“I'm Gonna' Write a Little Letter, Gonna' Mail It To My…”
Chuck Berry's rockin' little record “Roll Over Beethoven” was a staple piece of music for every guitar playing teen of the mid 60's to learn and impress his girlfriend with. In the song, Berry mentions one of my favorite categories of people in the whole world—the “ local deejay .”
I met my first “jock”—as the moniker goes—way back in '66 in the parking lot of an Asheville hamburger joint called Babe Maloy's Drive-In. His name was Jay Michael Sumner. Jay and another on-air personality from WISE were doing a remote broadcast from that long since vanished land of curb service, greasy fries, and squalling tires. I was a seventeen year old Beatle-wannabe with a record (no, not the police kind) and Jay and his side-kick had the power to play my 45 on the air and make me a local star in just a few spins. All the stardust washed by the wayside eons ago, but not my affinity and respect for disc jockeys, which probably germinated that night. Another old buddy and personal deejay hero-friend of mine is “Little Joe” Brown, one of the Asheville area's longest-running and most popular radio personalities. Little Joe was also on WISE back in those days, and was very kind to this kid and the music I wrote and recorded.
I never dreamed someday I'd become a Southern Gospel song promoter who spent a good portion of his workday on the phone talking with “jocks.” Or how thirty-three years down the road, I'd be calling the same Jay Michael Sumner, who up until recently worked as the music director for WFGW, a Singing News charting station in Black Mountain, North Carolina. “Little Joe” Brown was also on WFGW with a highly rated Sunday morning program known as “Gospel Hymn Time.” Talk about full circle!
I suppose it's safe to say, for the most part, deejays are overworked and underpaid. Except for the occasional Dick Clark, Casey Kasem or “Wolfman” Jack, being a spin-jockey won't put your kids through an Ivy League college or cover a condo by the sea.
I think that's the primary reason I admire the men and women who faithfully man the mikes at Gospel radio stations across this land. Just about all of them are in it for the ministry, and for the good they can do for others. Dedication to a calling such as that must be in the blood. It's definitely in the heart. Why else would someone work for below average wages and report for duty on most holidays?
I wish there was enough space to name each and every one of these hard-working, much admired men and women I've come to know and love the past six years. They all have one gift in common—the gift of gab. I get to hear many deejays do their “radio thing” when I tune in while driving, or when I'm put on hold when we track songs by phone.
But it goes beyond their voice talent. I've talked to enough deejays to conclude that they really do care about their listeners. Many deejays are ministers and Gospel singers themselves, just like the people whose songs they play. They choose to play music that touches lives and gives encouragement to hurting hearts. Songs of hope, consolation, worship and praise. To do that, a deejay rises early, works late, and often times has to sound cheerful and optimistic when he or she really isn't.
I believe the ministry of a committed Gospel radio personality is about as important as a pastor's or evangelist's. When the church doors are closed the Southern Gospel deejay is on the job carrying the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to thousands, where they live, work, and play. Homes, offices, factories, hospitals and nursing care facilities—no place is out of reach for this musical missionary named “deejay.” They even deliver it to our cars while we commute to and from the places I mentioned!
Crossroads Music salutes the Southern Gospel Deejay! And those of every other Christian music genre, too. They're the main cog and primary link in a conduit that runs from songwriter to artist, from record label to listener. Without the deejay the music we produce would lie silent in a jewel case. The message would be unheard. Our industry, without the deejay, is akin to having a fantastic stereo system but no speakers.
This article was meant to be a verbal bouquet for Gospel Deejays—whether you're full time, part-time, or anytime . We want you to know you are loved and appreciated by all of us.
I also want to make a special mention of our dear African brother, Southern Gospel Deejay Job Gathemia, who was promoted to Glory on July 27, 2004. He will be missed. Job's column in U.S. Gospel News was always so inspiring and powerfully worded. He was a very special man, there just aren't that many Southern Gospel deejays in Nairobi, Africa!
Job's up there now with some other old radio pro's and very special people who crossed over in recent years—Dick Shiflett, John Casey Brown, Eddie Mozingo, Gary Lee, Tim Brooks, “Little Rick Hancock, Ray Jones, and Richard Foster. I'm sure there are more, but these are some I personally knew about.
Just for a moment, imagine all those gentlemen gathered around a golden mike, about to give a weather report.
“Looks like plenty of SON shine coming our way folks. Not a cloud in sight, except for a huge cloud of witnesses around the throne!
Rain? You've got to be kidding! There's only one kind of “rain” up here … it ‘s called eternal reign ! ”
That sounds like Heaven to me.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 09/01/2004
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Category: Monthly ArticlesCrossroads Chronicles
Comments: 11
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thanks Jim you are a trooper...we are all
thanks JIM.. you are tops too!
Jim,
Jim, you are the greatest. I know you meant every word of what you said. For years I would tell people that my wife worked to support my radio habit. I, just this year, celebrated my 10th anniversary at KJIC 90.5 FM, and my 21st year as a southern gospel DJ in the Houston, Texas area. May God bless you and the folks and artists at Crossroads.
Jim, you have indeed assembled an incredible troop of talent. The comps are wonderful and make my job of sitting down in one place for a couple of hours to listen to their music a real joy. Keep up the good word--God's work. We are all blessed.
Hi Jim,
Amen, Jim! You couldn't have written this article any better or said any truer words about the incredible people who take the gospel to the masses by way of radio. May we never forget their dedication and love for what they do, thanking God that His message is being heard by thousands each and every day.
Hi Jim: from Bakersfield,Ca Thanks for the wonderful words to all the DJs, and this one out here in California. this is part-time for me,oh but what a joy on the weekends it is to play the sounds of heaven to our listeners.GOD BLESS you and the staff @ crossroads.
My thanks to everyone who read this article, and especially to those of you who commented on it.
Your articles was an inspirational one for me. It reafirms the importance of the radio ministry I do each Sunday morning and how much it means to the listners. Thank you.
Heard a great southern gospel song on WLRD the other day, but I can't find out anything about it. I think the title might be "According to John". Any ideas?
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