Southern Gospel’s Dirty Word, Editorial

Jul

2008

Southern Gospel’s Dirty Word

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I went to hear the Kingsmen Quartet last Sunday night. They were halfway through the program before I realized that they didn't have their band. For those of you young guys, who don't know, bands weren't even around until the 70s. I remember when the bands come on the scene. They were of the devil. Bands were of the world and had no place in Gospel Music. It wasn't long after bands were accepted in the business that we started going downhill, losing our crowds. I am not blaming the bands and live music for this, there are other major reasons why we started falling apart at that time, and live music wasn't one of them. However, my point is that bands and live music were not what made this music so popular. This genre has NEVER been based on the band. It's always been based on vocals and harmony. Why do you think that we called them "All Night Sings" for years? We would say, "we're having a singing tonight".

IF you only caught the SGM of the 80s and 90s. you missed some of the greatest SGM ever put out. The 60s and 70s were fantastic with such groups as the Oak Ridge Boys, JD and the Stamps, the Downings, the Imperials, the Prophets, the Statesmen, the Blackwood Brothers, the Couriers, the Cathedrals with Bobby Clark, The Happy Goodmans, the Rambos. That was an era of great, exciting music. These groups had crowds on their feet every night. They didn't have to rely on "love offerings" to make a living. They charged a good ticket price and filled arenas, auditoriums, schools, churches, and any place else they could sing.

These artists didn't have all the live music of bands until the middle to end of the 70s, but way before they had live bands (except a piano and an occasional guitar) these groups were filling concert halls. It's not the live music that is missing today. There is another vital part of this industry that is missing.

Today's SGM is missing a vital link for making our genre grow again. It's called entertainment. Some people shutter when this word is mentioned. IF we will learn how to entertain people again, we will see our crowds grow. Gospel Music is unique because it is our worship AND our entertainment. When I turn on the radio to drive down the road, while some people would turn on the radio for Country music, I turn it on to listen to Gospel Music. Not for worship, but for entertainment. I remember back in the 60s and 70s when we went as a church function on Saturday night to a singing at the Kingsland Theatre in St. Louis, MO. We weren't going for a church service, we were buying tickets to have a good time. Others were going to the movies, we went to singings. The Tenor would sing that high screeching ending, the Bass would dip way down for that low note and we would whistle and cheer, clap our hands and stomp our feet, because we were being entertained. The next morning, on Sunday, most of those groups would be in a church somewhere in the area singing with reverence and worship in a church service. Friday and Saturday nights though, they were entertaining packed out crowds.

If we want to see auditoriums filled to capacity, let's get back to entertaining people when it is appropriate. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound are singing to auditoriums and churches where the seats are all full, because they are entertaining the people. Entertainment is not a bad word. We are going to be entertained one way or another.
We can be entertained with wholesome Gospel Music, where we just might get an added attraction of the Spirit falling and everyone getting blessed, and I'm not opposed to that, or we can look to the world for our entertainment. I don't know about you, but I prefer to see our Christian people entertained by Gospel singers, not those singing about cheatin' hearts or gettin' drunk or gettin' high.

Let's bring the word "entertainment" back into the fold and stop considering it a "dirty" word.

Reader Comments

Great article, Deon.

I always know I'm in for an experience whenever a group gets on stage and says, "Now, we didn't come to entertain." They're usually correct.

Commented by On 07/19/2008

You're absolutely right. What is really sad is that the church's aversion to good, wholesome, Christian "entertainment" has made the world's pull on our young people even stronger. They will be entertained...one way or another. Back in the late sixties while my teenage peers were shopping for the prom and planning to "tie one on" on prom night for "entertainment", my sister and I were making plans to go see the Imperials at the old Kingsland Theatre. The auditorium was packed...with young people just like us...and we were truly entertained. We were in a safe environment with solid values. Nothin' wrong with that. Janice

Commented by On 07/22/2008

Exactly, Janice. I teach the teens and am youth pastor at my church. I learned a long time ago that teens won't listen to a "lecture" in Sunday School. You have to make it enjoyable for them. I let them pick the topics we talk about and even stray from the subject we're on if it helps them to stay interested. If I'm "entertaining" them, so be it. At least they're learning. That's more important than my lesson notes.

Commented by On 07/22/2008

The thing people don't realize though is most of the groups performing now with tracks have more "band" music in them than live bands. I still believe in entertaining people, but you still need the flexibility of being able to follow the leadership of the Lord in your program. In our programs we find that people get into the service more when we use live music. I don't see anything wrong with entertaining people, but you still need to get His message across to them.

Commented by On 07/22/2008

I have to agree with that as well.

Commented by On 07/22/2008

Well said, Deon. I go to singings for blessings but I, also, go for entertainment. A good program gives me both.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good.

Elaine Harcourt

Commented by On 07/23/2008

T Rodgers is right. I'm not against entertainment. but we always must be open to the leading of the Lord at all times no matter where we're at. And LIVE bands help that tremendously. We need to get the LIVE bands back. I just can't stand tracks. They're very limiting and restraining.

Commented by On 07/23/2008

Excellent article. Christians have many reasons to rejoice and we should show it by having a great time and receiving a powerful message. Glory to God that we can do that! That's the beauty of the Southern Gospel heritage, isn't it? Let's not focus on what we can and cannot stand about the delivery of the message and focus on what those who need a fresh Word are looking for. If that's praise and worship or full gospel or live band or bluegrass or instrumental or accapella or great vocals with tracks or opera...it's ALL good as long as we are moving people with God's word. It's a blessing to be about God's work sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter the form. I thank God for both live musicians and those who provide tracks so vocalists can reach more people.

Commented by Ezekiel33 On 07/23/2008

I understand that it is hard to keep a band, or group together these days because the churches are hard pressed against the loud drums and guitars in the church. My son plays drums for us, we all play different instruments also, but I feel if I dont use what God has blessed me with then He will take it away and give to someone else. The world has tried to get to my son with his drums, but He stands firm on serving the Lord with his talent, to serve as entertainment for Christians and to praise Him for who He is!

Commented by On 07/23/2008

Actually, you have some time line discrepancies as far as I know. From the history I am aware of and live recordings etc. The Stamps and Oaks (if no one else) had live bands around the mid sixties or so with full drums being added around 1970.

Commented by On 07/23/2008

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