New Gaither Videos
Carol LeFevre
videos, well actually the last few, that Bill has put out offend me.
You watch for an hour and a half to be offered a morsel or a crumb of
true SGM while the rest is filled with anything but. If I wanted to
listen to Sandi Pattie I would buy her stuff. If I wanted to hear black
choral groups that is what I would purchase. Bill is getting farther
and farther away from where he started. I just finished reading the
book by George Younce and Glen Payne and they hit the nail on the head
when they said Bill never was Southern Gospel, he came from a CCM
background. He stumbled upon a good thing, made lots of money from
MOSTLY the over 50 crowd but now is coming back to his original roots.
I probably own 25 of his videos and really love the first few but quit
buying them when he started featuring the newer, younger contemporary
crowd. Give me the Inspirations, McKameys, Primitives anyday. In my
opinion they are true SG.
CL
The Doctor
Carol LeFevre wrote in message:
I guess I consider myself a purist when it comes to SGM. These latest
videos, well actually the last few, that Bill has put out offend me. You
watch for an hour and a half to be offered a morsel or a crumb of true SGM
and farther away from where he started.
I must agree. If you look at the first few videos, especially the very
first one that started it all, you will see that the emhpasis was placed on
traditional SG music and featured the older artists that many fans had not
been able to see. I grew up watching the Happy Jubilee shows on Sunday
morning as a pre-Sunday School ritual. I thrilled to the Florida Boys,
Inspirations, Happy Goodmans, Dixie Echoes and Hinsons and many, many more.
When I discovered that first Homecoming video it was like seeing old
friends. And the music was outstanding. Songs that you just didn't get to
hear anymore.
These last few videos have only featured a couple of the old standards, and
have many younger artists singing their current releases. They may still be
popular and sell well, but the fans that responded to the first videos may
not continue to purchase this new product. When they purchase time on the
networks to promote these videos, they show much of the content. Why buy
the video?
Maybe there needs to be some give and take. There are no shows like the old
Jubilee series anymore. Maybe Bill should try to produce a weekly show
featuring the new artists' latest releases, highlights from the Homecoming
concerts that are traveling around the country and also promote the videos,
but not give away so much of it. Sound like a lot of work, but it wouldn't
be so hard for a company that is allready set up and traveling on the road
with a production crew. It's just a thought.
I am still a fan of the Homecoming series and especially the GVB. I would
hate to see the series end because it has provided a chance for many fans to
come back to Southern Gospel music and helped many young people identify the
roots of much of today's music. I have tickets for the June 2nd show in
Charleston, WV and a looking forward to it. We are pretty blessed to have
so many groups pass through our area. This will be my second time to the
live Gaither show and I hope there is some difference from the last one, but
after reading the review of the Cleveland show above, it will probably be
very much the same (which was still pretty great!)
CJB
CJB
"The Doctor" <jeff...@inetone.net> wrote in message
news:sgoa7o...@corp.supernews.com...
Bror A. Nilsson, Jr
Bror Nilsson
Toledo, Ohio
On Sun, 30 Apr 2000 01:08:34 -0400 (EDT), Slopto...@webtv.net
(Carol LeFevre) wrote:
>I guess I consider myself a purist when it comes to SGM. These latest
>videos, well actually the last few, that Bill has put out offend me.
>You watch for an hour and a half to be offered a morsel or a crumb of
steph...@webtv.net
different styles of gospel music,so,please don't be offended by what I'm
going to say.It's only my opinion....I think The Memphis Homecoming and
Oh My Glory are the best videos that Gaither has put out so far.I LOVE
SGM and always have.There is alot of SGM in the newest videos and I know
Sandi Patty is not southern gospel,but she's not singing contemporary
music on the videos either.Some of my favorites are Jake and George
singing Up Above My Head,The Goodmans singing We'll Soon Be Done With
Troubles and Trials,and The Hoppers singing Citizen of Two Worlds.I
could go on and on.I bet for everyone 1 person that says they will not
buy another video there are 10 more people that will buy one.Thats just
my theory.I'm going to a Gaither concert in June(Lord willing) and I
can't wait.I'm already getting excited!!! By the way you mentioned The
McKameys.Well,that is my all time favorite group and if I had a chance
to hear them or go to a Gaither concert,you better believe I would be at
The McKameys concert!!! One thing I don't understand is wy The McKameys
are never on the Gaither videos.They were only on one that I know of and
that was a few years back.They weren't featured on any of the songs and
the camera didn't hardly even get them.Anyways,this was just my
opinion,so please don't take it the wrong way Carol!!! God Bless
You,Stephen
Paul Slopak Jr.
mentioned the purists of SG are the over 50 crowd.
We go to the NQC each year and we see the subtle shift going towards the
modern stuff like the Martins, etc.
