hendrickson 2002)

Extent

69 boxes

105 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The manuscript material in the collection is arranged by box or folder level control.

The categories for recordings in SC 219 were determined by performing medium or subject matter, not by musical style. Thus, SC 219-B contains recordings of vocal or instrumental groups, performing in any of the above Contemporary Christian or gospel musical styles. The one exception is SC 219-E, which contains recordings of vocal soloists or groups performing in black gospel style. Buswell Library catalogers have attempted to distinguish the various CCM or gospel musical styles in the bibliographic descriptions of the individual recordings; however, clear distinctions were not always possible, since there is often considerable overlap among the various musical styles.

SC 219-A contains recordings of vocal or instrumental soloists or duos. SC 219-B contains recordings of vocal or instrumental groups with three or more members, and that have a distinctive group name. SC 219-C contains recordings of CCM or gospel musicals and cantatas, i.e., multi-movement works on a single idea or theme, for use in a worship service or concert, and which could be staged. SC 219-D contains recordings of CCM or gospel music intended for children, either for personal listening, or for use in Sunday school or church school environments. SC 219-E contains recordings of vocal soloists or groups performing in black gospel style. SC 219-F contains compilations of various CCM songs, gospel songs, or hymns with instrumental accompaniment that are intended as “singalong” recordings, or as an adjunct for group singing. Some of these recordings have separate vocal and instrumental stereo tracks.