Penn State professor celebrates ‘unsung pioneers’ in documentary about Black gospel quartets
Music lover Jerry Zolten was driving home late one night when his favorite R&B radio station started playing its gospel show. Although he came upon the music accidentally, there was “just something in the airwaves” he latched onto.
Nearly six decades later, the State College resident and Penn State professor co-produced the feature length documentary, “How They Got Over,” which navigates the history of Black gospel quartet music and its influence on rock-and-roll.
The State Theatre will host a screening of the documentary at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 during next month’s celebration of Black history. After the film, there will be a Q&A moderated by Penn State professor emeritus Charles Dumas featuring Zolten and the film’s director, Robert Clem.
“This documentary celebrates truly unsung pioneers who, out of religious expression, inadvertently laid the groundwork for an approach to music that would become rock-and-roll, R&B and more,” Zolten said.
The film highlights the role gospel music played in helping Black musicians endure the prejudices of mid-20th century America, such as the lack of employment opportunities and upward economic mobility.
“Making music was a way to carve your own course with dignity and honor and with the potential for remarkable reward,” Zolten said.
Zolten, 76, grew up in McKeesport, a city that he described as having a diverse music scene rich in rock-and-roll, R&B, soul — and gospel.
“There is something in this music that is absolutely powerful and takes you someplace emotionally that other music does not,” Zolten said.
Early in life, Zolten became captivated with American roots music — as evidenced by his extensive collection of rare vinyl records from the ‘20s and ‘30s. As he got older, his passions continued to grow.
After earning an English degree from Penn State and pursuing his own career as a musician, Zolten returned to the university in the late ‘70s to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in speech communication. A few years later, he accepted a position at Penn State as a professor of communications, arts and sciences.
At the same time, he began working with the gospel group The Fairfield Four and helped bring them back to the spotlight after decades of retirement. He then got involved with The Dixie Hummingbirds and formed a bond with the group’s lead singer, Ira Tucker.
In writing a book about The Dixie Hummingbirds and their success, Zolten caught the eye of Clem, an Alabama-based filmmaker. Clem reached out to Zolten about his desire to produce a documentary about gospel quartets in his home state of Alabama — but he needed someone with the knowledge base to help walk him through it.
With years of educating, writing and producing experience in the world of gospel, Clem knew that Zolten was the perfect guy for the job.
“Jerry’s involvement with the film has been invaluable because he’s the expert,” Clem said. “He’s the guy that really knows the subject better than anyone else.”
In 2018, after about a decade of working on the film, it was ready for festival exhibition and shown in film festivals around the world. Then, in 2021, it was released in select theaters and recognized by prominent outlets including the New York Times.
The documentary includes interviews with a plethora of prominent musicians including Tucker of The Dixie Hummingbirds, Dennis Edwards of The Temptations and Isaac Freeman of The Fairfield Four.
The film transports audiences back in time with a trove of archival footage of gospel performances that include Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Sensational Nightingales.
When Judy Cheeks, daughter of The Sensational Nightingales’ Julius “Junes” Cheeks, first saw the documentary that features her late father, she was brought to tears.
“I was honored by the way they remembered my father and it was great to hear his colleagues and friends speak so highly of him and recognize his contributions to music,” Cheeks said.
Cheeks said the film is giving credit where it’s due by acknowledging the champions of gospel music that have served as inspiration to famous musicians across a variety of genres.
“These people contributed more to the music industry than anyone who’s ever gotten credit,” Cheeks said. “It’s important to highlight this and to educate people of the roots and the origins of the music they enjoy today.”
Like Cheeks, Zolten said he hopes people who watch the film will see the influence gospel quartets have had on music today — and understand why he fell in love with the genre so many years ago.
“These singers were doing it for pure religious expression, but in the process, they developed an art form still used in popular music,” Zolten said. “I hope people come away from this film feeling those kinds of emotions and appreciating the genius of these artists from that day.”
To purchase tickets or learn more about the State College screening of “How They Got Over,” visit The State Theatre’s website.
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This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