We figure 10 years from now we will not recognize SG. Gaither is just
pushing it faster than we would like.
The last several videos he produced were far too modern for us.
Clarence Grigsby
1) The Gaither videos have never featured SG artists exclusively. In the
first one, we had the Gatlins and GVB( at the time CCM/ Inspirational).
On the second video, we have Russ Taff,Mylon Lefevre, and Mike English(a
solo by this time).
2) Bill Gaither grew up listening to the Statesmen,Speers,etc. He
started doing one project and the people kept asking for more. Bill had
actually started out writing SG, but the SG community didn't really
accept him so he basically started his own genre of music. Years later,
he wanted to do a tribute to SG and the fans kept askig for more.
3)The Gaither programs feature about the same amount of CCM as the Doves
feature SG.
4) Sandi Patty is not SG. But I heard she and Larnelle Harris do "I've
Just Seen Jesus" on one of the TNN shows and it blessed the daylights
out of me! "How Great Thou Art", "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God","It Is
Well With My Soul", and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" are not SG songs,
but they have a tremendous message and they bless me as much as any SG
song.
5) More people know about Jake,Hovie,the Cathedrals,The Goodmans,JD, and
all the rest than ever. The videos and TV program are a big part of
that.
6) Not long ago I talked to someone who told me that the Primitives are
NOT southern Gospel! Myself, I think bluegrass gospel is a part of SG.
But don't feel too bad, I've had people tell me that my heroes ,the
Cathedrals, weren't SG either!
The preceding points are the ramblings of a 3rd shift worker who has
been up all night and should be read as such. Just thinking out loud and
trying to be positive..........
steph...@webtv.net
videos and will continue to purchase them as long as he keeps making
them!! God Bless,Stephen
Kent R. Oxford
include some of the younger set and broadening the base a little.
I agree that these aren't as good in regard to SGM as the earlier videos but
are they being advertised as SGM videos???
My parents own quite a few videos also and when I go home I spend about the
frst 8 hours of my visit watching these.
Carol LeFevre wrote in message
<26316-39...@storefull-121.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...
Paul Slopak Jr.
accustomed to that meaning the good old Southern Gospel days, not the new
CCM that is slowly creeping into SGM.
Kent R. Oxford <kent....@roadrunner.nf.net> wrote in message
news:8em07p$m98$1...@nova.thezone.net...
Carol LeFevre
assuming so doesn't make it so. And alas you are correct again when you
say the older groups are dying off and try as they might the younger
groups simply don't have what the older groups had. Those of us who
heard the Blackwood Brothers, Statesmen, the Speer Family WITH Mom and
Dad Speer, the Rebels, the Blue Ridge Quartet, the original Wetherfords,
the original Oak Ridge Quartet. the Imperials, the LeFevres etc.etc
KNOW the difference. "Kids"......you just don't know what you missed.
If you never heard Hovie and the Statesmen do "Get Away Jordan" or the
Oak Ridge Quartet do "Go Out To The Program" where they could imitate
many of the singers from the other groups, well, I feel sorry for you.
In the "Old Friends" video and "Turn Your Radio On" video Bll tried to
recapture just a bit of what the old groups were about but as good as
those were and as nice as the memories are they can never fully make
known the joy and thrill and excitement of actually seeing the groups in
person. THAT was SGM at it's best. And yes at times they sang hymns in
that four part harmony and they were beautiful. And yes for the most
part they survived with just a piano (how quaint) and sounded great.
And yes they dressed alike and looked sharp. And.......well you get the
picture. I'm just thankful I got to experience it many times over as a
teenager and young adult.
Carol
Carol LeFevre
I whole heartedly agree. All it takes is just a wee bit at a time
and really that is about all these younger singers and fans know is a
watered down version of what they think is SGM.
Carol
steph...@webtv.net
something.I've already purchased both of he Memphis videos and let me
just say they are the best Gaither has put out so far(in my
opinion)....To say that these younger groups are a watered down version
of SGM is wrong.I'm 23 and love all kinds of gospel music,with SGM being
my favorite,but at my age I wasn't even born when all these older groups
were traveling.Maybe it's just a fact that most (not all) older people
like the older groups and the younger people like the younger groups.I
love ALOT of the older groups very much and would love to hear some of
them in person,but there are also some I wouldn't want to hear in
person.AND on all the videos I've seen I haven't heard a contemporary
song yet!!!! They all might not be exactly SG,but they are definitely
not contemporary!!! Thank you and God Bless,Stephen
Doctor Lovable
"Carol LeFevre" <Slopto...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:26316-39...@storefull-121.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
> I guess I consider myself a purist when it comes to SGM. These latest
> videos, well actually the last few, that Bill has put out offend me.
