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September means another trip to the National Quartet Convention for me. This year will be my 21st convention. My first convention was a last minute decision that I made to attend in 1987. That decision had a profound impact on my songwriting. I had never seen that much of the Gospel Music industry gathered in one place at one time. And it is much larger today than it was in 1987.

One of the things I enjoy most about the convention is hearing new songs debuted on stage. Some of the great moments I remember from the past were hearing the Hoppers sing HERE I AM for the first time. What a song! I went home and spent the next year trying to write one just like it. But I never succeeded.

It was also at NQC that I heard the Speer Family sing a song that knocked my socks off, HE'S STILL IN THE FIRE!!! Little did I know that a year later I would be on stage with them singing that very song. Because I joined them so quickly after that song was released, a lot of people thought that I wrote it. As a matter of fact, many people still come up to me and tell me that HE'S STILL IN THE FIRE is their favorite song that I have written. Well, let me set the record straight. I did NOT write HE'S STILL IN THE FIRE. The song was written by Tim Hill, and originally recorded with Bill Itzel singing the lead. I wish I had written it. It is still one of my all time favorite songs, and one of my favorite moments from the NQC.

Other moments that stand out over the years are hearing the Nelons sing THANKS, and BRING MY CHILDREN HOME. I will never forget the moment I heard the last note of CHAMPION OF LOVE by the Cathedrals. I just knew that nothing could ever top that. But more songs followed, and more great moments and memories came along as years went by. But I'm still not sure I've heard a group top that performance yet.

Another great part of NQC is not only hearing great new songs, but being introduced to groups I had never heard previously. I can't explain what it was like to experience the McKameys for the first time. I didn't feel like I was LISTENING to them, I was EXPERIENCING them. And the first song I remember hearing them sing was GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN. Now I had heard country sounds before, but not like this. And that song!!! Wow! I thought I might just have myself a shoutin' spell right then and there. A few people around me did. Peg did. I guessed I missed out on a blessing by trying to hold my dignity in tact. But believe me, I've shouted with them singing that song plenty of times at home by myself.

I am so looking forward to hearing the music that great writers have poured their hearts into this year. But I am sure there will probably be a few moments like there have been in the past when I'll walk out of the auditorium scratching my head wondering, why in the world somebody recorded, and chose to perform some awful piece of music I have just heard.
Yes, with every great moment at NQC that I have spent listening to a new masterpiece, I have also heard some real turkeys too! I won't mention any of those by name, for fear one of them may be someone's favorite song. Some of them even became hits. That just proves, that there is something there for everyone.

There are so many wonderful memories over the years like seeing the original Rambos perform for the last time together in 1993 on a Wednesday night Gaither sing. And then there was the last performance of the Original Hinsons when they joined the Hoppers on stage in 1994. But there are two memories that still stand out to me above all the rest, in regards to songwriting. The first was in 1988 when the Lesters invited Lulu Roman on stage to sing her current #1 hit TWO MORE HANDS. That was the first time I ever heard one of my songs performed at NQC. I can't describe that feeling. You would think that a writer could find the words to tell it. But this many years later, I still can't.

The other most memorable moment for me came about a dozen years later when I heard Jake Hess sing one of my song on the main stage. For me, that was a major event in my songwriting career. I don't know who won SONG OF THE YEAR that year, but they could not have been more honored than I was as I listened to Jake sing what I had written.

If you love Southern Gospel Music, and have never attended NQC, you should make plans to come at least once. Who knows, you may get hooked like I did in 1987 and come back for 20 more!


Daryl Williams
http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net

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