The Rick Hendrix Company had a successful and sometimes controversial run in Southern Gospel radio promotion; see, for example, our stories here, here, and here. But, along the way, they promoted countless chart-topping hits, with multiple #1s. Last night, I noticed that they haven’t had a song appearing in the Singing News Top 80 charts since January 2012.

Granted, it has been a year and a half, so it’s hardly a news item. But I haven’t noticed anyone else mention it, and a chapter this colorful in Southern Gospel history ought not pass into the history books completely unmentioned.

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A reader writes in to ask:

Do you have any cd recommendations that are relatively easy listening? Acoustic, bluegrass, instrumental, soft-core SG, etc. For a nursing home. 

I mentioned the Isaacs’ almost acapella project and the Collingsworth Family’s upcoming hymns project—which, based on the live performances I heard last weekend of three of their arrangements looks to have at least a fair number of easy-listening moments—but quickly came up empty. So I thought I would pass the question along to you.

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Why did I start the Songs from the Books of the Bible series?

Several years ago, I was listening to a message where a very well-known preacher, for whom I have the highest respect, said that Southern Gospel songs were theologically shallow, all about streets of Gold and not about God.

While I knew that Southern Gospel’s songs dealt with a broader range of topics, I also knew that many songs would not come to my own mind. In November 2011, I started looking at one book of the Bible each week, asking for your input on suggesting songs drawn from these passages. This series can serve as a resource for addressing criticisms of this nature.

* * *

 

This genre’s roots lie in the American South during and before the Great Depression. The worse things get around us, the more vivid and real Heaven becomes, and the more meaningful the promises of Heaven are to us. So, yes, Southern Gospel has always had a fair number of Heaven songs. But equating Heaven songs with weak theology is a false dichotomy. Just because a song is about Heaven doesn’t mean it has weak theology! We could name examples of Heaven songs with deep theology all day; I’ll just mention two comparatively recent songs recorded by Southern Gospel artists, “A Pile of Crowns” and “A Higher Throne.” Granted, Southern Gospel has always had a fair number of Heaven songs. Provided the focus is where it needs to be—on Heaven’s King—that’s hardly a bad thing.

Perhaps the preacher’s only exposure to our genre was the Southern Gospel of the 1950s and 1960s. It would be a fair self-critique of our genre’s history to admit that our genre’s songwriters’ attempts to employ the popular idioms and catch-phrases of those decades did produce a fair number of shallow “man-in-the-sky” songs. (If some of them seem absurdly dated now, let that stand as a warning to any of today’s Christian songwriters who are trying a little too hard to be cool!) Of course, numerous richly theological classics also came from those decades and endure to this day.

I believe a major shift in Southern Gospel songwriting occurred after the rise of contemporary praise and worship music in the 1970s and 1980s. While I will try to avoid committing the same error that prompted this post, painting other genres with inaccurate overgeneralizations, it would be fair to say that there have been some repetitive praise choruses and some double entendré CCM songs that could be taken either about human love or God’s love. I believe that Southern Gospel artists and songwriters reacted to these trends by steadily moving in the direction of deeper and more solid theology.

From a standpoint of theology in lyrics, I believe that Southern Gospel is now the strongest it has ever been. There are still theologically shallow songs; I collect hymnals, and have several hundred from over the last several hundred years, and regrettably, every generation of Christian music has had its weak songs. But a rising number of writers and artists care deeply about rich theology in their lyrics. 

* * *

I would make the case that the crux of our genre lies in understanding life today, with its blessings and its trials, through two lenses—looking back to Calvary to understand life today in light of the Cross, and looking forward to understand today’s trials in the light of Heaven.

As with every other genre of Christian music, Southern Gospel has its weaknesses. It has its songs with bad theology and its hypocrites. Yet, today more than ever, it has songs with rich theology. In fact, I grew up on CCM and Praise & Worship; it Southern Gospel’s richly theological songs that drew me in becoming a fan of the genre nine years ago.

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What percentage of your music listening hours are spent listening to AM/FM music radio? For these purposes, we’re not counting Sirius/XM or online/app-only radio stations (like Pandora, Spotify, or Live365) in these percentages. (If you get this via email or RSS, click here to visit the site and vote in the poll.)

