One of the foremost publications in Southern Gospel Music is the web based, SoGospelNews. Garnering over 3 million hits per months, in 4 years SoGospelNews has risen to become the #1 Source of News and Information for Southern Gospel Music on the Internet. But how did it all begin? Just who exactly are the Unthanks? Well, if you don't already know, I'm here to enlighten you!
Deon and Susan met at church when Deon was 16 years old and Susan was 8 years old. Susan fell madly in love with Deon and knew she had met the man of her dreams. After a few years, they were finally married. They have five children, Aaron, Leslie, Scott, Chris and Amy Marie. Along with Susan and Deon, Chris and Amy are very active in SoGospelNews. It was great getting to interview this wonderful family. Though getting Chris to say something was like pulling teeth, we did get him to say a couple of sentences! Now, let's get to the good stuff�
Has music, mainly Southern Gospel Music always played a roll in your lives?
Susan: Pretty much the church where we grew up in, that's the type of music we sang. We're Church of God and that was the type of music we grew up on. I can't imagine or even remember anything other than that type of music.
Deon: Now don't let her fool you, she liked that heathen music like the Monkeys and all that stuff when she was growing up�
Susan: I was a teenager, of course I liked that stuff. For church music though, there was nothing but Southern Gospel for me.
Deon: Growing up in my household, we didn't listen to anything but quartets, trios and such. We weren't heathens like her family! (laughing)
How did you all become actively involved in Southern Gospel Music?
Deon: I was always a big fan of it and I became a fan of the Lesters and supported their concerts as much as I could and they eventually started using me to open their concerts as a soloist. From there I sang with a couple of local groups and then I formed a group of my own called The Sunday Edition. We went to the Stamps School of Music for a few years and just became engrossed in it.
James: The Sunday Edition won the NQC Talent Contest in 1972. The year I was born I might add!
Deon: (laughing) Now you didn't have to go there! We did, we won that year. We were a male quartet and we sang �One More Day� that was big by the Oak Ridge Boys back then and �Jesus� written by Bill Gaither. The next year we entered as a mixed trio and came in second place.
OK�here is the big question. How did SoGospelNews get started?
Susan: We belonged to an email discussion list the Singing News had provided through their website. Then one day out of the blue Ken Kirksey said the Singing News had decided to shut down the email chat list because they didn't have the time to invest in moderating it. They gave about a 2-week notice. I saw an opportunity because everyone kind of vocally cried, �no�don't shut it down�. So I spent about half a day researching and trying to find a company I could run the list through. I got it all taken care of and sent an email to everyone on the list that if they wanted to keep this thing going to join it. By the end of the first week, we had well over 300-400 subscribers.
The actual website though didn't come for another maybe 2-3 years and it wasn't anything like it is today. It was simply a place for the members of the list to post a small paragraph about themselves and a picture, so everyone could know who everyone was. But what really started happening was the news items that passed through the list. So I thought I'd post them on the website and that way people could go there to see what was going on. And being the computer geek I am and enjoying what I was doing, I kept looking for ways to improve it and it got to the point where it became what it is today.
Deon: Some artists started joining in the discussions and other industry people as well and I started doing CD reviews for artists. As it became more popular, other people started writing articles and doing CD reviews and it snowballed from there.
Susan: Basically lots of industry people have supported us in what we were doing and have been behind us all the way. Spring Hill and Daywind have been so supportive and honestly, they have been such a help to us and what we do. Various other artists have been a tremendous help to us as well.
Deon: Jimmy Tarbutton and Dale Duhl at Three Hills Music Group were the people that really encouraged us at the start to get involved more and more. They were really some strong supporters and they really encouraged us.
Amy and Chris, when did you both get involved with SoGospelNews?
Amy: The last few months of college was when Chris really started getting involved. I had just gone to concerts and loved it and wanted to interview people and thought that I could at least try my hand at writing a few articles.
Deon: I think Amy really started getting involved when we let her take over the SoGospelNews Convention back a couple of years ago. She has just taken it and ran with it. She has taken on more and more�you gotta watch her, she'll take over everything! (laughing)
Susan: She's her mother's daughter! (laughing)
Susan, you primarily are the one who monitors the list and message boards. How much time is spent taking care of those duties?
