Ten Greats - count 'em & More
Jun 12 '01 (Updated Jun 17 '06)
The Bottom Line You hear them, you love them, they bless you, and then they are great, at least to you. And, I guess, that's what really matters.
There are so many great performers today in the Gospel music field that one would be hard-pressed to single anyone out. Responses to the question of who the major performers are would be, understandably, completely subjective. And how is "greatness" decided? Is it by the numbers of their CD sales, the number of people accessing their web sites? Hmmm. This is very difficult.
This difficulty has been eased for us, fortunately, by the Bill Gaither Homecoming videos. At one time or another, many great Christian performers will carry a segment on, at least, one tape. Perhaps I should word that another way: almost all of the performers on the Gaither videos are certainly way above average, even if not not all of them are quite up to our standard of greatness. I certainly appreciate Gaither's input into the spiritual music field. He has brought into the forefront those wonderful forerunners in the Gospel music field, and also has presented many new, young talents to the viewing world -- not to mention the zillion marvelous songs he and Gloria, his wife, have written.
A. -- EARLY FORERUNNERS (whom I never knew before watching these videos)
1. JD SUMNER:-The incomparable bass singer, now deceased, of the Stamps Quartet fame. Can you imagine my delight when I was watching Elvis' Hawaiian concert and spotted JD in the background as a backup singer?
2. GEORGE YOUNCE:- Another great bass who has sung in Gospel quartets for fifty years and is famous for singing in the Cathedral Quartet - a group difficult to surpass. You should hear him sing, "This Old House." Fantastic.
3. JAKE HESS: How can I ever describe Jake? I think he has sung in just about every quartet for the past fifty years, most notably, THE IMPERIALS. He has a style all his own and his enunciation and his sincerity will never have an equal. His renditions of "Then I Met The Master" or "Death Ain't No Big Deal," easily put me into a Jellyfish mentality.
4. GLEN PAYNE: Another great pioneer in this field who has left this world, but can never be forgotten. Glen sang lead in the Cathedral Quartet and had an enthusiasm you'll find nowhere else. If you've missed seeing him perform, try watching, "The Cathedrals - a Fifty Year Farewell." (1999 - Spring House). Marvelous video with guests, THE OAK RIDGE BOYS and THE STATLER BROTHERS, two more "greats," who pay tribute to the Cathedrals on this video.
5. HOVIE LISTER and JAMES BLACKWOOD cannot be left from the list because of their years of spreading the Gospel in song. Neither can BEN & BROCK SPEER, - Brothers, who started with the fabled SPEER FAMILY singers group. The energy Ben puts into his singing and piano playing is something to behold. Brock passed away a short time ago but his heritage will remain, always
B. -- NEWCOMERS: (Whom I never knew, either)
1. The members of the Gaither Vocal Band: MARK LOWRY, lead singer, GUY PENROD, tenor, DAVID PHELPS, 2nd tenor, and BILL GAITHER, bass. Mark, David and Guy are outstanding soloists, who never fail to bring the crowds to their feet, clapping and calling for more. A measure of greatness? Perhaps.
2. ANTHONY BURGER - Pianist extraordinaire. No adjectives could adequately describe the talent this young man possesses and uses so terrifically.
3. SANDI PATTY: So much has been written about her greatness that I feel I don't need to elaborate here. She is marvelous should suffice.
4. THE GOLD CITY QUARTET: I think they are phenomenal. I first heard them singing, "I'm Not Giving Up" on Gaither's 'SINGIN' with the SAINTS' tape and they wowed me with their arrangement and they also wowed the Homecoming Singers. I have been one of their many fans ever since.
5. ERNIE HAASE - a marvelous tenor. He sang with The Cathedrals before they disbanded, and now sings with the "OLD FRIENDS QUARTET." Ernie has many individual CD's and a new video, "This is Why I Sing." but I feel he shines best in a quartet because he adds that fabulous, extra-something that a quartet needs in order to be great.
I hope I have presented an acceptable list of great performers. It's so hard to weed them out. MICHAEL ENGLISH, JESSY DIXON, THE STATESMEN QUARTET, THE KINGSMEN QUARTET, THE HOPPERS, LARNELL HARRIS, they, and so many others, are omitted merely because of limited time and limited space. I could go on forever, actually. I'd love to read your list, too. Perhaps between us we could forever settle this question.
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Member: Lorace
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No matter how you spell it, L-U-V_still says_LOVE! Hope your day is full of it!
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