Final answer:
Gospel music is the religious music of African-Americans that emerged in urban centers during the early decades of the 20th century, evolving from slave spirituals and work songs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The religious music of African-Americans that emerged in urban centers during the early decades of the 20th century is known as gospel music. This genre evolved from work songs and spiritual tunes that were created during the oppressive times of slavery.
African-Americans combined elements of their African heritage, such as syncopated rhythms and call-and-response patterns, with European American musical styles to create a profound cultural expression.
The birth of gospel music laid the foundation for other American music genres like blues, jazz, and soul, capturing the essence of African-American spiritual and cultural identity through the generations.