What to do(my answer)

While visiting the message board this morning over at Southern Gospel Music Lovers, I happened on a thread there that asked the question, "What to do?" Tony Brown, known there and on other message boards as LowRevelator(he sings bass for the Revelators Quartet, you see), posted the following discussion starter...



Sharon(Tony's wife)and I were talking about what needs to be done to make SG more popular, and came up with a couple of ideas. I thought I'd throw them out here and see what you all say.

1. Focus on entertainment. Ministering will occur because of the Holy Spirit, and the words of the songs we sing. They are gospel songs, after all. The Statesmen and Blackwoods Brothers filled halls by being entertaining.

2. (This one is my own, btw!) About half the "professional" groups now on the road need to give it up. Sing on the weekends around your area, if you like. You're not good enough to sing professionally. If your group is known mostly for its "spirituality", you're in this category.


Well, there are my two ideas, for a start. Give your opinions on these, or come up with your own. Let's just have a discussion!




I tried twice to post a response there, and I was unable to do it successfully. Also, because my response was rather lengthy, I decided to post my reply right here, since both Tony and his wife Sharon visit here faithfully, and I know they'll eventually see it.

I encourage those of you who are able to do so to post a response to Tony's question on the SGML message board itself...I know he and the rest of the SGML staff would appreciate it. And only respond to my response if you want to comment on what I say specifically. OK?

Now...my response.

1. One thing I feel that will help increase the popularity of what is known as "southern" gospel is for the several well-meaning people to stop trying to redefine the genre. Southern-style gospel music in its purest form is based on four-part male harmony, and all the music in the twentieth century that descended directly from that. Not that SG(as it's commonly abbreviated in this day and age)ought to be sung by only males, only by quartets, and even only in groups.

But this is the foundation of the genre, and the genre in that form is a distinctive part of American musical culture that needs to be valued and celebrated, not watered down and submerged in attempts to accommodate popular musical trends(which come and go)or to curry favor from people who are not inclined to appreciate it regardless. This doesn't happen with most genres of music...and southern gospel does not need an identity crisis. It needs to stand up for what it actually is...only then will it achieve the respect it deserves.

2. To achieve the kind of popularity the Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen did, gospel groups must strive to be the best musical organizations they can be. The Blackwoods and Statesmen acheived the respect, notoriety, and popularity they did because they could stand toe-to-toe in musical quality and professionalism with any other artist of their day...in ANY genre. It sometimes appears to me that this kind of dedication to the craft is sorely missing among too many of the gospel artists performing today.

The Blackwoods and Statesmen practiced, rehearsed, and practiced and rehearsed some more. Good enough was never good enough for them. Good enough seems to be enough for too many today in the gospel field, and until our gospel singers insist upon the highest standards for this music(the most uplifting and moving there is), the kind of acceptance and respect that gospel singers ought to have won't be there.

I applaud the sensitivity to ministry that many modern gospel artists profess, and I do feel that anyone in any line of work representing the gospel of Jesus Christ ought to uphold the highest standards of behavior and witness possible. But gospel singers are just that...SINGERS. Since they depend on income derived from their abilities, they are by definition professionals. And as such, they need to realize that entertaining their audiences is not "selling out", IT IS THEIR JOB(emphasis mine). Contrary to what some say, there is no fundamental disconnect between ministry and entertainment...quite the opposite.

Very few gospel singers are called to use their music to evangelize their audiences(notable exceptions: the original and current Couriers...both of whom have been successful and prolific musical evangelists). Gospel singers have an unusual and powerful gift...the gift to make music. THEIR MUSIC IS THEIR MINISTRY(sorry for appearing to yell...just wanted to make my point). The musical entertainment provided by a gospel artist IS the artist's ministry...and as Tony said above, the songs state the message quite plainly(or should).

And it is the message that people expect to hear from a gospel artist, so there is never a reason to suspect that people who voluntarily go to a gospel concert will be "turned off" immediately upon hearing the message. Gospel artists that make a big to-do about their "ministry" need to realize that if they do what they're supposed to do well...the God they serve will bless their work...and by entertaining the audience that in most cases paid to see them, they will have fulfilled their calling...and quite possibly might make an impact upon those audience members that can't be explained in mere musical terms alone.

So what to do, then? Well, if you claim to be southern gospel, then sing southern gospel, and don't be ashamed of it. And sing it well, so that it will please people, and get them to want to hear you sing it again...and again...and again.

Then, who knows what might happen?;-)

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