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Yesterday evening, Singing News announced the top 5 nominees in the Singing News Fan Awards (). Here’s a list breaking down changes from 2012:

Favorite Artist

• Unchanged: Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Perrys, Triumphant Qt
• 2013: Collingsworth Family
• 2012: Brian Free & Assurance

Favorite Traditional Quartet

• Unchanged: Kingdom Heirs, Legacy Five, Mark Trammell Qt, Triumphant Qt
• 2013: Brian Free & Assurance
• 2012: Inspirations

Favorite Mixed Group

• Unchanged: Collingsworth Family, Hoppers, Isaacs, McKameys, Perrys

Favorite Trio

• Unchanged: Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Karen Peck & New River, Whisnants

Favorite Soloist

• Unchanged: Mark Bishop, Jason Crabb, Ivan Parker, Guy Penrod
• 2013: TaRanda Greene
• 2012: Squire Parsons

Favorite Male Singer

• Unchanged: Ronnie Booth, Joseph Habedank, Ivan Parker, Arthur Rice
• 2013: Eric Bennett
• 2012: Gerald Wolfe

Favorite Female Singer

• Unchanged: Sheri Easter, Karen Peck Gooch, Kim Hopper, Libbi Stuffle
• 2013: TaRanda Greene
• 2012: Susan Whisnant

Favorite Young Artist

• Unchanged: Morgan Easter, Trey Ivey, Amber Thompson, Jordan Wilburn
• 2013: Olivia Collingsworth
• 2012: Phillip Collingsworth

The Collingsworth Family has had a completely unprecedented streak of three consecutive wins for three consecutive siblings – Brooklyn, Courtney, and, last year, Phillip. Will they manage a complete run with Olivia this year?

Favorite Tenor

• Unchanged: Chris Allman, Michael Booth, Brian Free, David Phelps, David Sutton

Favorite Lead

• Unchanged: Ronnie Booth, Joseph Habedank, Clayton Inman, Arthur Rice
• 2013: Gerald Wolfe
• 2012: Scott Fowler

Favorite Baritone

• Unchanged: Jim Brady, Rodney Griffin, Scott Inman, Mark Trammell
• 2013: Mark Lowry
• 2012: Scott Howard

Favorite Bass

• Unchanged: Pat Barker, Eric Bennett, Mike Holcomb, Tim Riley
• 2013: Tracy Stuffle
• 2012: Glenn Dustin

Favorite Soprano

• Unchanged: Lauren Talley Alvey, Brooklyn Collingsworth, Karen Peck Gooch, Kim Hopper, Sonya Isaacs Yeary

Favorite Alto

• Unchanged: Courtney Collingsworth, Sheri Easter, Connie Hopper, Libbi Stuffle, Susan Whisnant

Favorite Musician

• Unchanged: Kim Collingsworth, Gordon Mote, Jeff Stice, Kevin Williams
• 2013: Roger Fortner
• 2012: Stewart Varnado

Favorite Band

• Unchanged: Dove Brothers, Gaither Vocal Band, Isaacs, Kingdom Heirs, Primitive Quartet

Favorite Songwriter (Performing): 2013: Mark Bishop, Jim Brady, Rodney Griffin, Joseph Habedank, Scott Inman

Favorite Non-Performing Songwriter: 2013: Ricky Free, Marty Funderburk, Mosie Lister, Rebecca Peck, Dianne Wilkinson

The categories were split out from the combined 2012 category, Favorite Songwriter. Last year, the Favorite Songwriter nominees were Jim Brady, Rodney Griffin, Joseph Habedank, Scott Inman, and Dianne Wilkinson. Wilkinson was the only non-performing writer on the list; her move to the Favorite Non-Performing Songwriter category this year appears to have opened the door for Mark Bishop to make his way into the top 5.

Favorite Album

• Unchanged: Albums from Booth Brothers
• 2013: Hoppers, Brian Free & Assurance, Greater Vision, Perrys
• 2012: Legacy Five, Inspirations, Triumphant Quartet, Kingdom Heirs

Favorite Song

• Unchanged: Songs from Booth Brothers, Brian Free & Assurance, Greater Vision, Legacy Five, McKameys, Perrys, Triumphant Quartet
• 2013: Songs from Kingdom Heirs, Tribute Quartet, Whisnants
• 2012: Songs from Karen Peck & New River, Inspirations, Gold City

This year, the Horizon Group award was subdivided into four categories.

• Favorite New Traditional Quartet: Canton Junction, Carolina Boys, Old Paths, Paul’s Journey, Union Street
• Favorite New Mixed Group: Allen Family, Heaven’s Mountain Band, Mylon Hayes Family, Sneed Family, Taylors
• Favorite New Trio: 11th Hour, Beyond the Ashes, Freedom Trio, Hyssongs, Red Roots
• Favorite New Soloist: Chris Hester, Billy Hodges, Steve Ladd, Abby Paskvan, Angela Primm

Last year’s Horizon Group nominees were: Carolina Boys, Old Paths, Red Roots, Taylors, Wilburn & Wilburn. Of these five, WIlburn & Wilburn was automatically disqualified from eligibility this year by winning last year. The Old Paths, The Taylors, and Red Roots all make another appearance (one each in three different categories); the Carolina Boys do not.

