I went to hear the Kingsmen Quartet last Sunday night. They were halfway through the program before I realized that they didn't have their band. For those of you young guys, who don't know, bands weren't even around until the 70s. I remember when the bands come on the scene. They were of the devil. Bands were of the world and had no place in Gospel Music. It wasn't long after bands were accepted in the business that we started going downhill, losing our crowds. I am not blaming the bands and live music for this, there are other major reasons why we started falling apart at that time, and live music wasn't one of them. However, my point is that bands and live music were not what made this music so popular. This genre has NEVER been based on the band. It's always been based on vocals and harmony. Why do you think that we called them "All Night Sings" for years? We would say, "we're having a singing tonight".
IF you only caught the SGM of the 80s and 90s. you missed some of the greatest SGM ever put out. The 60s and 70s were fantastic with such groups as the Oak Ridge Boys, JD and the Stamps, the Downings, the Imperials, the Prophets, the Statesmen, the Blackwood Brothers, the Couriers, the Cathedrals with Bobby Clark, The Happy Goodmans, the Rambos. That was an era of great, exciting music. These groups had crowds on their feet every night. They didn't have to rely on "love offerings" to make a living. They charged a good ticket price and filled arenas, auditoriums, schools, churches, and any place else they could sing.
These artists didn't have all the live music of bands until the middle to end of the 70s, but way before they had live bands (except a piano and an occasional guitar) these groups were filling concert halls. It's not the live music that is missing today. There is another vital part of this industry that is missing.
Today's SGM is missing a vital link for making our genre grow again. It's called entertainment. Some people shutter when this word is mentioned. IF we will learn how to entertain people again, we will see our crowds grow. Gospel Music is unique because it is our worship AND our entertainment. When I turn on the radio to drive down the road, while some people would turn on the radio for Country music, I turn it on to listen to Gospel Music. Not for worship, but for entertainment. I remember back in the 60s and 70s when we went as a church function on Saturday night to a singing at the Kingsland Theatre in St. Louis, MO. We weren't going for a church service, we were buying tickets to have a good time. Others were going to the movies, we went to singings. The Tenor would sing that high screeching ending, the Bass would dip way down for that low note and we would whistle and cheer, clap our hands and stomp our feet, because we were being entertained. The next morning, on Sunday, most of those groups would be in a church somewhere in the area singing with reverence and worship in a church service. Friday and Saturday nights though, they were entertaining packed out crowds.
If we want to see auditoriums filled to capacity, let's get back to entertaining people when it is appropriate. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound are singing to auditoriums and churches where the seats are all full, because they are entertaining the people. Entertainment is not a bad word. We are going to be entertained one way or another.
We can be entertained with wholesome Gospel Music, where we just might get an added attraction of the Spirit falling and everyone getting blessed, and I'm not opposed to that, or we can look to the world for our entertainment. I don't know about you, but I prefer to see our Christian people entertained by Gospel singers, not those singing about cheatin' hearts or gettin' drunk or gettin' high.
Let's bring the word "entertainment" back into the fold and stop considering it a "dirty" word.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 07/18/2008
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Category: Editorials
Comments: 23
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Great article, Deon.
You're absolutely right. What is really sad is that the church's aversion to good, wholesome, Christian "entertainment" has made the world's pull on our young people even stronger. They will be entertained...one way or another. Back in the late sixties while my teenage peers were shopping for the prom and planning to "tie one on" on prom night for "entertainment", my sister and I were making plans to go see the Imperials at the old Kingsland Theatre. The auditorium was packed...with young people just like us...and we were truly entertained. We were in a safe environment with solid values. Nothin' wrong with that. Janice
Exactly, Janice. I teach the teens and am youth pastor at my church. I learned a long time ago that teens won't listen to a "lecture" in Sunday School. You have to make it enjoyable for them. I let them pick the topics we talk about and even stray from the subject we're on if it helps them to stay interested. If I'm "entertaining" them, so be it. At least they're learning. That's more important than my lesson notes.
The thing people don't realize though is most of the groups performing now with tracks have more "band" music in them than live bands. I still believe in entertaining people, but you still need the flexibility of being able to follow the leadership of the Lord in your program. In our programs we find that people get into the service more when we use live music. I don't see anything wrong with entertaining people, but you still need to get His message across to them.
I have to agree with that as well.
Well said, Deon. I go to singings for blessings but I, also, go for entertainment. A good program gives me both.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
T Rodgers is right. I'm not against entertainment. but we always must be open to the leading of the Lord at all times no matter where we're at. And LIVE bands help that tremendously. We need to get the LIVE bands back. I just can't stand tracks. They're very limiting and restraining.
Excellent article. Christians have many reasons to rejoice and we should show it by having a great time and receiving a powerful message. Glory to God that we can do that! That's the beauty of the Southern Gospel heritage, isn't it? Let's not focus on what we can and cannot stand about the delivery of the message and focus on what those who need a fresh Word are looking for. If that's praise and worship or full gospel or live band or bluegrass or instrumental or accapella or great vocals with tracks or opera...it's ALL good as long as we are moving people with God's word. It's a blessing to be about God's work sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter the form. I thank God for both live musicians and those who provide tracks so vocalists can reach more people.
