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Compassion International

Sunday Edition


01
Jul
2006
Southern Gospel and Young People


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The year is half gone, time really does fly! My daughter is 18, I remember being 18 but it was so long ago! In the last 30 days I have seen my daughter graduate and have been to more gospel concerts than I have been to in years.

I’m glad my daughter loves gospel music and she wants to hear the music. I often ask my self, ‘why do some young people love it and others don’t, even kids who are raised in church, who have Christian parents?’ I think I know part of the answer, in recent years I’ve seen folks who just assume that teenagers won’t like gospel, especially southern gospel music. They don’t even give them the chance to try, they assume they won’t like it an automatically send them a different direction.

In going to the concerts in recent weeks, I’ve seen some young people who love southern gospel music. Some of them were in the audience and some of them on stage. We saw the Mark Trammell trio, now Mark’s old as dirt or at least almost as old as me! But Eric and Dustin are talented young men that are making an impression on a lot of folks. Both nights we heard them, we enjoyed the talent, the variety and the class that you have come to expect of any group that Mark sings with.

On Saturday of that week we saw Triumphant, I remember Scott(ie) when he was just a toddler carrying a mike that was almost bigger than he was and singing. That was all he wanted to do. Now he is a great singer and he, his dad -Clayton, David and Eric have phenomenal harmony and a very exciting group.

We saw Gold City, with Tim as the standard of age, all of the guys in Gold City are young but the youngest members, Aaron and Josh are awesome! I’ve been listening to Gold City since the very start and I don’t want to start a discussion of which ‘group’ is best, we all have different opinions. But I will say that the current line up will equal if not top the very best they have ever had.

Then we saw the Perrys, I love this group. Tracy and Libbi are such great folks and talented to boot! Loren is probably one of the most underrated lead singers in the business. In 20 years I expect people to be saying the same things about Joseph that they say about Mark Trammell today, Joe is one terrific baritone singer. Matt is so talented on the piano. For a while he was my second favorite pianist, but since Anthony is here no longer to play, I think he’d be pleased that Matt has moved into that #1 position.

Two days after that concert we left for Mexico on a mission trip. Not only was it my first trip to Mexico and even though I speak no Spanish, I learned songs in Spanish and sang at 3 services we were in. I was supposed to sing in Spanish at a fourth service but technical difficulties caused me to have to sing accapella and I sang in English, the old George Amon Webster song, He Loves Me. I wasn’t really sure how well I did singing in Spanish until the people tried to talk to me in Spanish and won’t believe I couldn’t speak it because as they said ‘you speak well in Spanish’. My daughter, Alicia and I had the chance to work in church services, puppets and on the streets while we were in Mexico. It was a blessing to see music again reach many people both young and old with the gospel. I’d like to publicly thank Cliff and Anita Cerce for their help in getting me both words and music for my Spanish songs, I truly could not have done it without them!

Our latest chance to hear good southern gospel was at the Blue Ridge Homecoming this weekend. We weren’t there on Thursday but heard the Blue Ridge did an amazing tribute to Anthony Burger who was to have appeared there on Thursday night. On Saturday night a red rose sat on the grand piano in his honor.

The special guests that night was the Perrys a group that I could truly to listen to every night. It isn’t just the vocals, although I love their vocals, and it isn’t just Matt’s playing although he is terrific. It is their ability to blend music and ministry, comedy and sharing the gospel. They have answered the age old question of whether gospel music is entertainment or ministry, with the Perrys it is both!

As much as I loved their Goodman songs and the new music from their ‘Come Thirsty’ cd, the highlight for me was when Matt did his own tribute to Anthony Burger. I’ve seen a lot of people play Anthony’s material – many of them have been good, some very good. But something is always missing, the special touch or ‘lick’ that Anthony would put in various spots of his song. But Saturday night, I closed my eyes and I had a hard time remembering it wasn’t Anthony up there, Matt captured the essence of Anthony’s music and I for one want to thank him for that.

As we started home my daughter looked at me and said ‘it was like Anthony was standing there watching Matt and smiling’. I agreed and told her, ‘yes, he was smiling and then I’m sure he winked just like he would do when he did something special on the keyboard’.