> You watch for an hour and a half to be offered a morsel or a crumb of
> true SGM while the rest is filled with anything but. If I wanted to
> listen to Sandi Pattie I would buy her stuff. If I wanted to hear black
> choral groups that is what I would purchase. Bill is getting farther
> and farther away from where he started. I just finished reading the
> book by George Younce and Glen Payne and they hit the nail on the head
> when they said Bill never was Southern Gospel, he came from a CCM
> background. He stumbled upon a good thing, made lots of money from
> MOSTLY the over 50 crowd but now is coming back to his original roots.
> I probably own 25 of his videos and really love the first few but quit
> buying them when he started featuring the newer, younger contemporary
> crowd. Give me the Inspirations, McKameys, Primitives anyday. In my
> opinion they are true SG.
> CL
>
Basically, I agree with what you're saying. I've never been a big Gaither
fan and have only ever been to one of his concerts and vowed I'd never go
back. I would prefer to hear the Gaither Vocal Band do an hour set, with a
couple of other groups doing a full set than to have to sit through a bunch
of soloists I don't care for backed up by a choir of ancient pachyderms!
Just doesn't do anything for me. I think I've seen the vast majority of his
videos, although the only one I own is the Cathedral's farewell, and I wish
they'd left the Oaks, Statlers and Fatty Patty off that one!
But ........ you've got to hand it to the guy. Gaither was the guy who
realized that there are thousands of healthy, wealthy seniors out there who
would love to jump on the bus and travel to the big city to take a musical
stroll down memory lane, and would be willing to buy videos by the
wheelbarrow full at $40 a pop. Nobody else was bothering to tap into that
market, and he quite likely was the only person at the time who was "larger
than life" enough to pull together all the oldtimers under one roof.
Many people don't realize how much some of those oldtimers disliked each
other in "the good old days." There are plenty of stories about these
people and the stunts they would pull against each other, because, (like it
or not,) the southern gospel music business is and was a business. The Oaks
were stealing business from the Goodmans who were stealing business from the
Stamps. I've heard that some of these people hated each other! Most of
them were just sitting around collecting dust and nobody else was big enough
to pull them all together except Gaither.
The problem has become over the past few years that all his talent is dieing
off! JD, Rex, Glenn ........ they're just dropping like flies now!
Sometimes I wonder if some of his choir members haven't already been dead
for 10 years and they just keep rolling out the dressed up corpses???
Gaither's talent pool is quickly evaporating and you can bet he's not going
to let his million dollar cash cow dry up without a fight! Do you have any
suggestions what he might be able to do if he's not going to bring along
some other talent to fill the gaps? Clearly, some of his new talent is not
southern gospel, but most of it is pretty conservative relative to most of
the CCM on the market these days.
The other problem Gaither (or at least his multi-million $$$ corporation) is
going to have very shortly, is that their market is dieing off! The market
for the musical stroll down memory lane 10 years from now, is not going to
give a hoot about the old Statesmen and Blackwoods. They're going to
remember the Imperials, (Yes ...... those sinful "contemporary" ones from
the 70's, not the ones with Jake at the Helm!) Dallas Holm, and dare I say
it ........ Sandy Patty.
Lastly, we've discussed this before, but what is southern gospel? Carol,
you enjoy the Inspirations, McKameys, and Primitive, but to me, they're not
really Southern Gospel ....... they're mountain gospel, almost bluegrass
quality vocals. No offense, to you (or CJB :o ) but I can't stand any of
those groups! Give me the Kingsmen, Cathedrals and Gold City from 10
years ago...... now THAT was southern gospel! See, everybody's definition
of what is truly sg differs by what they enjoy most. Southern Gospel is a
very broad umbrella anymore, and to lots of ppl the Gaither Vocal band and
the Martins ARE what southern gospel is.
Doc
--
email drlo...@YOURPANTSyahoo.com
but you'll have to drop YOUR PANTS
David Stuart
were very enjoyable. True, they are not completely southern gospel
music, but i still enjoyed them very much. My favorite is still
southern gospel, but i do enjoy a variety of sounds and styles too. You
can only sit and listen to Get Away Jordon , so many times! I love
Jessy Dixon, and Sandy Patti, and some of the other performers as well.
I think Bill Gaither is doing a good job at opening the doors to
different styles, still covered under the large umbrella of southern
gospel music.
Have a nice day!
David
Paul Slopak Jr.
I LOVE the Dove Brothers. Why? Because even though their oldest member is
only 31, they sing what to me is Southern Gospel.
As far as the Martins being what SG is, I only can say - I hope not. They
sing good but I can only take them in small doses.
Joe Rouse
Paul Slopak Jr. <pauls...@home.com> wrote in message
news:dy6P4.37910$fF5.1...@news1.rdc1.il.home.com...
