The path between growing up performing in the church and then later going on to secular success is one that glimmers with names that ring out prominently across the nation and world. It is marked in the glowing voices of Whitney Houston, John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, but you can also find traces of gospel in other genres of music such as the wail that is emitted from Chris Stapleton in the country world.

The ties of gospel and secular also run deep in the Milwaukee music scene.

Greater New Birth Baptist Church is located in a mostly nondescript building on the Northwest side of Milwaukee but on Sunday mornings when you cross through its doors you are hit with a passionate, ignited sound. It is the sound of the praise and worship team, comprised of a joyous choir backed by a formidable quartet of a keyboardist, bassist, guitarist and drummer.

What is it that the music draws from the congregation and pastors to bring the spirit alive?

"The music is everything," says Minister Alisha McBride of Greater New Birth. "It is important that people are able to practice at their craft and cultivate their gifts and the church gives them the opportunity to do that. The music is very vital to the African American church."

Bassist Afton Johnson is a mainstay of the North Side of Milwaukee’s church scene and has been steeped in the rapture that can come out of playing in the church for the majority of his life.

"I started playing drums for my grandfather’s church at the age of 5," Johnson says.

In talking about his time in the church and what it has meant to him, Johnson says, "Church music is important because it has the ability to encourage and inspire you in a way that no other genre can. It gives hope."

There are values that Johnson has carried with him from a young age that he gleaned from playing in the church setting.

"I’ve learned the importance of being on time, learning the music, teamwork, accountability and how to respect different types of music and people," he says.

Johnson eventually segued into the secular music realm as he is currently playing in nationally renowned R&B artist and Milwaukee native, Eric Benét’s band. Although he has played all over it still comes back to the church for Johnson; after all, it is the church where he crafted so many memories, such as meeting his wife.

"I still play in the church to this day," Johnson says.

At Greater New Birth, as the band was heating up, the individual lead singers each took their turn at the microphone. The singing was powerful, guttural and there was something unique and primal about it.

The response from those in attendance was nearly immediate. The joy, the absolute joy was palpable, as was the giving up of self to something more connected, something greater. There was an element of transfiguration being bandied about in the sanctuary. The music rose up and crashed down through the assembled masses. The attendees seemed to gather it and weave it back to the musicians, choir and pastor.

This became an ever-increasing feedback loop that took the service to ever greater emotional depths and spiritual heights. Due to this, many, many hands of worshippers naturally journeyed heavenward.

"I feel like it sets the atmosphere for the service," says worshipper Noleta Franz. "The music sets my spiritual barometer. The emotion that it brings out during your one-on-one time with God is so valuable. (The music) is like everything."
Inside, the lead singers sang songs that made those who gathered sing along, clap feverishly and break out into spontaneous unbridled dance in whatever space that they could find.

"The music here is awesome, it adds to the feeling. The spirit is always hot here," says Montez Evans, who has been a member of Greater New Birth for about five years.

It was evident, with even a cursory glance, just how integral the gospel music is to what is going on in the church. With the instrumental and vocal fireworks that were on display it is quite easy to see why this music has been embedded in popular music for many years.

The songs that were sung carried allusions to the worship being as fundamental as the air you breathe and daily bread. The energy transfer that took place showed that was surely the case for those who found their way to Greater New Birth for a fellowship grounded firmly in the music.