So as I look around in my home and at concerts, I see a lot of young people who love this music, many of them are performing it. And I hope I get to hear a lot more of their music over the coming years.

Reader Comments

Aaron Swain's avatar I'm only 13 and I love SG music! I especially like the many bass singers that have sung this music through the years. JD Sumner, George Younce, Tim Riley, Jeff Pearles, Paul David Kennamer and Glen Dustin are my heroes, among many others!

Aaron Swain

My Blog: http://swainsmusings.blogspot.com



Commented by Aaron Swain On 07/02/2006
GospelMusicGurl88's avatar Those were some good concerts!! Matthew really did do an awesome job on the tribute to Anthony!!!! I agree with you about people saying the same thing about Joseph in several years that they do about Mark today! I love the whole group. They are all such sweet people and are such a blessing each time I hear them sing!
Great job again, Mom
Alicia E. Bailey

Through His Blood, Alicia E. BaileyThrough His Blood, Alicia E. Bailey



Commented by On 07/05/2006
Great article and I agree on all the people you mentioned. Back to the question as to why some young people like sgm and some don't, we sgm lovers are guessing what the answers are. MANY of our churches don't promote sgm at all, because Music Ministers use their influence to indoctrinate our kids with angle that sgm is outdated or it's not "hip-hop" enough. This goes back to the great discussion that some use "the music is dividing our churches". As much as I firmly believe in sgm, I believe their needs to be a balance in ANY church of any type music that lifts up Jesus! Our young people are not nearly as goofy as a few "rappers and hip-hoppers" think if they are given exposure to sgm. If sgm is given a chance [without sarcasm/ridicule] I believe it will be extremely popular with all ages. I maight also add I am very upset with people in my denomination who make sarcastic remarks including "the old Red-back hymnal is an antique". These songs have substance and will long out-live many other styles, but I do believe people in every church need a variety of Godly music.


Commented by On 07/14/2006
I remember going to my first S.G. concert when I was about 7 or 8 years old. We saw The Blue Ridge Qt. when George Younce was singing bass and The Prophets with Big Lew Garrison singing tenor. I loved the piano players as well. But George and Big Lew blew me away with their antics. They made being a Christian fun. I knew then that I wanted to do this in some form in my life.
Today in many concerts I find out that the parents had their children go to the nursery to watch tv, or stay with grandparents, or go out for a stayover because they didn't think they would like the music. It absolutely breaks my heart. I know that there are little ones out there who would love this music if given the opportuntiy to hear it. We took our grandaughter to the N.Q.C. when she was ten days old, and she has been to every one since. She will be ten years old at the next one. She loves Southern Gospel Music. You know something? The same people who send their children somewhere else instead of taking them to a SG concert will buy them a Michael Jackson CD, Well that's too old. I don't know who they are buying today. Brittney maybe. Or is she already old? Had to get on my soapbox.

Blessings,
precherp


Commented by On 07/18/2006
I can speak from a young adults point of view; I was brought up around Southern Gospel Music; the lady who kept me when I was younger was a member of a local Southern Gospel Trio; her; her sister and a friend of theirs; sang in a trio and a church choir; she taught me alot of music; and even how to play by ear. I learned many a SG song at her piano. Ive taken up a position in a traditional church choir singing Tenor; and even play bells; but my musical love truly is SG. I sing it whenever I get the chance; for whoever I get the chance. My heros are anyone that gets up on any stage anywhere and sings, but my ultimate southern gospel memory is from the Dove Brothers when they sang a song called "Im so glad he didnt throw the clay away" WOW what a song. That church came to its feet under the holy spirit; the pastor; an Independent Baptist to boot; was so emotional he could not preach; he had to ask the Dove brothers to sing on. As long as I live I dont think ill ever forget that moment. Godbless all of you.


Commented by On 07/24/2006
I will have to say I love Southern Gospel music. I'm 23 and was brought up listening to people like The Nelons, Gold City, The Hoppers and the list goes on and on. And these groups that I heard all my life are still showing that you don't have to change your style of music or singing just to catch a younger crowds attention. There are still some of us younger people who just want to hear bout the blood that was shed for our sins and that one day, (if we live right) we're gonna see Him face to face! God Bless.

Jessica



Commented by On 07/27/2006
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