Here we go again
Some time ago, I attracted attention here in my little corner of the web when I challenged a notion held by many gospel music fans whose main exposure to the genre was in the 1980s and 1990s that the late George Younce was the greatest bass singer of all time. While not denying Younce's unquestioned greatness as a bass singer, I wondered aloud how people who were largely unfamiliar with bass singers from earlier eras could fairly make such a sweeping statement.
This week I encountered a similar pronouncement in a popular gospel music discussion forum. A poster was challenging an assertion that Mark Trammell was a prime example of a singer who made a habit of changing groups quickly and often. While he was right in arguing that Trammell is NOT an example of such a singer, he went a bit far, IMHO, to make his point. He stated that Trammell was "without a doubt" one of the two greatest baritones in the history of gospel music, along with Doy Ott.
Now the person who made this comment is one of the better bloggers out there today on the gospel music blogroll. But he is a relatively young man, and not likely that familiar with many of the quartet singers prior to the 1980s. I responded with the comment that his statement about Trammell was "incredible", and if any of my readers are privy to that discussion, perhaps an explanation for my own comment is in order.
The history of gospel music on record goes back over 80 years, and a quarter of a century more if the earliest days of the genre are figured into it. Nobody I know is familiar with every singer who ever sang in the genre during that time, but thanks to the recordings I'm familiar with(which date back some 60 years), I'm familiar with a lot of fine baritones in a lot of great quartets.
And again, the question I ask is this: How does someone familiar with only the past 25 years know that Trammell(who, IMHO, is an excellent baritone, BTW)is better than the likes of Erman Slater, James McCoy, Billy Carrier, Don Baldwin, Don Norman, Glen Allred, Earl Weatherford, R.W.Blackwood, Cecil Blackwood, John Mathews, Danny Koker, and many more that unfortunately escape my memory roll at the moment?
The answer is, unless he has access to that many recordings, he/she doesn't...I don't care how many so-called experts he/she may discuss the matter with.
Now, in fairness to the person I'm "picking on" to make my point here, I'm not arguing that Trammell isn't greater than at least some of the names cited above. This sort of thing is a matter of opinion anyway, now matter how many recordings one has or how many times one has seen a given singer in concert. I hasten to add that line because I don't want to be confused with another prominent blogger who sometimes holds his own opinions as almost a matter of law.
My only point is that there is certainly room for plenty of doubt as to the notion that Trammell and Ott are head and shoulders above every other baritone in gospel music history. Frankly, I'm not even sure myself who is the best of all.
But I know that the consensus of most gospel music historians is that Ott and R.W. Blackwood are usually cited by longtime fans as the preeminent baritone singers of all. In fact, my own top five, in addition to those two, would include Danny Koker, Glen Allred, and Don Baldwin.
But that is only my humble opinion...not worth any more than the paper one might print this post out on.
The bottom line is that there have been many great gospel singers over the past century...and no doubt many more will join their ranks in the coming century. And we're all entitled to our favorites...for WHATEVER reason they may be so.
Let's just try to keep our encomia under control, and not presume our tastes to be fact when they're only our tastes.
Posted on Apr 03, 2008 - 10:25 PM | [8]
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Take it easy, guys...I wasn't "picking on" either of you!
Well, opinions are like um... elbows, everybody has one. I have a "few" recordings in my collection and I've seen a number of groups and artists since about 1950. As indicated by Ed Crawford (a real quartet man - and that's a compliment). Hearing harmony, blending being consistent are all components as well as the ability to carry the lead when given.
I have numerous recordings from the 1950s and on, as well as songs on compilations dating back to 1927, and I have heard most of the names you mentioned.
The two I consider to be the all-time best are Glen Allred and Mark Trammell. My opinions have been formed after hearing dozens of Statesmen recordings featuring Doy Ott, several Blackwood Brothers recordings featuring R.W. (plus dozens more featuring Cecil, of course), and various recordings by the Couriers, the original Cathedrals, the Weatherfords, and several of the other groups you name.
I know, some people say we shouldn't say someone was one of the greatest ever until they're dead or at least retired. But I'm all in favor of giving someone the roses--the recognition--while they're living.