SG History 101

Nov

2004

SG History 101 - Goodbye John, Hello John!

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[20] Comments

Welcome, everyone!

I know most of you are scratching your heads, saying, "Who's John Scheideman?

What are his credentials? And where did John Crenshaw go?"

Well, last things first!...if you keep up with ths site, you'll find out what's become of John...and where he went! My first official duty as the new columnist here is to salute John Crenshaw!

Like many of you, John's SG History 101 columns were major highlights of the beginning of each month for me! I was and will always be one of John's biggest fans...I've learned so much about the facts and history of SG from his columns...I will always regard John as the single most knowledgable person in the United States about recorded gospel music! John has moved on to what I'm sure is an exciting new opportunity for him, and I want to start my stint here by wishing him my very best, and thank and congratulate him for all he's meant to and done for me, as a lover of gospel music!

Now on to my first two questions...who am I, and what are my credentials?

Allow me to introduce myself...I'm John Scheideman...in "real life", I'm a 20-year veteran of radio at KMJ in Fresno..and for 18 of those years, I have been involved with what is perhaps the longest-running SG radio program still on the air in this country..."Don Smith's Gospel Favorites"...on the air on KMJ in one form or other since 1947!

Don was bass singer for the famous Blackwood Brothers from 1940-1947, when he decided to forsake Shenandoah, Iowa (where the Blackwoods were headquartered at the time) for the woman of his dreams and the other warmth of California, settling down in Fresno to start his own private business, and because he was a true "quartet man" formed his own gospel quartet, the Gospelaires, who entertained West Coast gospel fans for more than 30 years!

As a native Fresnan, I grew up listening to Don's KMJ programs...for most of my youth he broadcast on KMJ seven days a week, weekday mornings at 5:30...and weekend mornings at 8! The sounds of four-part gospel quartet harmony were an integral part of my development of a child...I grew up wanting to be on the radio, and be involved in some way with that great kind of music!

My appetite for gospel music developed further with records my family owned...they loved that quartet sound as well, and the first time I heard gospel bass singers, such as the late JD Sumner and the late London Parris, I learned to love SG even more...and by the time I started to buy records on my own, I intended to have a large collection of what is now known as "southern gospel"
music, always known to me as simply "gospel music"!

By the time I realized my childhood dream of being on the radio, I had acquired some 700 records of all kinds of music, and about 400 of those were gospel LPs!

It took me only a year after being on the air in Fresno to get a job at the market leader (then and now) KMJ, and soon thereafter, was chosen to work with Don's program...I began as his producer in 1986, and the program's co-host after Don retired from radio in 1998...I have hosted the show with his daughter Earline ever since!

Through my association with Don and the show, I was able to meet a lot of the people involved in gospel music, and learn about it as well! Don himself told me many stories of his long career with quartets such as the Stamps Melody Boys and the Blackwoods, and people he worked with, including the Blackwood Brothers themselves, Odis "Pop" Echols, Denver Crumpler, Brock and Ben Speer, Jim Waites, and many, many more!

Eventually, thanks to Don and the program, I met people like Les Beasley, Glen Allred, Rex Nelon, Glen Payne, George Younce, Ed O'Neal, Rex Nelon, and my singing heroes, JD Sumner, James Blackwood, and my favorite of all, London Parris! Those days were among the happiest of my life! Even now, to hear the recordings I remember from childhood gives me thrills that few other things do!

It's that background and love for the heritage of SG that I hope to bring to this column...I intend to adopt the same approach as John did, after all, why "fix" what isn't "broke"? In addition, I hope to make this as "interactive" a column as possible...in other words, I'd like to write about the things and groups that you want to read about...after all, this column is for you, and I'd like as much as possible to examine the groups and topics you're most interested in! I'm always open to your thoughts, input, and suggestions!

I'm excited about the opportunity to share my love of gospel music with you...and I assure you that I'll do my best to make the columns informative, and entertaining!

John set the bar very high...and I hope I can approach the same level of quality that he attained!

-John Scheideman-

Check out the new Southern Gospel Music History web site while you are at it.

