Remembering: Rusty Goodman (originally posted 03/18/05)

Being the nostalgic person that I am, and being one who loves the history and respect the people who paved the way in Southern Gospel Music, I enjoy doing articles remembering certain people, places and aspects of this music I love so much. Daryl Williams kind of started my thought process on this with his article this month in “The Songwriter”, with which I had left my own comments concerning the late Rusty Goodman.

Rusty Goodman is probably my all time favorite songwriter, with Dottie Rambo following closely behind him. Rusty wasn't a quantity songwriter, but he was a quality songwriter. As far as I am concerned, He didn't write a bad song. He could write a song as simple as "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now" or “I’m Gonna Go Higher” and then turn right around and write something as complex and different as "The Mystery of it All" or "The Woodsman". He could write a lighthearted, novelty tune like “Handshakes and Smiles”, “Family Band” or “Let Your Finers Do the Walking” and then write a song as powerful and profound as “Had it not Been”, “Who am I”, “Until You’ve Known the Love of God”, “Don’t Let me See” or “Leavin’ on my Mind”. His song, "How Much More" is probably one of the most poignant songs ever written portraying the love of Christ.

I was visiting a church one time and a trio in the church broke out and sang "I'll Be Alright as soon as I touch Calvary" and they sung that song for over 15-20 minutes. The power of God was so strong in that place that the church just exploded with praise. Who would have thought that a simple song Rusty wrote about 30 years ago would still be used and sung with such conviction and power today?

Not only was Rusty the consumate songwriter, but he was the perfect singer. Rusty exuded class. I don’t hide the fact that I am a huge Vestal fan, but there was a certain quality to Rusty’s voice the drew me in as well. He had a certain warmth and a charisma in his performance that just made me watch and listen. It wasn’t just in action, but his charisma came out in his voice as well. Some of the best songs that portrayed his charisma were songs like “Jesus Knows All About it”, “This Man”, “I’m Taking Back What the Devil Stole”, “I Wasn’t There” and “Poor, Rich Man”.

Rusty also had a wonderful range. An exellent example of his range is found in a song he recorded on his first solo album, “The Singer” called “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking”. On this song, he sings all 4 parts and performs them flawlessly. Also, to hear him do all the vocal flip flops he use to do when the family would sing “The Eastern Gate” is something to behold as well. Rusty could sing the high notes with ease and tackle the low notes with such beauty and grace.

Rusty could also interpret a song like no other. He sang with such great feeling and emotion. It was never overdone and but done with great finesse and class. He was an artist laureate who could paint beautiful masterpieces with his singing. Some of Rusty’s finest performaces include, but not limited to…“It Must Have Rained in Heaven on Crucifixion Day”, “Leavin’ on my Mind”, “Heartbeat”, “Small, Lonely Hill”, “Had it not Been”, “The Lighthouse” and “Life Evermore.” You can take any one of those songs and study them and learn the art of being an artist through your music. Even before Rusty hit his prime, he could evermore croon a tune with the Plainsmen back in the late 1950’s on the song, “Someone’s Watching Over You.” Now THAT was pure singing. It’s like a good piece of carmel, melting in your mouth. Mmm…mmm…good!

Rusty Goodman was a rare jewel. I believe he left this world way too soon. He was everything I ever wanted to be as a gospel singer. I don’t think I have a single drop of his talent, but I sure wish I did. But I love to just sit and admire the great man he was and study his music and learn how it should be done!

What Can Southern Gospel Music Learn from Contemporary Christian Music?  (originally posted 05/04/05

My wife and I attended a CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) concert this past Saturday (April 30). We saw the final night of Steven Curtis Chapman’s “All Things New” Tour featuring SCC along with Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns. This was the first CCM concert I have attended since around 1989 when I saw Petra on their “On Fire” Tour and Carmen on his “Radically Saved” Tour. My how things have changed! LOL!

I have always liked some CCM music. I have long been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan, and have recently come to love the music by Casting Crowns. I went into this concert somewhat unfamiliar with Chris Tomlin, though come to find out I did know a couple of his songs.

The concert was held at a large amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am not a good gauge on how many people were there, but this is a large concert facility and I will attest to the fact there the number of people were in the thousands and the crowd loved every minute of it.

