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I’ve enjoyed Southern Gospel Music almost as long as I can remember; I’ve been blessed to see many people in concert that are called Legends today. When I saw them they were just hard working singers trying to make ends meet and serve their Lord, they didn’t know they would be Legends.

I went to church with Wendy Bagwell during the time I lived in Atlanta; I’ve had the privilege of having many great singers in my home. Times change and there are many of the more progressive groups in SGM that I truly enjoy. I see many young people who are embracing this music and want to have a future here.

In May I had the opportunity to be reminded of the roots that brought many of us to where we are today in our love of Gospel Music. I saw three of the Legends who walked the steps to make the way for the people in SGM today.

I saw Eva Mae LeFevre, she was with the Gaithers and only got to sing one song but Eva Mae can move a crowd today just as good as she did ‘way back when’. While she pretends to be ‘afraid’ to say anything Bill Gaither won’t like on stage, she is the one person who really does tell it like it is. She sang a song written by her son Mylon, ‘Without Him’. Many folks don’t remember when her heart was breaking for Mylon who had gone far away from the Lord, or they don’t remember when her son Pierce died, or when her husband died. Eva Mae’s walk with the Lord hasn’t been an easy one, but she continues to do what she does best, entertaining and ministering to a crowd at 90 years old. She doesn’t go as often but she still goes.

Less than a week later I saw two legends for two nights in a row, Naomi Sego and Ed O’Neal, again these people have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles singing the gospel and the road hasn’t always been easy. Naomi is retiring the Segos later this year but says she doesn’t know how to retire, she will still sing when the door opens. Casey and Nathan are doing a great job helping Mrs. Naomi with the songs. She has been singing for about 50 years and has made 75 recordings. She has fans just as loyal today as the first time they heard her. Her road hasn’t been easy either; she has buried a husband, a son and then another husband. Life on the road is hard for everyone but it is particularly had for women, mothers. Nothing is done the way normal folks do it. Yet she continued to do what she believes God wants her to do with her life.

We had an added treat as we saw the Segos and Dixie Melody Boys on Friday night, Jim and Barbara Kirkland were in attendance. Jim played the piano for the Segos in the 60s and he can still play today. They brought him up to play a couple of songs with the Segos and then at the end of the Segos set, Ed joined the Segos for a song. The program was closed out with the Dixie Melody Boys and the Segos singing together with Jim playing.

Ed O’Neal has groomed more great singers than probably anyone else in the SGM. So many that the phrase ‘Ed O’Neal University’ was coined to describe the lessons he teaches to those who want to make this their life long vocation. Now he’s had several folks stay with him for prolonged periods but eventually folks have moved to fill positions with many other major groups. Or they have formed their own groups and seen success there. Bryan Walker, Dan Keaton and Andrew King are the current students with EOU. Dan has the most tenure with Bryan being the ‘new kid on the block’. Once again Ed is busy training young men. You have to wonder does he ever say ‘why?’

As these singers move on does he ever say ‘I’m not starting over again’? I’m sure he has thought it but his theme is ‘all I’ve ever wanted to do was sing a song’ and that speaks for itself, as long as there is a song to be sung Ed will be out there doing it.

But one day these folks will do just as others have done, they’ll leave this world and go to celebrate the joys of the Lord. More legends will have left us, it’s sad but at the same time, the chance to see these folks reminded me of all the other great singers and musicians that I’d seen and heard over the years.

I remembered the bare-bones, piano and singers in SGM that I loved years ago and that though some of the music has changed the message is the same. And though some of the folks are gone, others are now stepping into that path to carry on.

It was three nights with three legends but it was more than that, it was time to consider where we have been, where we are and where we are going. I still love this music; I want to see it carried on for years to come.

I think it is important that we strive to be the best we can be at anything we do, and especially if we are putting the name of the Lord on it. But I also think it is most important that artists remember who they are singing for -‘the audience of One- Jesus’, He is who really matters and His opinion of what you are doing is what really is important. And that they remember who they are singing to, it’s not the other artists or the producers or the critics, it is the fans and that is whose opinion of your music matters at the end of the day. They need to remember it is about encouraging the Christian and sharing the gospel, not about who sold the most records last year, won the most awards or sang on the largest concerts.

I know you have to sell records and get major bookings to stay on the road but when staying on the road becomes more important than the reason you are on the road, then it is time to check up. I know that recognition is important and we all crave it whether we admit it or not, but it's not about the number of plaques that can be obtained. We need the past to remind us of where we have come from and to hopefully keep us mindful of where we are headed. Most importantly we need it to keep us focused on why it is even done at all.

Dee Ann Bailey
http://www.deeaabailey.com

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