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I read somewhere that a team of psychologists from the University of Pennsylvania studied data from over 10,000 anonymous participants in an effort to determine the answer to a baffling question. The question these researchers were trying to find an answer to was: Is there such a thing as “ love at first sight”? After spending thousands of dollars and thousands of hours poring over their research, their conclusion was that they just didn't know. They couldn't come to a firm conclusion. Too bad they didn't just pick up the phone and call me. I could have saved them the time and money, because I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that “love at first sight” exists. It hits you when you least expect it and can instantly and completely change the course of your life.

I fell in “love at first sight” two times in my life and both times occurred within weeks of each other in 1962. I was attending Northeast Bible Institute in Green Lane, Pennsylvania . I was asked to accompany a girl's trio. They had been asked to perform in Chapel the next Sunday, so we scheduled a rehearsal. On the campus were small buildings that were used for rehearsal rooms. Each building had a piano and a few chairs. The one we chose was set up with the piano against the far wall so that my back was to the door. I arrived early to do a little practicing of my own. I knew the girls in the trio, but I didn't know that one of them had a friend that tagged along. When they arrived, I stopped playing and turned to greet them. The three singers came in first and then the fourth girl appeared in the doorway……and my heart stopped. In that instant I knew this was the girl for me. I don't have the words to explain the feeling in my heart at that moment, and I'm sure there are those that will say it can't happen, but I'm telling you…I KNEW! Cece and I got married in 1965 and have been together now for forty years and she is the love of my life.

Now I know some of you are thinking, “What's happened to Nick……he's gone from chewing us out to writing love stories”. Last month many of you missed the main point of my article…… RESPECT . It was not about wearing a suit and a tie. I've been in this business for 42 years. I've seen all the changes, just as you have. I'm not opposed to young people wearing current styles and I'm not a cranky old man or a judge as some of you have suggested in your posts .I have always been a progressive thinker. However, I do not accept the premise that just because the secular styles have become obscene, wrinkled and dirty, we should just go along. I love the young people in our industry. I love their music, I love their energy, and I love their dedication. They are our future. I also feel responsible to pass on the tradition of respect. And, in my humble opinion, this means dressing like you care about our industry and the audience.

What You Love First You Love Longest

Except for the moment I first fell in love with Cece, the only other time I could say I fell in love at first sight happened just a few weeks before I met her. My friend, Eddie Spuler, invited me to spend the weekend at his home near Philadelphia . I was looking forward to a great time of fun, food, and fellowship. I had no idea that the course of my life was about to change and that “Love At First Sight” was waiting for me.

On Saturday night, Eddie suggested that we go to a Gospel Quartet concert at Town Hall in Philadelphia . Now remember, I was raised in New York City . My young life consisted of church, school, piano lessons, and baseball….mostly baseball. I had never heard a professional Gospel Quartet. I know that so many of you reading these articles grew up in places that had Quartet Music all around, but at that time, New York City was not one of those places.

The groups appearing that night were: The Eastmen, The Couriers, The Weatherford Quartet, and The Blackwood Brothers. I can tell you without reservation that I fell totally and completely “in love”. I loved everything about the music – the harmony, the style, the sound, the look. There was no question in my mind or heart that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was “Love At First Sight”, and I've loved this music all my life.

I want you to understand WHY I say what I say. Love is the reason I say the things I say and why I care enough to take the time to write these articles in the first place.

Defending What You Love

I love Cece more than anything on earth. But I can also accept the fact that not everyone loves her the way I do. I don't expect them to. No one else has a forty year marriage with her, no one else shares the joy we share in our children and grandson. But just because I can accept that not everyone loves Cece with the intensity that I do, doesn't mean that I would ever accept anyone hurting or trying to destroy her. I would never allow anyone to disrespect her, to cheat her, to use her for their own benefit, to steal from her, or to deceive her. I would never allow it. Trust me, if anyone tried to hurt Cece, they'd have to come through me, and it wouldn't be a pretty picture. I would do anything to protect her.

In a similar way, I love Southern Gospel Music. I have devoted my life to its furtherance. But, I accept the fact that not everyone loves SGM the way that I do. I don't expect them to. Maybe they don't have the 42 year relationship with SGM that I do, and perhaps they don't have the memories I have of sharing the stage with some of the greats in our industry. But, just because I accept that not everyone may love SGM with the intensity that I do, doesn't mean that I have to sit back and accept people hurting SGM, using it for their own benefit, disrespecting it, cheating people who want to further it, and downright stealing from and deceiving the good people who want to be a part of it. I guess what I'm saying is that I see people hurting SGM and I'm trying to put up a defense. It's just words on a website, but I hope someone hears me saying, “You may not care about what you're doing to SGM, but I do”! And the reason I'm doing it is LOVE. I love SGM. I love the people who sing it. I love the players who play it. I want it to grow and prosper. I'm not angry, ……I'm trying to protect something I love.

Protecting What You Love

As a result of our love, Cece and I have children and a grandson. When our children were younger, and now with our grandson, we had to warn them to protect them against the evil in the world. It would be wonderful to live in a world without unscrupulous people, but that's just not reality. So, we teach our children, “Don't talk to strangers, and don't take candy from strangers. Just say no. etc, etc”. Every good parent repeats these warnings over and over, praying they will make an impression on the children we love. It would be much easier for us if we could just identify all the drug dealers, and child molesters, kidnappers and criminals and just take them off the streets….but we cannot. So what do we do? We repeatedly warn those we love – over and over – saying the same things.

