Book Review

Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard, WJLB 98FM’s “Strong Inspirations,” radio personality (Sundays 8 – 10 a.m.) in Detroit, has published a new book, “When the Church Becomes Your Party.”  Since October 1994, from 6 to 10 am, Detroit has known Deborah Smith Pollard as “Dr. Deb. But who is she when the mic goes off? 
 
In her other life, Dr. Deb is Dr. Pollard, Associate Professor of English Literature and Humanities at University of Michigan-Dearborn where she actually teaches a class on Gospel Music that has a waiting list when it is offered each fall! She is co-creator of the Gospel music exhibit for the Michigan State University Museum; Co-producer of the Motor City Praise Fest for 22 years; columnist for Gospelflava.com; recipient of the 2005 Gospel Announcer of the Year Award/ Stellar Music Awards; and author of the just released book, When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music (Wayne State University Press). Deborah Smith Pollard is married and lives in Detroit, Michigan. Now she is a publisher of a new book.

Pastor Marvin L. Winans, of Perfecting Church in the city, says her book is a must read for all those who love and are inquisitive about the various avenues in the genre of Gospel music.

In “When the Church becomes Your Party,” Pollard assesses contemporary Gospel music as the genre enters the 21st century.

In this volume Pollard looks at contemporary Gospel music with the insider’s perspective she has acquired as a regular participant in praise and worship services; through her work as a successful Gospel concert producer of The Motor City PraiseFest and the McDonald’s Gospel Fest, and of course as host at Detroit’s WJLB.

Among the topics discussed in her book are praise and worship music, Gospel musical stage plays; the changing dress code of Gospel performance; women Gospel announcers, and Holy Hip-Hop. She draws on her home town's thriving Gospel scene as well as her knowledge of the national Gospel music industry to identify important trends in each area and trace the cultural transformations that brought them about.

She also includes interviews with contemporary Gospel artists, allowing them to explain why they rap, make particular choices in attire, or participate in Gospel radio, praise and worship, or Gospel musical plays.

“When the Church Becomes Your Party,” is published by Wayne State University Press.

For more information on Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard log onto website www.fm98wjlb.com/pages/deb.html.