Why should I feel discouraged? … Why should the shadows come? … Why should my heart be lonely … Longing for Heaven and home … When Jesus is my portion … A constant friend is He … His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me…” God’s eye is definitely on the sparrow and all of us. The influence of gospel music has been so powerful that it has positively impacted the lives of so many. Since the beginning of time, gospel music has been deeply rooted in the musical tradition of African-Americans and is usually performed in a celebratory and exultant manner. In a sense, gospel music is just as important to the worship service as the preacher’s sermon. Not only has gospel music been an influence on both country and blues music, but its biggest impact has been at the higher end of the pop charts, with a generation of soul and R&B stars receiving their musical schooling in gospel choirs. Many of the most prominent soul artists, such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green, all had roots in the church and gospel music. They brought with them much of the vocal styles of artists such as Clara Ward. “Gospel music is a free express. It’s not just a collection of words thrown together, but it’s telling a story,” says Thomas Dixon Tyler, director of Music Ministries, Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., about gospel’s influence to him. Tyler is obviously on to something, as secular songwriters have been known to adjust gospel songs, such as the Pilgrim Travelers' song "I've Got A New Home", which Ray Charles turned into "Lonely Avenue." There’s many others such as "Stand By Me", which Ben E. King and Lieber and Stoller adapted from a well-known gospel song, and many more. If one thing is certain, God’s eye will remain on the sparrow and all of us, as the influence of gospel music continues to soar to new levels.