Southern Gospel’s Dirty Word, Editorial

Jul

2008

Southern Gospel’s Dirty Word

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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.

Reader Comments

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 quote Jim Hamill. " We don't use tracks or any kind of canned music. I'm from the old school, I don't like that stuff. I think you ought to have piano, and drums, turn everything up as loud as you can go and let'er rip". And that's the way I feel as well.

You said it right T. We need to let people use their talents before the world get a hold of them.

Commented by On 07/23/2008

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

Commented by On 07/25/2008

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".

Commented by On 07/25/2008

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.

Commented by On 07/26/2008

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.

That's one of our biggest problems; is that there are too many people out there that are too industry (money) minded and not ministry minded.

Now don't get me wrong. I know that we all have to use common sense in managing finances, and in managing life in general. But still....I think we all need to get back to our roots, and putting our full trust in the one who gave us these talents, and let Him provide for us. I still have a dream and desire to play drums and sing for a top notch SG quartet one day. And i'm not giving up. I know God will grant me the desires of my heart. Regaurdless of financial circumstances, I believe that there is or will be a group out there that will have enough faith to carry a live band, and God willing I'll be the one beatin the drums.

Commented by On 07/26/2008

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.

Does a track hurt a performance? Never really noticed. Is a live band fun? Oh, yeah. Sit in the first or second row and watch the Isaac's execute. Awesome stuff. And, on top of that, be blessed with the message they present. Doesn't get better than that.

Then, go to hear Gerald Wolfe and Greater Vision, and hear what they can do with a piano and a hymn. And, be blessed again with their message.

Tracks that most groups use aren't going away, if for no other reason, economics. We kidded with the Isaacs when we told them we got them 30 miles down the road, by buying some of their CD's. The buses are now running about a buck a mile just to operate, not maintain.

Commented by On 07/28/2008

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.

I love bands by the way, but it is never about the drums. This is vocal music. That's the focus. Very few people came to Cathedral concerts to hear Scott Fowler play bass. They came to hear him and the rest of the group sing. The same issue exists in secular music too. Tell me who played the instruments for any Motown artists? What is the name of the guitar player in Alabama? I'm not diminishing the role of musicians. I'm a musician and I'm not a singer. Unless we're talking about Miles Davis, people come for the singing. Let's have more bands in gospel. Although often the drummer rarely realizes the show is not about him.

Commented by Steve Allen On 08/01/2008

Who doesn't love entertainment?

Commented by On 08/01/2008

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.

Commented by Rebeccabme1 On 08/05/2008

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.

I look and listen for that, because that's what blesses me. Not just the vocals. The musicians.....even the drummers, are ministering to me just as much as the singers. When He was alive, I constantly watched Doug Riley. I've watched and learned from Greg Fox, Brandon Reese, Dennis Murphy, and Mike Hopper. And I've been blessed by them and inspired. I've also watched and learned from other musicians, like Scott Fowler, Roger Bennett, Mark Trammell, Anthony Burger, Tim Surrett, Gary Dillard, Randy Miller, Dean Hopper, Tim Parton, Adam Borden, Nick Succi, Jason Selph, Channing Eleton, Jeff Stice, Kries French, and many others.

So to say that this is strictly vocal music....I'm sorry. That's to me is shallow. It's a whole lot more than that. It's pure music. And one can be blessed through any singer or musician, no matter what he or she is playing or singing. It's about bands and singers coming together to worship God, and yes....hve a good time. To even be entertained.

Commented by On 08/05/2008

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