Overall, there is very little change from last year’s top five. Other than a few changes prompted by personnel changes in the last twelve months, most of the changes are one familiar face for another. About the only two that might mark any significant shift in Singing News readers’ loyalties would be TaRanda Greene’s new top 5 nominations for soloist and female singer, and the Collingsworth Family’s top 5 appearance for favorite artist.

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This is the sixty-fifth entry in a series on Songs from the Books of the Bible.

Southern Gospel songs focus on many of the highest themes known to mankind—songs of Salvation, the Cross, the Resurrection, and eternity. But critics claim that they focus on these themes to the exclusion of other Biblical themes which are appropriate and perhaps necessary to address in song.

For how many chapters in Revelation can we find Southern Gospel songs addressing their themes?

• Rev. 1:7: Every Eye Shall See (Bill Gaither Trio)
• Rev. 1:7: Every Eye Shall See (Statesmen) (separate song)
• Rev. 1:7: The Cloud He’s Coming Back On (Happy Goodmans, Kingsmen)
• Rev. 1:7: He’s Coming in the Clouds (Dixie Melody Boys)
• Rev. 1:7: When Jesus Comes in the Clouds (Poet Voices, Ernie Haase, Ricky Atkinson & Compassion, Greenes)
• Rev. 1:7: When the Son Breaks Through the Clouds (Inspirations)
• Rev. 1:9: Remember the Mountain (McKameys)
• Rev. 1:9-18: John the Revelator (Happy Goodmans)
• Rev. 1:17: The First and Last (Greater Vision, Cross 4 Crowns)
• Rev. 1:17-18: All Is Well (McKameys)
• Rev. 2:4: Don’t Lose Your First Love (Spencers)
• Rev. 2:4: Timothy’s Burden (Martins)
• Rev. 3:4: They Shall Walk With Me in White (Inspirations)
• Rev. 3:8: Beyond the Open Door (Gaither Vocal Band, Revelation)
• Rev. 3:20: Knock, Knock, Knock (Palmetto State Quartet)
• Rev. 4:8: Holy Is Thy Name (Cathedrals, Chris Allman, Gaither Homecoming Friends, Legacy Five, Ruppes)
• Rev. 4:8: Holy Is Thy Name (Perry Sisters, Singing Americans) (separate song)
• Rev. 4:8: Holy, Holy, Holy (Blue Ridge Quartet, Cathedrals, Collingsworth Family, Kim Collingsworth, Liberty Quartet)
• Rev. 4:8: He’s Worthy (Song of the Redeemed) (Allison Durham Speer, Gaither Homecoming Friends, Triumphant Quartet)
• Rev. 5:9: Sing a Song About the Lamb (McKameys)
• Rev. 5:12: Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain (Archie Watkins)
• Rev. 5:12: Worthy the Lamb (Bill Gaither Trio, Cathedrals, Gaither Vocal Band, Kim Collingsworth, Talleys)
• Rev. 5:12: Worthy the Lamb is He (Soul’d Out Quartet)
• Rev. 7:9: Mighty Number (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)
• Rev. 7:9: Sea of White (McKameys)
• Rev. 7:9-14: John Saw Me (Mark Trammell Trio)
• Rev. 7:14: These Are They (Happy Goodmans, Gaither Vocal Band, Bishops, Hoppers)
• Rev. 7:14: These Are They (Inspirations, Kingsmen, Spencers) (separate song)
• Rev. 7:17: He’ll Wipe Away the Tears (Inspirations)
• Rev. 7:17: God Shall Wipe All Tears Away (Kingsmen, Diplomats, Stamps)
• Rev. 7:17: God Shall Wipe Away All Tears (Rambos)
• Rev. 7:17: Goodbye to Tears (Hinsons, Teddy Huffam and the Gems)
• Rev. 7:17: No Tears Beyond the Gate (Primitive Quartet)
• Rev. 15:2-4: They’re Getting Ready in Glory to Crown Him King (McKameys)
• Rev. 15:3: Sing a Song About the Lamb (McKameys)
• Rev. 19: Coronation Day (McKameys)
• Rev. 19:1-6: The Song of Heaven (Tribute Quartet)
• Rev. 19:7-9: Wedding Music (Cathedrals, Mark Trammell Quartet)
• Rev. 19:7-9: A Wedding Invitation (Inspirations, Florida Boys)
• Rev. 19:7-9: Wedding Reception (Kingsmen)
• Rev. 19:7-9: Going to a Wedding (Rambos)
• Rev. 19:7-9: Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Hoppers, Tribute Quartet)