Steven Curtis Chapman started things off by welcoming everybody and with just him and his guitar, sang a few choruses of his hit song, “Much of You” before bringing on Casting Crowns. I have been very impressed with this group from Atlanta, Georgia. Their songs are very deep, and yet are simple enough for young people to enjoy. Even though Steven Curtis was the main attraction, so to speak, I left there remembering more about Casting Crowns than anything else there. They were very ministry minded and seemed very down to earth. They sang several songs including, “If We Are the Body”, “Who am I”, “American Dream”, “Praise You With the Dance” and before singing “Voice of Truth”, lead singer Mark Hall shared his testimony of being dyslexic and having ADD. (He and Mark Lowry should get together!)

After Casting Crowns, Chapman returned to the stage and did a 5-minute acoustical medley of some of his older songs with his band before bringing on Chris Tomlin. As I said earlier, I was somewhat unfamiliar with Tomlin, but enjoyed his music. Though it mostly falls into the Praise and Worship style (not a favorite of mine), I did enjoy his music as he led the crowd in some great moments of praise.

After a 20-minute intermission, the headliner, Steven Curtis Chapman hits the stage in all his glory. Complete with a massive light show and kickin’ band, Chapman sang several songs from his new CD, “All Things New” as well a few older ones like “The Great Adventure”, “Live Out Loud”, “When Love Takes You In”, “Dive”, “Speechless” and others. Excellent stage show all the way around, totaling about an hour and half before Chapman closed the evening with all the 50-some crew members and artists on the tour coming to the stage for a final bow.

It was a great night. I knew I would enjoy it. I am a little more open minded than some people in the Southern Gospel circles, though I can be somewhat of a stubborn, conservative traditionalist as well; it depends on the situation and my mood for that day. LOL! The jeans on stage at the concert didn’t bother me, and to be honest, The Crabb Family would have fit right in. I would love to see CCM artists use SG from time to time, though it would be somewhat hard-pressed to find the right mix because you wouldn’t exactly put the McKameys on the same bill with say, Avalon or Mercy Me. Some people won’t like this comment, but CCM doesn’t really need us, we in fact, could use them. Even though I don’t advocate wearing worn out jeans and wild haircuts all the time, I think SG could learn quite a bit from CCM. Every CCM concert I have ever been to (which now totals a whopping 3) was put together with the utmost professionalism and I found them to be extremely exciting. Am I saying we should completely over-haul SGM? NO! All I am saying is that I think we could really learn a few things from them. Now, I realize that CCM concerts rely heavily on big theatrics in their shows. I am not saying SGM needs to go to those extremes, because it’s just not really conducive to the style we sing, for the most part. But, we could really learn a lot by using lighting, multi-media, etc. to enhance who we are and what our music is all about. Some artists are doing this, and some desperately could use it.

It’s a new age, and there are a lot of things vying for people’s attention. We need to get a strong hold on people’s attention, or this music that we love so dearly could go on a steady decline and no, I am not a doomsday theorist! I just want to see our music become a more accepted form. I won’t accept the notion that we can’t be. Not an option, in my book.

I will admit, I am one who doesn’t enjoy change. Inside, I wish we could go back to the 1960s and 1970s and I know there are some who want to go back to the 1950s, but it just can’t be, though we can enjoy and appreciate that era (which I do immensely). There will be some artists who need to stay the way they are. They are what they are, and it’s because of that, they have the fan base that they currently enjoy. It’s not always a matter of not wanting to grow; it’s okay to be happy with the way you do things. If it works for you and your fans, wonderful! Some groups are purely traditional and their fans enjoy that. If that’s you, don’t change. We need to keep the traditional ways alive, but at the same time, we need to welcome fresh new individuals with innovative ideas and unique styles. We need people who will look ahead and find ways to enhance and push our music to the masses. It’s the day that we live in; some people need more than just good singing and good music to enjoy it. They need something more to keep their attention, and if we work at it, we can provide that. I don’t claim to have the answers; this is just me thinking out loud (as JD would say). I honestly don’t think it’s the style of music that has made CCM such a hot commodity, it’s that they have used all the available outlets to get their music and their message out. Are we doing the same?

The Kingsmen Quartet-A Concert Review (Originally posted 05/11/05)

On Saturday, May 7, my wife and I were afforded the opportunity to go see and hear one of the great icons of Southern Gospel Music…The Kingsmen Quartet. It was a last minute date and with only a week to advertise and prepare for the event, South Henderson Pentecostal-Holiness Church in Henderson, North Carolina was ready for a great evening of Southern Gospel Quartet Music.

