Something truly amazing happened to me at this year’s National Quartet Convention. It was so truly amazing that it changed the way I look at everything.
You might think it was when the Booth Brothers were up on stage garnering their various awards at the Singing News Awards presentation and hearing Michael finally admitting in front of all those people that I was right about the song “Look For Me At Jesus Feet.” Way to go Michael! Yes that was great, but it’s not the really amazing thing that happened to me.
You might think it was the honor of being the producer of their recording of “Look For Me At Jesus Feet” which won Song of the Year.
You might think it was the gratification of a job well done when the album I produced for them, “Carry On” won Album of the Year. I’d be lying if I said these moments were not highlights of my week. I was honored and humbled, and grateful to the Booth Brothers for asking me to accompany them in accepting these awards and for giving me so much credit. They are wonderful friends and a great addition to the world of Gospel Music. It’s great to be associated with their career in any way. But winning those awards with them was not the really amazing thing that happened to me.
You might think it was meeting and hearing so many of you say that you agree with the things I say in this column every month, or the gratification I received in hearing so MANY of you tell me to my face that you are cheering me on as I speak the truth, as I see it, about SGM. And to be honest, I have no intention of relaxing my criticism of those who are hurting our industry. I will continue to speak the truth about the fact:
That we have companies that will lie to our artists
That radio promotion for newbies is mostly a scam
That we have many artists that know little or nothing about what they are doing
That SG radio stations are mostly fragmented from each other
That our industry has no true leadership
That if we fixed these things we would be further ahead
Yes it was great to discover that so many of you agree with what I say, and don’t want me to stop saying it. But that’s not the amazing thing that happened to me.
I’M AMAZED, ONCE AGAIN, AT THE MUSIC
The really amazing thing that happened to me as I sat there was the music. I was reminded of the real truth about Southern Gospel Music – it’s amazing. Sure, I saw and heard some flaws, but when all is said and done it’s the music and its harmonies and the message of the songs combining to reach people that is truly a thing of beauty. To me, there is nothing else like it. As I sat there listening to our artists, I had the same feeling I got the very first time I heard the Couriers, The Weatherfords, and the Blackwood Brothers on that day in 1962 when I decided to make Gospel Music my life’s call. And as I looked around at the faces of the people in the audience I could see my heart reflected in their faces.
When all is said and done, and all the highs and lows of the “behind the scenes” comings and goings of SGM have been discussed, and all the critics have had their say – when you listen to the music none of it really matters in that moment. It’s the greatest music in the world.
I left NQC this year even more determined to keep the music playing.
I have a renewed commitment to keep shining the light of truth on those areas of SGM that I feel must be improved, but I also have a deeper love for my calling of helping artists, especially newbies.
I saw once again that what I am doing in and for SGM and the artists I work with has, at its core, my sincere desire to help keep this music playing.
For example, here are specific problems I solve for the artists I work with:
What to do next
Finding bookings and keeping your date book full
Managing your finances
Moving up to another level
Marketing your group the correct way (getting your name out there)
The A to Z of recording, including helping you find songs
I do this for all my artists.
The result is that the artists I work with have:
Peace of mind
A steady stream of bookings
Top quality recordings
A clear path to success
Confidence
At my core I am a SGM fan. I have loved this music since the first day I heard it. I am also an artist and a teacher.
I do what I do because I believe it is my responsibility to pass on what I have learned.
I took some time at NQC to listen to the music.
The MUSIC is the reason we all do what we do.
As always, I welcome your comments.
God Bless You,
Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com
Author: Nick Bruno
| Author's Website: http://www.nickbruno.com/
Written: 10/03/2008
| 
Category: The Gospel Truth
Comments: 18
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Great article Nick as usual. Look for me at Jesus feet is the way it is supposed to be done. In fact I will hear that song tonight in person as only the Booths can do it. It is obvious from the way you write your columns, you like to see it done with class, style and dignity. In fact with the Booths, you can hear every word pronounced correctly and not with tracks blasting in your ears. Keep it up Nick.