Susan: When I get up in the morning, the first place I go to is the computer. I don't leave the desk until I go to bed at night. I do go to the bathroom once in awhile! (laughing)
Deon: She can see the TV from her desk as well. (laughing)
Susan: I do take a break when shows like Survivor and Big Brother are on! (laughing) You have to realize I am in a wheelchair and so I can't do things around the house that other people can do, but I can sit at the computer and work all day.
I know all of you are heavily involved in music and the website. Is there anything you do outside of the music?
Deon: I raise tropical fish! (laughing) Though I am not very good at it! But seriously, I do have an honest job where I paint and hang wallpaper.
Susan: Southern Gospel Music is our hobby. It takes literally all day to go through emails, keep up with the message boards.
Amy: During Christmas time I make clay ornaments, so that's my hobby. I enjoy it.
Deon: Chris used to make finger puppets, so that was his hobby! (laughing)
Susan: When Chris was little he always loved music. He used to collect these little figurines that kids used to play with and he would collect hundreds of them, and he would sit on the floor in his room and make choirs out of them. He would play Christian Music and he would assign parts and they'd �sing� and he would grade them on how they did. It was so cute to watch him. (laughing) Now, he doesn't do that anymore! (all laughing)
Deon: He quit doing that last week! (laughing) You know, we have 4 computers and we all sit at our computers and watch TV from our computers and eat at our computers�
Susan: It's awful! (laughing) Seriously, computers are my hobby anyway. If I am not working on SoGospelNews, I am working on someone else's website.
Which brings me to my next question�How do you manage it all? You have SoGospelNews, Southern Spin, Message Boards, Sunday Edition, so on and so on. How do you manage to do it all?
Deon: We don't sleep! (laughing)
Susan: I really don't know how we manage to do it all. This is our life. It's what we love. So it really isn't hard to manage at all.
Has the road to making a solid name for SoGospelNews been an easy one?
Susan: Yes and no. It's been easy in the sense that we really don't know how it happened and it wasn't us that did it. There have been some obstacles along the way but nothing that was insurmountable. Like anything, there are some jealousies and you see that, but we just kept on going and decided that we're going to be here whether anyone likes us or not and we work to make it fun, enjoyable, honest and have integrity. We're not a gossip site. We're here because we love the music and we love the message in the music and we want everyone to have fun with it.
Tell us about Southern Spin.
Amy: Chris was home from college during Christmas one year and we were discussing the need for better publicity and marketing for Southern Gospel Music and how a lot of the independent artists don't have the ability to publicize and market like groups on a major label. Chris graduated in August with a degree in public relations with an emphasis on communications, and we decided to go for it and start Southern Spin and see what happens. We have connections through SoGospelNews and we keep in contact with other major publications and the labels, so we put it in action and so far it's been pretty successful. We do publicity, Internet promotions, and press/media kits and really help an artist get their name and music out there in a professional way for the public to see and hear.
Susan: Chris has a successful CCM website ([url=http://www.worldofcm.com]http://www.worldofcm.com[/url]), much like SoGospelNews and we began comparing press releases between the two genre's and they just didn't compare. Southern Gospel lacked a lot in their professionalism and in the way they were set up and I would just laugh and tell Chris �You're going to college for this, Southern Gospel Music needs you!� (laughing)
Have the two of you (Amy and Chris) always wanted to be involved in Southern Gospel?
Chris: I have never enjoyed the music of Southern Gospel. I'll be honest with you; I am still not a fan of much of it. But, my appreciation is growing. I do like groups like The Martins, LordSong, Chosen Few and The Crabb Family. But one of those things I was discussing with mom is how lacking Southern Gospel Music was in this area of professionalism and so on. I figured I was going to school for this, I might as well put it to good use.
Deon: Chris kind of sees it as a challenge. (laughing)
Obviously, the whole Unthank family is very passionate about Southern Gospel Music. What changes would you like to see in the industry?