I understand that it is hard to keep a band, or group together these days because the churches are hard pressed against the loud drums and guitars in the church. My son plays drums for us, we all play different instruments also, but I feel if I dont use what God has blessed me with then He will take it away and give to someone else. The world has tried to get to my son with his drums, but He stands firm on serving the Lord with his talent, to serve as entertainment for Christians and to praise Him for who He is!
Actually, you have some time line discrepancies as far as I know. From the history I am aware of and live recordings etc. The Stamps and Oaks (if no one else) had live bands around the mid sixties or so with full drums being added around 1970.
Amen T. I played for a part time group here in Florida for a couple of years. nd we would go places and have people complain about my drums before I even got them out of their cases. It drives me crazy. The only thing it does it makes me want to play even louder (LOL). I try to use my talents whenever and wherever I can. Right now I play for my home church. But I fully intend to be back out on the Southern gospel stage again, playing in a full live band with a top notch quartet. And if people don't like it, I'll hand out complimentary ear plugs and cotton balls.
i would like to put another facet on the LIVE band usage. NOW with gas so outrageous and travel expenses high, guess whats the first thing to go in a group? the LIVE musician(s). i can say that with authority cause ive been there. the time has long gone for a quartet with a REAL piano player. there are only a few of us that remain. economically, you dont have to pay CANNED music.but what of the piano player that has been given a gift from GOD for music? what is he to do? dont we have calling for quartet music also? just a few questions and comments
Great article Deon. As an old guy who remembers the Statesmen and Blackwoods in their prime (1950's and 1960's), they were great entertainers. They also realized that the Lord could take what they did at a concert and use it as He saw fit. Unfortunately today, hearing a group say "we are here to minister, not entertain" has become a code phrase for "we can't sing a lick".
Good article. You basically sain what I have been saying for years. We've lost a lot of people from our churches, because we only want to give them the same format for the traditional service. There is nothing wrong with good Christian entertainment.
Well Larry. My answer to that is this.....If people were in this for the RIGHT reasons, they would be putting their faith and trust in God and not worry about the economy or finances. Yes I like entertainment as much as anyone. And it has it's place. But we also have to keep in mind that SGM should ALWAYS be a MINISTRY first, and an industry second.
We've been to see the Isaacs and Greater Vision last week, and are going to see Legacy Five next week. Were we entertained? You bet. Were the concerts worshipful? Yes, they were. An SGM concert should be entertaining, and worshipful. I expect both when I attend a concert.
The word "entertain" simply means to capture one's attention. It is that simple. People find entertainment in nearly everything. You would loose interest in a sermon if it didn't capture your attention. I do not understand how people can criticize anything that is a ministry that also possesses entertaining elements. Unfortunately our industry is brimming ignorant people who know very little about any aspect of the music industry; their opinions are what fuel petty debates.
Who doesn't love entertainment?
I believe there is a time and a place for everything. There is nothing wrong with good entertainment. I believe that entertainment belongs in the concert hall and worship belongs in the church.
There should be a Spirit of worship everywhere we Christians are and we should enjoy ourselves.
The time and the place is as important as our worship and entertainment is. May we always have both in it's appropriate place.
It's not about itching ears or it would be only about entertainment everywhere, then entertainment would become a dirty word. :o)
Jesus is Lord. ... be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted and forgiving.
Well Steve I would have to respectfully disagree. Music is music. And vocals are not always the focus. You see, when I went to see The Cathedrals, I paid close attention to both Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett. It's not always through the vocals the you can be ministered to. I have a tape called Indiana Live (I'd like to find this on CD if anyone has any info on it). This recording was mde back in 1990. It featured Heaven Bound, Gold City, The Kingsmen, and Gerald Wolfe. It's an amazing album. The Kingsmen finish their set of the recording by singing I'm Standing On The Solid Rock. And on the last chorus of that song, Anthony Burger REALLY cuts loose. It'll mke you wanna SHOUT! And right behind him you can hear Tim Surrett, Greg Fox, and Gary Dillard just jamming along.
Oh, I love the Indiana Live CD. Another good one on there was "No Man Can Stop This Army."
AMEN to that! Indiana Live has to be one of my all time favorite LIVE albums.It had a great line up, and the songs were great as well. i wish I could find me a copy of it on CD, because the tape that I have is kinda worn out
This is a great article...I like a live band and we use a live band. This is part of the entertainment in what we do. However I have not always been moved to consider where I stand with God in every concert I have attended in the years before I started singing. There must be a proper balance of entertainment in the ministry of song. While it must be entertaining it is important for a message of hope be presented in such a way as to cause those who listen to be compelled to accept Christ and want what we are singing about. Otherwise we are just another fantasy movie or other form or science fiction "entertainment." I think that perhaps that's why so many are shying away from the entertainment word. It HAS to be entertaining to draw crowds.
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