Great article AGAIN, Nick
I am so glad that you were able to recharge at NQC. There are times when all of us wonder "Am I doing what the Lord wants in His will?" Then all of a sudden He washes over us a cleansing flood of blessings and allows us to see His joy that His word is still getting out to all who will listen, through music and song.
Another great article, Nick. By the way, congrats on your SN awards. Well deserved, I'd say. I love the Booth Brothers. They are the sweetest bunch of guys around & deserve all the honors they received.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
WOW I have never seen someone attempt to name drop themselves. If the news was about Nick it would have been presented about him.
Nick, Great article. And it's great to see that your AWARD winning efforts are being recognized by the industry you so love. And hopefully you'll ignore people like James who actually take the time to be small minded and mean spirited. God Bless you. Everyone who knows you well says you are one of the nicest guys in SGM.
Great article Nick. I guess James need's to realize that it is not name dropping when you are stating fact. If anyone in this business has " been there, done that " it is Nick Bruno. Your passion to help the new artist is un-denyable. Yes James, it was Nick, who was helping 3 guys from Fla. just a few years ago, become a household name in S/G The Booth Bro's. Name drop all you want Nick. And by the way... Go Tiger's
Keep looking up! Randy Lewis
Congratulations on the well deserved acknowledgement of your talented hard work. I enjoyed the article.
Tommy Howe
Jym Howe
This is just my opinion ... and it should be yours. 
Interesting article as usual. I still have the same problem as always. As I agree with Nick in his many attemps to point out the flaws of our industry, I notice that he and many others have no real direction or NEXT STEP ideas in repairing these issues.
One thing that I feel needs to change in SGM, is that we need to get it back to being a ministry and not an industry. We need to get back to the focus of seeing people saved at every concert; no matter what the venue.
I agree with SGD to a certain degree.
Nick's articles are not just criticism of the SGM industry. They are to be taken, in my humble opinion, as educational.
I always enjoy reading Nick's articles. I do believe, however that he is referring to those aspiring groups who want to be on the NQC stage and travel fulltime. There are many groups who live a long ways from Nick who sing in small churches and love the message and the music, and don't really care what the industry is or is not doing. They don't care about airplay, Singing News charts, etc. They use tracks, and churches and other venues love what they do. What I am really saying is that Nick probably is only speaking for a small percentage of groups. If he really wants to make a dent, offer some of his time through some medium or personal seminars to groups who just want to do the best they can without getting caught up in the power industry issues.
I guess people named Shayne (or Shane) think alike. LOL. Let me just say that Idon't believe in all ministry and no industry. I don't believe that at all. But there needs to be a proper balance between the two, and right now it all seems to be too focused on indusrty. As far as ministry and entertainment goes, I think there should be balance there as well.
Nick,
Drummer, let me get this straight. It's wrong for artists and Christians to use Gospel Music for entertainment? We should go to the secular world for those desires? You have missed a whole faucet of Gospel Music.
When I'm driving in my car, I either listen to Christian radio or a CD that is Southern Gospel Music. That IS my entertainment. Would you rather Christians go to see Madonna or the Booth Brothers for their entertainment.
Gospel Music is far more than just ministry. Now is it possible to be blessed by the Spirit of the Lord during one of these entertaining concerts? You betcha, but that's NOT why I went there.
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
Mr. Unthank, with all due respect sir, you kinda lost me. I think you might need to re-read what I wrote. As far as gospel music being far more than ministry? What else is it? That's what it's supposed to be. And ministry is supposed to be fun, and funny, exciting, enlightening, challenging, insightfull, and life changing. Now I think I know what you meant when you say you don't initially put in a CD or go to a concert to be ministered to. But really when you look at it from a broader scale, you are. You're doing it because you like the songs. You like the music. They make you feel good. Well....that's ministry. I don't know. Maybe we just have a misunderstanding and may just have to agree to disagree. You know what they say. Opinions are like noses. Eveyone has one, and they all smell. still I appreciate and respect you for what you do. And I respect your opinion(s).
Nick,
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