Credentials?

Tonight is one of those nights, so bear with me on this entry.

When I think of all the other fine people who maintain blogs like this one, I wonder sometimes just how I fit in as an observer of gospel music, which I've loved long before I loved the real gospel!

After all, unlike some of my colleagues, I'm not an artist(nor have I been...nor even played one on TV!). I've never been a professional singer, though I've sung in public, and with a variety of groups and choirs(even once in a barbershop quartet!).

Nor am I an instrumentalist, though there was a time in my life I had some skill on some instruments.. Nor have I ever run a recording session for an album, though in my day job I've had a LOT of experience in using recording equipment.

Finally, although I've had a bit of formal musical training, I've not received any musical certification nor any degrees in music. At least one of the above items has been achieved by the vast majority of the people writing blogs on gospel music. So what qualifies me to have a space to write my opinions on gospel music?

I'm going to be bold here...I'm as qualified as anyone to write a blog on gospel music. What makes me say that?

Well...being a mostly verbal person my entire life, and being a professional communicator for over 25 years, I can write well(at least I think I do)...and evidently the people who run this website agree, since they entrust me with their monthly history articles. And since they do that, they must believe that I am reasonably well versed in gospel music history.

And because of that, I think I have a pretty fair understanding of where gospel music has been, and as such can anticipate trends on where it may be going...and assuming the above is true, I can express my observations on that with some degree of credibility.

And since I was a professional record collector for several years in the 1970s and 1980s, and during that time amassed a large number of gospel quartet recordings(of ALL kinds), I think I have a good historical perspective on how the gospel music business(and its' styles)developed.

And finally, since I have been a fan of this music since(roughly)the age of 9, and have been responsible for programming the longest running gospel radio program on commercial radio in the country, I think I have a pretty good idea of what other gospel fans enjoy most in their music.

I hope this entry didn't sound too vain, self-conscious, or defensive...I don't mean it to be. It's just that after today, I needed to remind myself why I belong here. Thanks for bearing with me...next time I promise to focus on other people!:-)

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