Detroit is one of the most important music cities in America. We’re finally getting some credit for being the birthplace of Techno music, sounds that came out of Motown can still be heard on rotation, and we often talk about Jazz and its influence on Motown. 

But there’s a common thread that weaves all this music together — the Black church.

Deborah Smith Pollard is a professor emeritus of English literature at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is also the long-time host of 'Sunday Morning Inspiration.' Pollard joined The Metro to talk about the state of Gospel music and why Detroit is so influential to the genre.