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In one of his NQC posts, Doug Harrison at the averyfineline blog attempted to pin Andrew Ishee with a politically incorrect tag for a comment he made while introducing the Jody Brown Indian Family in a Friday Afternoon showcase. Apparently Ishee said “we need not ‘fear these Indians. They’re nice Indians and they won’t come after your scalp or anything.’”

Harrison used this as one of several incidents throughout his NQC coverage that created a motif of Southern Gospel performers as politically incorrect, backwoods rednecks. But chances are he missed the context, and thus the whole point, of the joke.

In Gold City’s set on Monday night, Jonathan Wilburn introduced Gold City bass Tex McCune, an American Indian, with a joke that played off the sonic similarity of “engine” and “Injun.” Tex McCune acted offended. When Jonathan Wilburn asked him why, he said, “I’m admiring your scalp.” (At this point Jonathan begged Danny Riley to calm him down.)

In all likelihood, Ishee’s joke about Indians coming after your scalp was made in light of the Wilburn/McCune joke on Monday.

While I’m not suggesting that Ishee is making (or, for that matter should make) any attempt to conform to the unrealistic liberal definition of political correctness, there is a reasonable explanation for this joke when it is understood in the proper context of the earlier joke at the quartet convention.

I contacted the Inspirations’ office and found out that the fifth man who sang on stage with the Inspirations at NQC was Mack Clark; either Clark or Darren Osborn fills in with the Inspirations when Archie Watkins has throat troubles.

Some visitors may have already noticed that clicking the various boxes in this blog header will open different backgrounds for the blog.

A few new ones have just been added. One of them (also found here, after scrolling down) is a picture of Signature Sound with the Ball Brothers singing “Suppertime” with George Younce taking the lead via video. It didn’t strike me particularly the first time I saw the picture, but on later reflection it’s a poignant picture. At the precise instant I snapped the photo, George Younce was at such an angle that it looks as though he’s looking at Signature Sound with an approving smile.

The Gaither.com website is reporting that Gaither Vocal Band baritone Marshall Hall and his wife Lori had their first child last weekend. Presley Hall was born earlier than expected; a C-section had been scheduled for September 25th.

Marshall was in South Africa with the Gaither Vocal Band for two concerts at the time. Wesley Pritchard, who had made the trip with the Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & Signature sound, filled Hall’s place with the Gaither Vocal Band for the remainder of the trip.

Incidentally, a member of the Ernie Haase & Signature Sound message board who attended one of the concerts in South Africa reported Guy Penrod fainted when hitting a high note in the final song of the concert. He was assisted off the stage and was doing fine. Members of the audience who knew about Anthony Burger’s homecoming were briefly concerned that they had seen something similar happen before their eyes.

This is a brief follow-up to last night’s McRae post. Sharp reader Diana noted that Brian Free announced at a recent Brian Free & Assurance concert that his son (and group drummer) Ricky Free would leave the band and come off the road within a year.

It will be interesting to see whether Brian Free hires a replacement drummer. He would if having a band is part of his long-term vision for Brian Free & Assurance. On the other hand, if his reason for adding Ricky on drums was that Ricky could play them well and wanted to tour with him, we can expect to see Brian Free and Assurance move to a pianist-and-soundtracks structure within the next year.