Reader Comments

Welcome, John, I look forward to reading your column & hope to find it as informative & interesting as its predecessor.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good.

Elaine Harcourt

Commented by On 11/08/2004

Welcome John, When I was a teenaged bass singer, back in the 70's, I worked for California gospel promoter Polly Grimes and, through her, got to meet many of the same heroes you've mentioned. I remember Don Smith and the Gospelaires at a show in Fresno, April 31, 1977, he had Semie Mosely (the founder of Mosrite Guitars) on guitar, and Don even sang a song with the Blackwood Brothers. I also met Oren Parrish back then. Welcome! One thing I will miss about Crenshaw, though, is he never wrote his article about how much of national treasure Bill Shaw is. Any thoughts on that?

Commented by On 11/11/2004

Chris...thanks for your recollections! I remember Polly well, and was at the very last concert she promoted in 1982 with the Cathedrals and the Florida Boys at El Camino College down in Torrance!

Yes, whenever the Blackwoods came to Fresno, Don would always sing at least one song with them...for "old time's sake"...invariably, it was "On The Jericho Road", which he recorded when he was with them in the 40s.

I agree with you and John that Bill Shaw is indeed a treasure, and the Hall of Fame has ignored him for too long...perhaps I'll do that article in the future! Keep those thoughts comin'!

Commented by Inquirer1 On 11/13/2004

Great article. A friend of mine-Don Ball--who lives in Orange, TX used to work for Don and played the piano for his quartet in CA.
I have emailed him your story.

Commented by On 11/24/2004

For years I've had Blackwood Brothers 33 1/3 albums in a box. Recently, I purchased a record player so Icould listen to them again. What a thrill! Bill Shaw, who is still living, absolutely is without a doubt, the foremost tenor ever to sing southern gospel music.

Does he still perform? How can I see or hear him? I read where you said he is a National Treasurer! You are absolutely right! His music is the most annointed, most inspiring I've ever heard.

Please tell us more about Bill Shaw and his life, I can't get enough of his singing.

Commented by On 12/13/2004

As I was looking for Don Smith's Gospelaires I found your column. Don Smith's Gospelaires used to stay at our house whenever they sung at our church. I was wondering if any of their albums were put on CD's. I am looking for CD's with Don Smith, George Melton, Danny Pollard, James Farmer and Ray Cude, pianist.
I hope you will be able to answer my question.

Commented by On 02/05/2005

Wilda...

As of yet, there are no CDs available of the Gospelaires...even cassettes of their old albums are hard to get...perhaps someday Ron Smith might be able to have them recorded onto CDs.

However, George Melton has made a CD of recordings he has made through the years...and I know there are a couple of songs on that CD that are of the Gospelaires that have Don singing...from the days George was with them! We have played it on our program! Perhaps I can check with Earlene and see how you can get a hold of it.

Thank you for your comments and memories...Don didn't sing with the Gospelaires because he needed the income! He sang because he loved to sing!

Commented by On 02/07/2005

Thank you for you answer regarding CD's of Don Smith's Gospelaires. If there is a chance of getting a copy of George Melton's CD I would really appreciate it. Let me know and I will mail you the money. George had such a beautiful tenor voice. My 33 1/3 album "The Best of the Gospelaires" I have had for 40 plus years and it does have a scratch on it. I was trying to get copies of the albums for my family. Reminiscing the good music and times of their youth.
We bought our piano from Don Smith.

Commented by On 02/07/2005

John-

Only days before reading your latest article of introduction I had the distinct honor of meeting you in person. I'm convinced that the readers of your articles will hear from your heart. You impressed me as a gentleman of deep Christian dignity, and a real catch for SGM journalism.

Keep up the great work. The young people of our times need to know the history and framework of this powerful tool of Christian music.

Neil Enloe

Commented by On 02/25/2005

I have a question: Our church choir is doing a Gospel concert. They have asked me for some comments on the heritage of Southern Gospel...Please can you give me an idea of some great reasons Southern gospel "began"..and where.
Thanks

Commented by On 11/03/2005

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