A weekend in the candy store

I realize by revealing the following, I'll look as though I'm hopelessly behind the times.

No matter...to some people, my tastes in gospel music only confirm such a belief.

I don't know how many of you get to freely surf the internet at work, and I'm not saying I do either. But when I'm at work on the weekends, sometimes I have long stretches of down time, and every once in a while I get to spend that down time examining what's online.

This weekend was one such weekend, and I happened upon YouTube. Now, YouTube is a current rage among online enthusiasts, primarily because almost anytime anything of remote interest to at least two or three people happens, it seems to be available to the whole world to view on YouTube.

Such is the case with gospel music....it is amazing how much old footage of it there is on YouTube, and I spent a lot of my "down time" watching, listening to, and enjoying it.

I saw clips of older gospel quartets singing from concert and television appearances, checked out lots of Gaither Homecoming clips(the videos of which I've yet to purchase), and even saw some old black gospel quartet footage of groups like the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Hamonizing Four(two of my favorite black quartets)from years gone by. Why was I never aware that this stuff was even there? No matter, as I eagerly sampled clip after clip of vintage singing.

I must acknowledge one major contributor to that glut of video footage now available on YouTube. I have mentioned my friend Dean Adkins here, and in my history articles for Southern Gospel News when he has been a main contributor. Dean has one of the largest private gospel record and memorabilia collections that I'm aware of. And one great thing about Dean is not only does he know as much about the music as anyone I can think of, but he has always been willing to share his knowledge, recollections, and now, his video archives with all who are likewise interested in gospel music(e.g., myself, among many others). Dean himself is a treasure, and his videos he has posted to YouTube are treasures as well.

One which immediately got my attention was a clip of the Rebels Quartet circa 1965(presumably off of the old "Singing Time In Dixie" TV show)singing "I Want To Get Closer". That Big Chief Wetherington-penned classic is a vehicle for a quartet's bass singer, and the Rebels had my favorite...the late London Parris. I think many even today would be amazed to watch London hit those low notes on that song while more than a foot away from the mike stand the group was using. And they would also be charned to see a young Jim Hamill singing the lead with his characteristic smile and enthusiasm. I know I was all that, and more as I watched and listened with nostalgic pleasure.

And if you like good low bass singing, Dean's younger brother Will(who sang with the Gospel Harmony Boys)is featured on a number of the clips Dean submittted as well, and I recommend Will to all fans of that kind of singing. You see pelnty of it on the clips Dean submitted.

A couple of the Gaither clips fascinated me. One was a ad hoc quartet of older singers, composed of Rex Nelon on bass, Ben Speer on baritone, Jake Hess on lead, and then 93-year old gospel songwriting legend Robert Arnold singing tenor. Those guys made a good quartet! And you could tell Arnold was in his element singing tenor, having fun just singing a song he not only wrote, but loved(as did everyone). When they were through, the entire cast gave them a standing ovation! And Arnold got appreciative hugs from Glen Payne and Hovie Lister. It was truly amazing to see the love and bonding all those singers gathered had for one another. And there was no need for "cutting edge" stage presentation, instrumentation, or vocal stacks or tracks. It was just four guys who knew their craft, and had fun doing it. It made me remember vividly what attracted me to the sound of gospel quartet music when I was but a boy.

The other Gairher clip featured JD Sumner and George Younce ribbing each other unmercifully while affirming the close friendship they shared for decades. It was the most basic kind of human bond, and we all enjoyed watching it. Partly because we enjoyed George and JD, and partly because most of us have friends like that, and we know how that sort of thing makes us feel.

Bill Gaither's recent autobiography is called "More Than The Music", and is there any doubt that the success of all his Homecoming projects reflects that very thought? Yes, the music is great, and the singers are also great. But they are also great people, and great friends....and it's all that implied in the existence of gospel quartet music that made it special for so many of us. Sometimes I think that those who just focus on the music and "updating" it for this culture miss the point of gospel music in this regard...by miles.

So thanks to MY friends Dean...and Dave, Duane, and Neil(who I also predictably watched this weekend)...and London...JD...and George. You helped me have a great weekend letting me watch some of the best music ever made, and the best fun, too.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Comments

Add Comments

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Please enter the word you see in the image below:

* Note: Members of Southern Gospel News.com who are logged in do not have to fill in the above information each time they post

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?