> Unfortunately, Carol, I think you hit the nail on the head when you
> mentioned the purists of SG are the over 50 crowd.
>
> We go to the NQC each year and we see the subtle shift going towards the
> modern stuff like the Martins, etc.
>
> We figure 10 years from now we will not recognize SG. Gaither is just
> pushing it faster than we would like.
>
I don't collect the Gaither videos, but I would like to comment on this last
statement you made. I respectfully disagree. Yes, a number of the older
people who set the standard for southern gospel have passed off the scene
(JD, Glen, Brock Speer, Rex Nelon), but don't forget that there are a number
of people following in their footseps.
Look at Gold City, Legacy Five, The Nelons, The Hoppers, Greater Vision,
Dove Brothers - there are people in these groups who have been taught and
are being taught by the older standard bearers, and in my opinion, are doing
a fantastic job keeping with the tradition. I personally don't see that
changing. Yes, the music is a lot more modern than it was back in the"radio
days", but I don't see the SG "theme" changing. CCM and SGM are worlds
apart, and I think there are enough people in the SGM industry who are going
to fight to the death to keep it that way.
Personally, I don't see the Martins as SGM. They've kind of moved out onto
the fringes in recent years, IMO.
I think a lot of what you're seeing in the Gaither videos is an ecumenical
spirit that Bill and Gloria have that embraces everything. It's what you
see in their Praise Gatherings and now it's starting to show up in the
Homecoming series. I'll be honest - I don't like it. And that's the main
reason why I don't get those videos. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure those of
you who've met Bill and Gloria can say they are nice people. And I love
their songs. But I can't agree with that spirit.
And I'd even venture to say that there are probably some of those people
participating in those Homecoming videos who don't care much for it either.
But they go along with it.
If I've trampled on anybody's toes (and I suspect I have), I apologize.
hag
am 25 years old and love both southern gospel and contemporary.
I have become a fan of several southern gospel artists through
the Gaither Videos. Janet Paschal, The Nelons, The Martins, The
Talley Trio, Kirk Talley, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Crabb Family
are among my favorites. I also have my contemporary favorites
Michael English, Steven Curtis Chapman, Avalon, FFH, Anointed,
Clay Crosse, among others. Both styles of music are GREAT and
BOTH glorify Christ. I think that Bill Gaither knows that there
is a younger audience out there that is not familiar with
southern gospel and he knows to reach them he has to include the
style of music that will draw them in. I happen to enjoy all
the videos from the southern gospel standards on up to the more
contemporary. The Gaither Videos have brought southern gospel
back and it is growing more and more. Vestal said in her book
that you would not believe how much the videos have increased
the popularity of southern gospel. In Christ, Daniel
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hag
Lord. Christ doesn't prefer southern gospel over contemporary
as long as the praises glorify Him. There are enough groups in
southern gospel to keep it going for many years to come. As for
The Martins they are the BEST!!! They can sing either southern
gospel or contemporary and sound AWESOME!!! Just because you
sing contemporary christian music does not mean that you are
less of a christian. There are artists in both genres of music
that are not living like they should be living. I highly
commend Michael English and Clay Crosse for publicly admitting
there sins and getting right with Christ. There are a lot of
artists in both genres that will not do that because of what
people might say. In Christ, Daniel
Paul Slopak Jr.
it "The Homecoming Group" when it moves further and further toward gospel
rock and CCM.
Joe Rouse <es...@lanset.com> wrote in message
news:3910...@monitor.lanset.com...
KJCSmith1
What matters is if God is leading and if God likes it.
David Stuart
from being classified as Christian Rock or even CCM.
Leslie,James,Larry Moore
Leslie,James,Larry Moore
RayDunakin
<<What matters is if God is leading and if God likes it>>
True. However, God's not the one buying it. People buy the videos, and they'll
buy what they like. :)
Personally, I don't buy the videos, because I'd rather listen to music while
I'm doing other things, than have to sit and watch a video. I also stopped
buying the Homecoming audio tapes because 95% of it is just choir music.
Nothing wrong with that, if it's what you like, but it's not the kind of music
I care about.
However, I do like the historical videos of groups like the Statesmen, as these
provide a fascinating insight into the history of SGM, as well as a lot of
great quartet singing.
BTW, I think it would be a great idea if the Singing News would publish a book
containing all of the Homecoming columns!
steph...@webtv.net
videos either.Just saying that makes me laugh.....It all might not be
100% southern,but it's far far far from being rock or even CCM!!!!!!
Thanks,Stephen
Paul Slopak Jr.
videos. My statement was that Gaither was moving in that direction.
<steph...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:5020-391...@storefull-158.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
steph...@webtv.net
direction!!!!! It's all good!!! Stephen