One of the finest musicians to ever grace a Southern Gospel stage played for over a decade with the Hoppers. Shannon Childress provided some wonderful musical moments with the Hoppers during their rise to extreme popularity back in the 1990’s. Since it has been so long since he began his hiatus from Southern Gospel Music, I thought it was time catch everyone up on where he’s been and what he’s doing…
JH: Shannon, your exit from the Hoppers was pretty sudden and unexpected. Do you miss traveling at all?
SC: I have adjusted and don't miss traveling at all. I am a very happy with life and feel like I'm where I need to be. My twelve years with the Hoppers were wonderful years and I cherish those moments. I don't see them very often, but they still hold a very special place in my heart and always will. When you travel that closely with a family, you cannot help but keep that chapter in life very dear to you.
JH: So, what have you been doing since your days with the Hoppers?
SC: I played for Sonya Isaacs when she was doing her country gig for Lyric Street Records. I made some wonderful contacts in the country music industry during that time as well. That was over a period of around two years and we flew to a lot of the shows with a little bit of travel by bus. It was a great situation where all I had to do was show up and play. We weren't unloading a bus, dealing with product and traveling day and night to get from one show to the next. That lifestyle can take a toll on one's body fast just like any type of travel can do. I now get the opportunity to stay at home and do very little traveling. There are a few things I miss about the road, but the traveling is definitely not one of them.
Eventually, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee and have lived there for almost six years. I have worked for an Entertainment Law Firm on Music Row for the entire time I've been in Nashville and our representation consists of clients ranging from Country, Contemporary Christian and a few Southern Gospel artists. Many of our clients are producers, writers and managers in all genres of music. I'm still very involved in the music industry, not so much Southern Gospel, but all forms of music.
I have had calls from a number of Gospel artists wanting me to play, but I'm not really interested in going back on the road. I've gotten used to staying at home and I really like it. I also lead the band in a church in Nashville along with a few piano students. With all of this, I don't have much time for anything else.
JH: Are you still writing much? Any new cuts recently or forthcoming?
SC: I still write from time to time, most of it's still Gospel, but I have tried my hand at a little bit of country only because I know some writers and artists in that form of music. I don't do much pitching of my music at all. However, while I was at NQC this year, I had some people who were asking for some songs. I write mainly for myself as an outlet to stay in touch with who I am, and I like to keep my skills sharpened too. I'll do some co-writing with my mom and sister, with whom I have written for years along with Robert Griffith, who is a good friend of mine. Whenever my family gets ready to record, I'll work on a few things with them and try to write something for their project. I have a couple of songs I have written for them for a new project they will record later this year, and if they like them they'll record them. If it doesn't fit their style, I'm not offended if it's not something they'll do.
Mostly, I have (what I consider) some wonderful songs in my piano bench at home. Sometimes I write something only because it could be for me and me alone. I may decide to pitch more songs in the future, but I'll just see how I feel about it when the time comes.
JH: I know you’ve written some powerhouse songs like “Anchor to the Power of the Cross”, “Milk & Honey”, “The Cross Now is Empty”, and tons of others. What song or songs has meant the most to you?
SC: I don't think I can really answer that. I look at each song as one of my children. Each of them were "birthed" from some circumstance, situation, trial, mountaintop, conversation with a friend or someone I may have never met that inspired me, etc. They all have a special meaning for some reason and they all have a different place in my life. However, I have been known to sit down and just write because I had a writing session scheduled, but when I went into the session I had something in mind I wanted to write about because of what may have been going on the day or week prior.
JH: I know you dabble in producing as you’ve been working some with the Beene Family.
SC: I've worked with the Beene's for a number of years. They are a wonderful family and great singers as well. That's a big plus when working with someone. They're also very open-minded regarding arrangements, song selection, etc. I like someone who is willing to "push the envelope" musically and they're willing to do that. It makes it a lot easier for me.
I've also worked with several soloists over the past few years and people will call and want me to just arrange music for them. I don't go into the studio, but they'll call me on the phone, come to town and we'll work out some things as everyone's schedules allow. I love producing, but that's a very tough job in the city of Nashville. Southern Gospel artists and record companies do not seem to have the budgets that would allow someone to make a living at it, so I opted to still work in the music industry but not so much in the producing aspect. I'll play on sessions from time to time and demos as companies need them, but again…I don't want to live "hand to mouth" because I like to eat too much. In Nashville, great musicians are a "dime a dozen" and it's really tough to break into studio playing and producing as a main source of your income. I just wasn't willing to make the kind of risk.
JH: You’ve gone from inside the Southern Gospel industry, playing for one of the greatest groups to grace a stage, to the outside looking in, so to speak. What are your thoughts about the SG industry today and how has it changed since you were an active part of it?
SC: Admittedly, I don't keep up that much with Southern Gospel. We receive the Singing News in our law office and I'll look through it, but I'm not one to read it from cover to cover.
I see Southern Gospel as such a small genre of music, but then again, I have found out by working in an entertainment law firm that the music industry as a whole is really not that big...and I mean the music business in its entirety. This year at NQC seemed to be the same thing I saw many years ago, not much seems to have changed other than there are more artists, more competition, but fewer people attending. The "following" in SG doesn't seem to have very many people less than 40 years of age. There is a bit of concern in my mind..."Is this a dying breed of music and will it be here when you and I are dead and gone?"
JH: With all that has gone on in your life, what is the greatest lesson you’ve learned?
SC: Well, I don't think much has gone on in my life really. I'm a pretty basic, somewhat boring guy who puts his pants on the same way everyone else does. Life's lessons are learned everyday and hopefully I choose to treat my fellow man the same way I want to be treated.
JH: What is God teaching you now?
SC: Lord teach me to be content!!!!
JH: How can people get in touch with you?
SC:I'm a very public person in Nashville and am in the Nashville phone directory if they need to track me down. Also, they can write me at 2501 Timwood Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37214. Email is also a good way, which is: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 10/15/2006
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Category: Feature Articles
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Thanks for doing this interview James. The best private vocal lesson I had in my 3 years at Steve Hurst School was with Shannon Childress.
This interview kind of left a bad taste in my mouth after reading it. It makes me feel like Mr. Childress thinks Southern Gospel is petty, or not big enough for him anymore.
Really? I took it that he's quite content with where he is now. And if the truth be known...SG CAN be quite petty. 
I love the article on Shannon! I have often wondered how he was doing and what he was doing...This is great! And I worry about NQC sometimes myself and if any younger people will come to it.
I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me!
LauraK
do you have piano cd's
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