Deon: This is the wrong family to ask that! (laughing) We believe Southern Gospel Music should be much more progressive in it's thinking, we believe there is a place for the quartets, the old quartet style, the country sound, the mixed groups, the Gaither sound, etc. We want to see it expand. We can't see it staying on its narrow little avenue. We think it will shrivel up and die if it stays like that. We also see Southern Gospel as the glass half full, because there is a lot of potential. We are positive thinkers.
Susan: I think what we need to do is start thinking outside of the box. We have the greatest music in the world, but we need more professionalism. It is very important that we are ministry oriented, but that does not mean everyone is called to sing and beyond that, that they are called to sing on the radio or called to sing in an environment that lends itself more to entertainment. There is a place for everyone who wants to sing gospel music. But, they're not all to be outside of the church. Let's not forsake quality for ministry. Just because you feel called to sing, doesn't mean you are excellent in your craft. If anything, we are pro-excellence, pro-quality and pro-education. Never stop learning!
Who has been the greatest inspiration or had the greatest impact in this business for you guys?
Amy: Right now, I would probably have to say the Crabb Family, at least for me. They are wonderful godly people and they love everyone they meet.
Susan: The biggest influence for me has been Dale Duhl and Buffi Holland at Spring Hill Music. Buffi has helped us in ways she doesn't even know. There have been a lot of other people who have helped and influenced us and impacted us, like Bob Whitehead, Harold Timmons, DeeAnn Bailey, and other people who probably don't even know it, like John Crenshaw and Gary Allen. So many people�the email chat list, they were the ones who were with us in the beginning before there ever was a SoGospelNews. They may feel like they have been forsaken for the website, but they haven't. Spiritually and emotionally, they are always there.
Deon: The Lesters have had a big impact on me. I've never met Bill Gaither, but his thinking has influenced me. Dale Duhl and Jimmy Tarbutton of Three Hills Music Group have been a major influence on me. Rhonda, Teresa and Crystal at Daywind have been wonderful to us and in ways they don't know.
Susan: Phillip Emory at DJ Man Promotions, it is just a blessing to know that man! So many have come into our lives in the last couple of years that have just been major influences and have impacted us so much. Jim Stover at Crossroads has always been there for us. And every person who has ever performed at a SoGospelNews concert will never, ever lose their place in our hearts.
Chris: I did my internship at Spring Hill. Beth Blinn and Buffi Holland sat me down my first day and told me the way it is and the way it's going to be and it meant more to me than anything else. Of course Crystal at Daywind, she's really helped us with Southern Spin.
Susan, you've had to overcome some major health issues. Can you share how you have overcome these things and how they have helped you?
Susan: I don't know if I've overcome any obstacles, I've just learned to adapt to them. I'm not even sure they're obstacles. Fortunately, it's not an obstacle with what I do because I sit in a wheelchair in front of a computer and it doesn't really limit me because I am in a wheelchair. If I couldn't sit in front of a keyboard and type, then I might start to feel sorry for myself. The only obstacle is that in the last 4 years I've gone from being pretty mobile to having to live in a wheelchair to having health issues with breathing and I can be hard to live with sometimes. I have been very blessed with a family who has sort of taken over things I used to do. Without them I couldn't do what I do. Other than having to worry about if I can get this wheelchair in and out of where I am going, I really don't feel I have any obstacles or limitations. I have a lot of machines I have to take with me everywhere I go, but we've adapted to having to pack them all up and go. I don't really consider it a handicap, but more so an aggravation sometimes! (laughing)
In all of your involvement in Southern Gospel Music, what has been the greatest lesson you've learned?
Amy: People are not perfect, and we weren't made perfect. Everybody makes mistakes, and we still must love them.
Susan: The biggest lesson I've learned is that we are all the same. As much as we are different, we are all the same. We all love, we all hurt, we all sin, and we all find Grace. We all drink, eat, sleep and wake up and we all go to the bathroom! (laughing) My point being is that everything we do is the same, though we are all different. We have to accept each other, no matter how different we are. The hardest thing I had to figure out is that opinions are opinions, and what it all boils down to is that it's the same Jesus that forgave you, forgave me, and the same Jesus that loves you, loves me. If Christ can love me, and love you, then I have to accept that opinion I hate and go on. (laughing)
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 12/31/2003
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Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 23
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The Unthanks are top notch. I have been on the list since the SN days and I am so thankful that Susan & Deon picked up the talk list and ran with it. They are doing a fantastic job!!!