• Rev. 19:7-9: Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Perrys)
• Rev. 19:12: Crown Him With Many Crowns (Ball Brothers, Liberty Quartet, Allison Durham Speer)
• Rev. 19:13-16: Hosanna (Hoppers)
• Rev. 20: The Judgment (Kingsmen)
• Rev. 20:12-15: You Never Mentioned Him to Me (McKameys)
• Rev. 21: Story Untold (McKameys)
• Rev. 21:1: No More Sea (McKameys)
• Rev. 21:2: The Holy City (Bill Shaw, Blackwood Brothers, Collingsworth Family, Gaither Homecoming Friends)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem (Bishops)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem (Gold City) (different song)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem (Inspirations, Kingsmen) (third song)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem (Liberty Quartet) (fourth song)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem (Rambos) (fifth song)
• Rev. 21:2: New Jerusalem Coming Down (Calvary Echoes)
• Rev. 21:2: Jerusalem (Hoppers)
• Rev. 21:2: Holy Shore (Perrys)
• Rev. 21:2: Walk and Talk in the New Jerusalem Way (Blackwood Brothers, Chuck Wagon Gang, Heaven Bound, Inspirations, Legacy Five)
• Rev. 21:2: John Saw (Gold City)
• Rev. 21:3-6: Alpha and Omega (Gaither Vocal Band) (also Rev. 22:8)
• Rev. 21:4 (also see Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17): Tears Will Never Stain the Streets of That City (Rambos, Allison Durham Speer, Blackwood Brothers, Florida Boys, Inspirations, LordSong, Perrys, Tim Surrett)
• Rev. 21:4 (also see Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17): No Tears in Heaven (Blackwood Brothers, Blue Ridge Quartet, Cathedrals, Chuck Wagon Gang, Gaither Homecoming Friends, LeFevres, Rebels, Spencers)
• Rev. 21:4 (also see Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17): He’ll Wipe Away the Tears (Inspirations)
• Rev. 21:4 (also see Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17): God Shall Wipe All Tears Away (Rambos)
• Rev. 21:4 (also see Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17): There’ll Be No More Tears (Spencers)
• Rev. 21:4-5: I Am Home (McKameys)
• Rev. 21:6: You’re Still God (McKameys)
• Rev. 21:6: It is Done (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
• Rev. 21:12: I, John (Wilburn & Wilburn, Florida Boys, Southern Sound)
• Rev. 21:12: Twelve Gates (Kingsmen)
• Rev. 21:21: The Streets of Gold (Blue Ridge Quartet)
• Rev. 21:21: Streets of Gold (Triumphant Quartet) (different song)
• Rev. 21:21: The Streets of Gold (Cathedrals, Kingdom Heirs, Florida Boys) (third song)
• Rev. 21:21: When I Walk on Streets of Gold (Florida Boys, Inspirations, Chuck Wagon Gang, Inspirations)
• Rev. 21:21: When My Feet Touch the Streets of Gold (Dixie Echoes, Florida Boys, Gold City, Kingsmen, LeFevres)
• Rev. 21:23: When the Lamb Becomes the Light (Gold City)
• Rev. 21:23: In the City Where the Lamb is the Light (Stamps)
• Rev. 22:1: River of Life (The Prophets)
• Rev. 22:1: River of Life (Oak Ridge Boys) (different song)
• Rev. 22:2: Tree of Life (Dixie Echoes) (allusion)
• Rev. 22:5: No More Night (David Phelps, Matt Felts)
• Rev. 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride Say Come (Liberty Quartet, Rick Webb Family)
• Rev. 22:17: Standing at the Altar (McKameys)
• Rev. 22:17: Whosoever Will (Cathedrals)
• Rev. 22:18-19: Are You Listening For the Lord (Inspirations) (allusion)
• Rev. 22:20: Coming Very Soon (McKameys)
• Rev. 22:20: Way Past Ready (Mark Trammell Quartet)
• Rev. 22:20: Even So Come Quickly (Poet Voices)
• Rev. 22:20: Even So, Come, Lord Jesus (Crist Family)
• Rev. 22:20: Even So, Come (Dixie Melody Boys)
• Rev. 22:20: Even So, Lord Jesus, Come (Cathedrals, Bill Gaither Trio)

What others come to mind?

