SouthernGospelBlog.com

Well, it looks like the verdict is in. In response to a post made by Doug Harrison at the Averyfineline blog suggesting I should not interact with my readers, I asked for your feedback. Everyone–even those of you who prefer the patrician model of writing but declining to interact with your readers–agreed that the model I’ve been following of interacting with my readers (I called it the “populist” model) is just who I am. Different blogs have their places, and this blog is and will continue to be a place not only for you to read my thoughts, but also a place for me to read yours.

At the request of Doug Harrison of Averyfineline, I will step up my efforts to find stories on Southern Gospel artists in local news sources. First on the plate is a Neosho Daily News story on a Gospel Sing featuring, among others, the Lesters and the Signature Quartet (a different group than Signature Sound). Also worthy of note is this Lancaster (SC) News story on Mercy’s Well.

It looks like the Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet, which had been the flagship act of Song Garden Music Group (back when founding tenor Robbie Hiner worked there), may have left the label. Singing News is announcing that the quartet’s next release will be an independent release.

The article states that this will be the quartet’s first independent release, something that may be a bit of a stretch since their table projects Hymns and Classics were, as I understand, originally conceptualized as independent projects, but were eventually distributed by Song Garden.

The ever-resourceful Chuck at www.southerngospelreporter.com has confirmed Bryan Eliott, who has been the pianist for the Anchormen for the last four years, has resigned from that group effective the end of the year. Eliott is headed for the piano bench in the Palmetto State Quartet, replacing Andrew Ishee. Ishee may be going to start a business with his brother. (Note: Just to make sure I give respect where respect is due, I’ll point out that I just noticed the story on SoGospelNews as well.)
Ishee is one of the best pianists in Southern Gospel. While nobody can blame him for wanting to spend more time with his family (especially now that he has a child on the way), it’s too bad Southern Gospel groups have to work so many dates that men of his level of musical genius have to leave the road if they want to have much more than passing glimpses of their families.

I have mentioned John’s fascinating blog in the past. For those of you who have bookmarked it, you will need to update your bookmark, because his blog is now to be found at john.sogospelnews.com.

As someone who spends much of his spare time writing about other people, it is pleasantly surprising to see that someone has decided to write about me. But it turns out that this is just what prominent Southern Gospel blogger averyfineline (Doug Harrison) has done, in this post. At issue is whether or not it is appropriate for me to reply to comments made on this blog. Apparently Harrison doesn’t like the idea and thinks it is beneath me to reply to what you say.

There is no question, Harrison and I do find common ground in some things. For example, we agree that a blogger starts conversations. At issue is whether it is appropriate for the blogger to participate in the conversations he starts.

Essentially, we are dealing with two different models of blogging here. Let me borrow a page right out of his playbook and give them names.

Let’s call the first the “patrician” model. (A patrician is a member of a hereditary aristocracy, a ruling class.) In this model, the blogger is viewed as somehow above his readers. He starts conversations, but to participate in them is beneath him.

On the other hand, we have the “populist” model. Unlike the patrician, the populist is “one of the people.” He relates to people one on one, and doesn’t consider himself any better than the people. He starts conversations and participates in them, interacting with his readers.

One side issue: A particular complaint of Harrison’s is that my comments are often enthusiastic and to the point. Unfortunately, that is just who I am. If anything, I am more subdued in an online setting than I am in person. There are just no two ways about it, I’m a people person. If I’m going to comment, I can’t help being friendly and enthusiastic. It’s who I am.
With that said, let me know what you think. Would you like me to start conversations and leave you to have them all to yourselves, or would you rather I be an active participant in the conversations I start? Have at it and don’t be afraid to speak your mind.

The Monument Quartet has completed its reorganization with the addition of Brad Smith as bass. The group’s lineup is now Matt Felts on tenor, John Tidwell on lead, group manager and former tenor Marshall Pugh on baritone, Brad Smith on bass, and Lucas Case on piano.

Brad Smith had recently joined the Blackwood Gospel Quartet (when Burman Porter left to join the Palmetto State Quartet).

Today’s Blackwood Brothers Quartet (Jimmy Blackwood’s group) is doing a concert in Thailand today. Their schedule says that the concert is in Bangkok, Thailand at the International Christian Center.

Some time back, another Southern Gospel blogger posted his comments on each month’s issue of Singing News. Though he stopped after only a couple months, I thought it might be time to bring that idea back.

So here are my thoughts on the highlights of the December 2006 Singing News.

cover: The Freemans made the cover, which was designed with a Christmas theme.

page 16: Andrew Ishee’s column “A Confession” is a must-read. I especially appreciated the subtle joke about low salaries in Southern Gospel; Scott Fowler had offered $50 to anyone who revealed the perpetrator of a certain prank. Ishee stated that he knew the answer, and said: “So if Scott still has $50, we may be able to make a deal.”

page 22: Congratulations to Dixie Echoes bass (and fellow Southern Gospel blogger) Tracy Crouch on making the Singing News! He was featured in the “Names You Might Not Know…Yet” column. Of course, readers of this blog already knew his name, since we featured an interview with him last month (click here or here).

page 24: Today’s Blackwood Brothers Quartet (Jimmy Blackwood’s group) ran their first ad here, and it is sure a nice-looking ad. I am particularly an admirer of their bass, Randy Byrd, though I’d add that baritone Brad White is one of the best pianists in Southern Gospel. They are advertising their brand-new hymns album, which I will review shortly.

page 30: Duane Garren has more information on Ed Hill’s reorganized Prophets Quartet. It looks like the lineup will be tenor Bill Baize, lead Paul Jackson, baritone Ed Hill, and bass Hovie Walker.

page 32: Jerry Kirksey wrote the first part of a column which seems to be heading toward the conclusion that he has decided to be less judgmental about different hairstyles. But he doesn’t actually get to that conclusion; he leaves the reader hanging.

pages 36-37: Singing News posts several reviews, most notably of the Dixie Echoes’ Sounds of Sunday and the Hoppers’ The Ride.

pages 38-39: The interview with Lari Goss is absolutely fascinating.

page 43: “Ten Things You May Not Know About…Derrick Selph.” Pay special attention to #6, “If anyone wants to make you laugh, all they have to do is…?”

pages 56-57: The interview with Lily Fern Weatherford is fascinating. It doesn’t cover much new ground, but it definitely makes for an interesting read.

page 66: Ed O’Neal proves himself once again to be Southern Gospel’s premier storyteller. This column was another of those that just had to be read aloud to the whole family at the dinner table. That’s saved only for something that is particularly funny, memorable, or touching, and so many of O’Neal’s columns have passed that test that reading his columns aloud at dinner is practically a monthly tradition at this house.

page 106: They print a picture of a younger Ernie Haase, “…before.”

Check out this interesting article on the McKameys in the Huntsville Times.