Mike Wiggington
Super interview James.. but then again.. you interviewed some super people.
John Crenshaw and Harold Timmons were influences? Positive or negative? Just kidding!
Dean
Great interview. I have known the Unthanks for several years and have always enjoyed their music. Now I get to enjoy their website, which happens to be pretty wonderful. My prayer is that God will continue to bless them. :thumbsup:
Great interview. It let me know the Unthanks a little better. Thanks, James.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
The comment that most surprised me in this interview is when Deon said he had never met Bill Gaither. Bill and Gloria reintroduced traditional Southern Gospel artists to the world via video tapes, and Deon and Susan are bringing traditional Southern Gospel music into the internet age. Only God knows how much both families have contributed to Southern Gospel music as we know it. I am thankful for both.
Is there anyone out there that can introduce these families to each other? No wonder Southern Gospel is viewed as second class. Our leaders have never met. :confused:
I'am brazilian e christian. I don't understand but God bless everybody! :laugh: :rolleyes: :thumbsup:
I just wanna know why Chris has to be such a grump and not smile in the picture and not say anything in the interview?! :p
I love you guys! Thanks for being classy in doing what you do!
LaShay, if you knew Chris, you would not be surprised. There's a reason he's earned a certain nickname, right Chrissy?? Good article guys!
Deon-
Do you really raise salt water fish??? I have salt water tanks and I keep killing my fish.If you were just kidding let me know-I am having a dreading to get back to work moment
Thanks-Great article guys-
Keep up the good work-
Rick
Rick, I've never ventured into salt water fish. The most delicate fish I've raised are Discus. I love Discus and Angel fish. See, even my fish are Southern Gospel related, they're Angel fish... 
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
Princess L, I DO know Chris and that's why I said that! :blink:
Princess L, go back to your wedding plans. :p
Hey! Good job folks! Where would I be without coffee and sogospelnews in the morning? My morning paper! lol
You mentioned "Church of God". Which one do you guys attend? My wife and I are at Broadmoor COG.
Susan and I were raised in the Church of God, however we now attend River of Life Assembly of God where Johnny Minick is Pastor
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
Great interview. :thumbsup: SoGospelNews.com is the first place I go each morning. Thank you Deon, Susan, Amy and Chris for keeping us informed and up to date on the SG news. You are a blessing and I'm thankful for our friendship.
Thanks for the Unthanks. Great Christians. Great family. Great site. Happy for your success and so pleased for all you are doing for all of us and for Southern Gospel Music.
Our family has been blessed by meeting the Unthanks! Tim catches up on every detail of sogospelnews daily! Indulge me a few lines to elaborate on the impact this family has had on The Quicks in only a couple of years. From seeing Deon, Chris, and Amy at church - hearing from Susan on the internet - Aaron taught my daughters at Steve Hurst this past summer... God has really expanded the borders of this family. Sunday Edition is awesome! Amy's songwriting... I believe God has only begun to use this family to impact the industry!
Super article...we sure do miss the Unthanks at Oak Forest COG in Southaven, MS...I am blessed by knowing Deon, Susan, Chris & Amy Marie
Great interview. Because I'm in an email group the Unthanks are in, I already know a little about their envolvement in the SGM industry; would enjoy meeting them in person sometime. I also enjoyed reading about Sunday Edition winning the NQC talent contest in '72. My group, The Gentry, won in '74. We disbanded in '76, but in 2002 we decided to reorganize -- same four original members, plus two added musicians. It's been wonderful (and nothing short of a miracle that it happened!), and our sound is actually better than it was before; but it also hasn't been easy to re-establish ourselves and take up where we left off back in '76. God is blessing our efforts, but suggestions (and prayers) to that effect would also be appreciated!
I appreciate all the efforts that the Unthanks put forth to make this website the unique and wonderful place that it is. God bless you, Susan, Deon, Chris and Amy.
Gee i always liked Deon back when he was with Deon and the Belmonts! LOL
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