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Yesterday, I updated the reference section’s Singing News #1 History page, and the accompanying analysis pages. They had been current through the January 2013 charts; they are now current through June 2013. Notable changes include:

On Singing News #1 Hits: Analyzed by Artist:

• With their March 2013 #1 “All is Well,” The Whisnants’ thirteenth, they remain at 3rd place, but are one away from tying The Crabb Family’s fourteen.
• With their April 2013 #1 “Just Preach Jesus,” The Kingdom Heirs’ seventh, they move up to a two-way tie for 9th place with The Inspirations. They have now surpassed The Cathedrals’ six #1 hits (though not, of course, the nineteen months The Cathedrals spent at #1).
• With their May 2013 #1 “I Got a Hold of God This Morning,” The Perrys’ tenth, they now enter a three-way tie for 5th place, joining The Talleys and Gold City.

The page also includes an analysis of the most months spent at #1. The only notable change is that The Whisnants moved up to 11th place.

On Singing News #1 Hits: Analyzed by Label:

• Crossroads added two #1 hits, going from 65 to 67, remaining in 1st place.
• Daywind also added two, going from 48 to 50, remaining in 2nd place
• United Independent Artists added one, going from 13 to 14, and remaining in 6th place.

On Singing News #1 Hits: Analyzed by Songwriter:

• With her eighth #1, “Just Preach Jesus” (Kingdom Heirs), Dianne Wilkinson moves from a three-way tie for 5th place to a solo 5th place spot.
• Kyla Rowland’s fifth #1, “I Got A Hold of God This Morning” (Perrys), moves her from a six-way tie for 8th place to a four-way tie for 7th (or 12th, if you account for other ties).

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This is the sixty-fourth entry in a series on Songs from the Books of the Bible.

Southern Gospel songs focus on many of the highest themes known to mankind—songs of Salvation, the Cross, the Resurrection, and eternity. But critics claim that they focus on these themes to the exclusion of other Biblical themes which are appropriate and perhaps necessary to address in song.

For how many chapters in Jude can we find Southern Gospel songs addressing their themes?

• Jude 3: We Will Stand Our Ground (Kingdom Heirs)
• Jude 22: Let My Life Make a Difference (Greater Vision) (allusion)

What others come to mind?

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This is the sixty-third entry in a series on Songs from the Books of the Bible.

Southern Gospel songs focus on many of the highest themes known to mankind—songs of Salvation, the Cross, the Resurrection, and eternity. But critics claim that they focus on these themes to the exclusion of other Biblical themes which are appropriate and perhaps necessary to address in song.

• III John 4: Leave a Legacy (Collingsworth Family) (allusion)

What others come to mind?

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This is the sixty-second entry in a series on Songs from the Books of the Bible.

Southern Gospel songs focus on many of the highest themes known to mankind—songs of Salvation, the Cross, the Resurrection, and eternity. But critics claim that they focus on these themes to the exclusion of other Biblical themes which are appropriate and perhaps necessary to address in song.

For how many chapters in I John can we find Southern Gospel songs addressing their themes?

• I John 1:7: Walkin’ in the Light (Collingsworth Family)
• I John 1:7: Walkin’ in the Light (Dixie Melody Boys) (different song)
• I John 1:7: Walking in the Light (Daybreak Quartet) (third song)
• I John 1:7: Walking in the Light (Blackwood Brothers) (fourth song)
• I John 1:7: The Blood of Jesus (Collingsworth Family)
• I John 1:7: Stepping in the Light (Gaither Homecoming Friends)
• I John 1:9: God Saves Old Sinners (McKameys)
• I John 2:1: I’ve Got an Advocate (Keith Plott)
• I John 3:1: Behold What Manner of Love (McKameys)
• I John 3:2: We Shall See Jesus (Cathedrals)
• I John 3:2: We Shall Be Like Him (Speer Family)
• I John 3:2: We Shall Be Like Him (Statesmen)
• I John 3:2: First John (Booth Brothers)
• I John 3:2: When He Comes Down (Hoppers)
• I John 3:2: We Shall Behold Him (The Rambos, Sandi Patti)
• I John 4:4: Greater is He that is In Me (Cathedrals, Florida Boys, Talley Trio)
• I John 4:8: For God is Love (Gold City)
• I John 4:8: God is Love (Couriers)
• I John 4:8: God is Love (Blackwood Brothers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver) (second song)
• I John 4:8: Truly God is Love (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)
• I John 4:19: Even as I First Loved You (Florida Boys)
• I John 4:19: Oh, How I Love Jesus (Blackwood Brothers, Talleys, Cathedrals, Hoppers)
• I John 5:4: Sweet Victory (McKameys)

What others come to mind?

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