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Last month’s article brought a lot of conversation, and while this month is not a continuation of that topic, this month’s article should interest the same people. I don’t know if it was coincidence or fate, but I pulled out an old book to read. It was "The History Of Gospel Music" written by Jesse Burt and Duane Allen way back in 1971. I read it back then; however after reading it again things seemed to become clearer. I don’t know if they intended this book to be "prophetic", but in many ways it could be. Actually the authors said that if certain things didn’t happen that we would find Southern Gospel Music in the exact shape that we find it today. I think that most people who know anything of Southern Gospel Music would agree that this music we all love so dearly was in the midst of the greatest growth that it had ever seen in the early 70s, and that if it had continued at that growth we would be giving Country music a run for its money right now. So what happened? What caused a major genre in the music industry to go from rapid growth to floundering in the late 70s and 80s? Well according to the historians of this book, the same problems were happening then as are happening today. First let me add that the historians indicated that if the Gospel Music industry did not accept the changes that were inevitably going to happen that the industry would cease to grow like it had been. What were those changes? Well the music was changing. They were actually adding guitars and drums. Then there was the hair. Some of the singers had hair an inch or two over their ears. There was an outcry that these changes would be the downfall of Gospel Music. Let me back up a bit and say that there was no "Southern Gospel Music" back then. The historians referred to it as "Gospel Music." It seems that it was OK for hair to be long, just not in the style that the younger people wanted to wear it. Does this sound like history repeating itself? It sure does to me. Let’s see, the instruments are OK today as long as they are not played on a mini disc or CD player. Those tracks will be the downfall of SGM. It’s not the length of the hair, but that spiked hair, which may happen to be in style for younger people that has no place on the SGM stage. Does that sound like history repeating itself? It sure does to me. One last thing. One of the best things that happened to Gospel Music back in the 70s was the formation of the Gospel Music Aassociation, an organization that was formed to work with the music industry in general to further this great genre. Now we can argue all day whether the GMA was stolen from us or if we walked away from it, but the fact remains that we have no governing body to help promote SGM in the music industry in general. While the GMA has been making attempts to include SGM again we seem to want to snub any advances that they make toward us. Is history repeating itself again? It sure sounds like it to me. In just one instance, and there are many, the GMA has been trying to include SGM in it’s radio seminars where leaders in radio from all genres, not just CCM are brought in to give much needed information that could certainly help one of the most struggling areas of this genre, but there haven’t even been enough interest to merit keeping the offer open. Is history repeating itself? The fact is we need an organization that can do for us what the GMA is doing for every other Christian music genre. The organizations that we have are not making an impact on the music industry. I don’t know if we need to organize another Association or just swallow our pride and get involved in the GMA again, but it looks to me like history is repeating itself. I would encourage everyone who possibly can to get a copy of "The History Of Gospel Music". I know it’s out of print, but everyone in this industry needs to read it. Let's not let History repeat itself!

Reader Comments

Excellent article Deon. Very timely.

Rick,

I am glad that you picked up on that segment of the article. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this bitterness and hatred for the GMA continues to flourish in SGM. It's been going on for 30 years now, and it hasn't accompished one thing, except drive us further into the woodwork.
I guess this there is going to be no change in thinking in SGM until this present older leadership has made the trip to heaven, and by then it will no doubt be too late.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown

Actually, Keith, that has nothing to do with why SGM abhors the GMA

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown

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