I was wishing the other day, "You know, some day one of those groups might call me to fill in as a replacement." That started me thinking about how I am always amazed when some one on a blog or message board starts talking about how unstable the Southern Gospel Industry is when there is a change or two in a group. These young whipper-snappers assume that this is a phenomenon. Without getting out my history books I do know of several groups that my hero Jake Hess sang with. Jake sang with the Melody Masters Quartet, the Statesmen, the Music City Singers, the Master's Five, and the Old Friends Quartet. Another hero of mine, Jack Toney, sang with the Southmen, the Statesmen, JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, and then back with the Southmen. The great Jim Hamill sang with the Blue Ridge Quartet, the Oak Ridge Quartet, the Rebels, the Kingsmen, the Senators, and then back with the Kingsmen. Just one more man that I greatly respect in this industry, Ed Hill, started the Prophets, went with the Singing Americans, then JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, and now back with the Prophets again. These are some of the most prominent men who have ever been in our industry.
Are you beginning to see a picture here? From the earliest days of our genre people have been moving from group to group, giving a lot of groups different faces at different times. Did their popularity ever wane because of some personnel change? Not that I can tell. The Statesmen were just as popular when Jake Hess left and Jack Toney replaced him. Every group that Jim Hamill sang with continued on just as popular after he left.
Today we see Gold City with a new face at Lead. Jonathan Wilburn was great with Gold City, however, they are carrying on just as strong with Bruce Taliaferro at the Lead spot. They are not missing a beat. Mike Young has stepped up to sing Tenor with Southern Sound. Guess what? They still sound great. Jason Waldrop has just left Greater Vision and I have no doubt that Jacob Kitson will step right in where Jason was and by the end of the night the fans will be thrilled. The list could go on.
Here is a bit of information that may surprise the deep rooted fans on SGN. The fans don't care. As long as the group gives them great songs and great music they could really care less
if it is some "superstar" singing. Here is something even more interesting, two very established groups have been going through some personnel changes. The Stamps Quartet and the
Blackwood Gospel Quartet have been going through singers. Again, the fans don't care. Both of these groups keep managing to put out groups with great quality, and that's all the fans care about. I went to see the Stamps the other night and they had a great crowd and the people responded with their appreciation. We have the fans fill out request cards at our Fan Festival every year. Last year was the first year for the Blackwood Gospel Quartet to appear at the Festival. As I went through our cards the Blackwood Gospel Quartet was one of the most requested groups to come back. Now I'm not sure that anyone there knew any of the singers in the group, but they sang songs that the fans knew and they sang them well. The fact is that the fans just want to hear great music. We in the industry get all caught up in the "who's who" in any group, but the fans just don't care. If you are able to go see the Stamps or the Blackwood Gospel Quartet make sure you go. I promise you will be amazed at the number of people in attendance and the reception of the crowd.
So for all you nay sayers who are concerned about the musical chairs in SGM, sit back and relax. The fans don't care. It dawned on me the other day as I was wondering why the genre is
struggling. The artists in SGM are striving to please other industry folk. They have forgotten about the FAN. The FAN is still an important part of what we are doing and it's time we started refocusing on them, not our piers. If we start concerning ourselves with what the fans care about we will see some major growth in Southern Gospel Music.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 06/15/2008
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Category: Editorials
Comments: 6
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Good insight there Deon.
If one thinks that the SG music industry is unstable I challenge them to do a little research. Like you said this has been going on for a long time – nothing new. These people should have a little compassion and understanding. If the critical crowd would spend some time reading and researching then they would learn that two popular reasons for the musical chairs is : 1)artists wanting to spend more time with families or at least be closer to them; 2) God opening up other opportunities for them and someone else at the same time. Nothing wrong with either one of them. So it’s probably not all on the artists – look at the attitudes of the fans. Just wanted to add another perspective to this. 
“Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused”
Well Deon, you have changed my mind on this one about personnel changes. I do think stability is a good thing; however, change is inevitable in almost everything. It has always amazed me how some of the groups I followed in years gone by managed to make changes, and still keep that distict sound. One such group was The Speer Family. Of course as you stated most of the time, change is a good thing. Your fine article has caused me to have a greater appreciation of change. In other forums we have talked about "best singers, best musicians", etc. which really is determined by our personal opinions. All too often this causes us to resent changes made in SGM. Again thanks for turning the light on about "change".
it is amazing to see all the changes too. another question i wonder is WHAT has happened to all the piano players? WE are a dying breed.
I don't won't to get off the subject matter, but in regard to the last comment about piano players--it does seem they are a vanishing breed. My wife and I pastor a church and we are in our fifties. She has the ability to set the tone / atmosphere of the service with her skills on the ivories. As the pastor who can rely on his wife at the piano to bail him out of an occassional bummer sermon, I am most thankful. It amazes me as I'm closing my sermon, she knows exactly what song to play as I'm winding down. If anyone reading this is a pastor or evangelist and you have a great piano player in your church as I do, give her/him a big thanks every service. On this subject a new forum may be -- have the high quality sound trax today discouraged local musicians to pursue cultivating their talent? That may be a good topic to discuss? Thank God for GOOD church musicians!!!!! Sorry for getting off the topic.
Deon, you forgot to mention that Jack Toney ALSO sang with both the Dixie Echoes and the Prophets.
Crazily enough, I also had that "Fill-in" daydream recently. I always dreamed of singing for the Stamps or the Blackwoods or the Florida Boys... and someday I just may get the chance! LOL.
Chris J. Becker
Cedar Rapids, IA
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