That's why I try and try, month after month, to explain to you the right way to do this business. Why? Because I'm trying to protect something I love! That's why. The SGM that I love was once a proud industry that took pride in producing quality music. We have allowed companies to come in and de-value our music by producing poor recordings and thereby teaching our young groups that quality doesn't matter.

Because I work in this industry, I know who the worst offenders are. The simple solution would be for me to name the offenders and explain how they're ripping you off. But I can't do that. Therefore, my only course of action is to try and educate you with constant repetition and pray that you will learn how to protect yourselves. Why? Because I love SGM and I love the people who love it.

If you understand this, then you will understand how I feel when I see the industry I love being violated.

Let me give you an example of something I've warned about before. If it seems to you that I've covered this topic before, I have. But let me ask you something – How many times have you told your child not to speak to strangers? More than once, I'm sure.

And so, I'll tell you one more time, even though it breaks my heart to realize that some of you will not listen…nope… you'll walk right on up and take that candy.

Radio Promotion

Radio promotion is a vital ingredient in the formula for success, but let me tell you what it isn't.

It is not just putting your song on a compilation with 10 or 12 other unknown artists and sending it out to radio. Songs that are sent to radio without the proper follow up and attention might as well be sent to the garbage dump. We have some fine companies that do radio promotion, and do it right. It's hard work and requires a good work ethic and long hours. Does it make sense to you that a company with 50 or 60 artists can do this job properly?

It is not sending your song out to radio to see how it does. Radio promotion is a career-long commitment that requires one song after another. If you're not prepared to do this, you shouldn't be considering radio promotion.

It is not a place for inferior production and poor singing. Compare the song you are planning to release to the professional groups. Are your production and singing as good as The Hoppers, The Perrys, The Booth Brothers, Gold City , Signature Sound, Greater Vision, and other fine groups that we have? If not…Why not? Perhaps you recorded one of those 6 hour wonders with a producer that showed up 15 minutes before the session. Or maybe you recorded your vocals the next day in 4 hours, without any rehearsal. It could be that you're one of those groups who have trouble finding parts, or singing on pitch. Step back and listen to your song, then compare it to a professional release. If it's not as good, there's a reason, and if you expect to achieve good results from radio, you must find the problem and correct it. Whether the problem is that the company failed you by giving you an inferior production, or that your group is simply not up to the task, if the problem is not correctable…don't release the song.

YOU CAN FIX THIS! Demand accountability. If you are considering recording with a company that is offering radio promotion you should demand to know EXACTLY what the company will do to:

1. Make your tracks, production and singing professionally radio worthy.


2. Follow up and give your song the attention it deserves, and who will be doing it.


3. Provide you with detailed monthly reports regarding chart activity and the work done to promote YOUR song…….and

GET IT IN WRITING!  

Never, ever record with a company that will not give you a line item budget. Any company that can't honestly show you where every penny is being spent is not worth the time of day.

Why do I continue to warn, rather than just mind my business, or go my own way? A famous quote says: “ The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing”. Evil prospers because, honestly, it's just easier to do nothing. It's easier to turn my head and let you be ripped off. It's easier not to stick my neck out there month after month and say the things I say. It's easier to do nothing…but then…evil prospers.

Maybe if I'm willing to do something and you're willing to do something, then the SGM we all love will be the thing that prospers, and the Gospel in our Music will continue to draw people to Christ.

Will you join me?

As always, I welcome your comments.

God Bless You,

Nick Bruno

http://www.nickbruno.com

http://www.songgardenmusicgroup.com

Reader Comments

Nick,

I had a similar experience of falling in love with Gospel Music around that same time. It was February of 1963 and I heard The Blackwood Brothers and The Couriers in Dumont, NJ.....and I also knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Less than a year later, you came to my home church in Paterson, NJ with The Keystones (and with your then-tenor Frank Sanchez, a life-long friend who I would later sing with for years in The Gabriels), and this desire was burned deeper in me.

Things were different back then. You all looked sharp, dressed sharp and acted sharp--proud to be Gospel Singers. That excitement and fervor spilled over to the crowd.

Things were not "business as usual" or "routine" when attending concerts in those days. There was a special excitement and an expectancy that was never left unsatisfied.

I was amazed to find, later in life, that men from each of these first 3 quartets I heard would become some of my dearest life-long friends. And, having gotten to know them, I soon learned why those early concerts were so exciting.

You men gave your all in your personal lives, as well as your professional lives. You were excited about singing the Gospel and excited about life itself. Your pursuit of excellence was not a random "here and there" token performance, but a constant and consistent effort to give the fans, and your Lord, the very best you could offer.

Who could help but fall in love with THAT at first sight? Many more will be drawn to our music, and to the Savior we so dearly love, when we again pursue excellence with the same passion and dedication as those who so faithfully showed us the way before.

May God help us, The Cerces, and all other groups, to create the kind of music today that will capture the hearts of our public and, in so doing, point those people to Jesus.

Cliff Cerce
The Cerces, PO Box 8525, Springfield, MO 65801
417-863-8440
http://www.thecerces.com

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