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I have been reading some Classic literature lately. Probably not many of you have read this great book, but it has some outstanding common sense between its pages. It's "God In My Corner," by George Foreman, the two-time heavyweight champion of the world. Ladies, that means he's a boxer. You might be wondering what ole George has to do with Southern Gospel Music. Well, in the seventh chapter, titled "Appreciate Today", on page 81, George makes the following brilliant statement. "Although it's fun to recall good memories, I never forget the past is what it is ---- gone forever! I refuse to get trapped there. Nostalgia is thinking that yesterday was better than today. But, if I spend too much time reminiscing about "the good old days", I'll miss the fun of today. I don't want to sit around and think about how good life used to be. I like to think about how good life is right now."

You know, when you sit around and listen to ole George talk, he's just saying some pretty simple things, yet they are quite profound. How in the world does that translate to Southern Gospel Music you're asking? His last two sentences say it all. Let's just change the word life for music. I don't want to sit around and think how good Southern Gospel Music USED to be. I like to think about how good Southern Gospel Music is right now. Are you starting to see where I'm going with this?

Go back and check out many of the old threads on our message boards and you will see that much of the discussion lends itself to how great our music USED to be and how lacking it is today because we use modern techniques in our recordings and performances. We get so wrapped up in what used to be that we miss the great performers and writers of today. I have been so blessed to have lived long enough to have seen some of the great groups of yesteryear. I have great memories of seeing the Statesmen with Rosie, Jake, Doyle, Big Chief, and Hovie. I remember seeing the Blackwood Brothers singing in the Arthur Godfrey Show. (I was really young then, but I can remember it.) I am especially fond of seeing the Oak Ridge Quartet when they were Little Willie, Smitty, Ron, Herman, and Tommy. Those were the groups that put the love of this music in my heart to stay.

Now let me give you some very sad news. I will never get to see any of those performers sing in those lineups again..... ever. Thank God for my memories and my old 33s.

Now let me give you the good news. There are some artists singing today who are every bit as talented and yes as good as those wonderful guys from the groups I listened to in the 50s and 60s. I believe that one of the faults of our wonderful genre is that we live in the past, and we are missing the great music of today. We have groups like Gold City, the Hoppers, Greater Vision, Legacy Five, Karen Peck and New River, and yes even Signature Sound, who are putting out great music that we are letting slip by us, because we are too involved in trying to save what has passed away. We have some up and coming groups like Crystal River, Driven Quartet, Southern Sound, Tribute Quartet, and the Browns who are putting out absolutely fantastic music, but can you tell me what their songs are?

It was as though Ole George was looking right at Southern Gospel Music when he when he was talking about being stuck in the nostalgia era. There have been things come and go in our genre. Anyone remember the fuss when drums were brought on the stage? What about when live bands started showing up? Who can forget the short lived bongo drums, and the synthesizers?

Some things stuck and are still with us today. Have no fear, not everything that you don't like about today's music is going to be here ten years from now. If it's stacks or tracks or graphic equalizers, modern innovations are going to make some things of today obsolete. As new things come on board, make sure that you step back a MINUTE and remember how you reacted to the new happenings in your day.

Southern Gospel Music is is good shape and it's not going anywhere. Let's follow George's advice and enjoy the music of today. Let's stop being so engrossed in the past, that we forget and miss the great music being produced today.

Reader Comments

Good point, Deon. Let's not forget that back in the day when we were witnessing the Statesmen, the Blackwood Brothers, the Speers, etc, there were plenty of older folks who thought that these groups were "Not as good" as the Stamps All Stars or the Vaughn Quartet or the Dixie Lily Harmoneers or the Melody Masters. Nope... they just didn't make quartets like THAT any more...

Chris J. Becker
Cedar Rapids, IA

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