Chicago Gospel History Documented in New Book
A new biography explores the influential career of the Gay Sisters gospel group.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Religious
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The University of Chicago Press has released a book detailing the history of the Gay Sisters gospel group. Written by Gregory Donald Gay and Steven B. Dolins, the work examines the family's contributions to music.
Why it matters
The book seeks to preserve a legacy that Gregory Donald Gay feels has been historically overlooked. It highlights the group's connections across Chicago and New York gospel scenes starting in the 1940s.
The Gay Sisters performed at Carnegie Hall in 1950 and released the hit song God Will Take Care of You in 1951. They recorded music for labels including Savoy, Decca, and Chess.
The players
Gregory Donald Gay
He is a surviving member of the Gay family gospel group who collaborated on the new book.
Steven B. Dolins
He is the founder of The Sirens Records and co-authored the history of the Gay family.
Sonny Rollins
He is a legendary jazz musician who wrote the foreword for the new book.
The Gay Sisters
They were a prominent gospel group that performed with stars like Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke.
University of Chicago Press
This academic publisher released the book documenting the Gay family's musical history.
The details
Steven B. Dolins, founder of The Sirens Records, recorded accounts from Gregory Donald Gay over lunch at the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ. The book features a foreword by Sonny Rollins and chronicles the group's performances with artists such as Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke.
Timeline
The Gay Sisters began building their reputation in the 1940s.
The group performed at Carnegie Hall in 1950.
The Gay Sisters released their hit song God Will Take Care of You in 1951.
Gregory Donald Gay performed at the Apollo Theater in 1956.
Geraldine Gay died in 2010.
Industry Dynamics
This publication highlights the enduring cultural influence of Chicago's gospel scene on mid-century American music. It follows a pattern set by the group's 1950 performance at Carnegie Hall.
Readers and gospel music enthusiasts can now access the group's history through this published biography. The book provides a detailed record of the family's influence on the Chicago and New York music scenes.
The takeaway
The documentation of the Gay family history provides a valuable record of gospel music's evolution in the mid-20th century. Fans of the genre can explore the book to better understand the artists who shared stages with icons like Sam Cooke and Mahalia Jackson.
Further reading
For more on the musical history of the region, visit Religious.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
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