I thought there was a good crowd there considering only a weeks worth of advertising had been done and the crowd seemed to respond pretty well to the group. The Kingsmen bounded on stage with “Meet me at the Table” and before the night was over, they sang several other Kingsmen “Klassics” and favorites such as “Saints will Rise”, “Beautiful Home”, “When I Wake Up to Sleep No More”, “Wish You Were Here”, “Beulah Land” and “What a Day That Will Be.” The group even did “Glory Road”, which featured Jeremy Peace going for one of those insane high notes that most women only dream of hitting and it made all the dogs in the area bark and howl and all the cows went to mooing. By the time they got to the encore of the song, the cows were making buttermilk. It reminded me of something Jim Hamill once said years ago, “It wouldn’t be the Kingsmen without somebody busting your eardrums every night!” So true to form, the Kingsmen kept their part of the bargain! LOL!

The Kingsmen also sang some of their newer songs like “You Keep Praying”, “Getcha to the Other Side”, “He Gave Me the Well” and “Justified”. The Kingsmen band even provided a couple of excellent instrumentals. That is one of the great things I love about the Kingsmen…THE BAND! Groups traveling with a full band are a lost art that I wish more groups would bring back. I applaud the Kingsmen for always providing their fans with a top-notch band.

The great rapport between the group members was very evident and you can tell everyone within the group just seemed to “fit” and really seemed to have a great chemistry. Some of the jokes from Tim Surrett concerning the “old man” of the group (Ray Reece) were great and Tim is actually a very good emcee, especially when things need to turn to a more serious vein. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he answers the call to preach. When it came near the end of the evening, Tim shared his heart about the loss of someone dear to him the week before and as he sang “Wish You Were Here” and “Beulah Land” (done with just him playing the guitar), you could see his heart and you could have heard a pin drop when he was done. The audience didn’t know whether to clap or whisper a quiet “Amen”.

It really was a great night. I grew up on the Kingsmen’s records and they have always been and still remain to this day, one of my all time favorite groups. I remember one of the first records I ever remember hearing of theirs was “Chattanooga Live.” What a great record that was. The Kingsmen were the kings of making exciting live records and they put on a great live concert in Henderson, North Carolina. The sound was okay…after the first couple of songs it seemed to improve. The volume was great, but the vocals could have been a tad louder, especially Tim Surrett’s. It’s not that the band was too loud, it’s just that the vocals overall could have been a little more out front.

The Kingsmen don’t make it to my neck of the woods too often, so it was wonderful being able to see them again, as I haven’t seen them in concert (NQC doesn’t really count) since probably 1999 and I hope it won’t be that long before I get to enjoy them again! I am extremely excited about the future of this group and hope that there are no personnel changes for a good while, as this group has a strong sound and a strong presence and they have tons of potential for continuing that great Kingsmen sound.

I Had a Dream!  (originally posted 10/14/04)

In thinking about what to write about, I was a complete blank. Then, it came to me in a dream! The other night I had a dream about the Speer sisters, Rosa Nell and Mary Tom. (Yes, even my dreams are Southern Gospel related! LOL!)

I re-lived, in this dream, a situation that happened to me over 22 years ago. I saw the Speer Family during the summer of 1982. I was almost 10 years old at the time and the Speers were one of the groups I idolized. (Still do by the way!) I saw them at a church here in Durham, NC and we arrived almost at concert time. I was a kid all into Southern Gospel Music and when we arrived I ran to sit up front, only to be discouraged because there were no seats available. Mary Tom and Rosa Nell saw my dismay and offered me the opportunity to sit with them. You’d have thought that God Himself had come down and spoke to me. I was ecstatic with the opportunity of sitting with two legends like the Speer sisters. I ended up sitting beside Mary Tom, and as a VERY talkative 10 year old, I yakked the whole night. She was so gracious and kind and she answered every one of my questions. She talked TO me and WITH me and listened to everything I had to say. I will never forget that as long as I live. I don’t remember a thing the Speers sang that night, but I do remember how a sweet lady gave me the time of day and took time with someone that probably got on her nerves. I am sure when Brock introduced the Speer sisters to sing on the second half, she was probably thanking God for getting her away from me! But if I did get on her nerves, she never showed it.

Of all my memories of Southern Gospel singers, that is one that has always stuck with me. I hope someday I get to tell her face to face what an impact she had on me. And if she ever reads this, let me say “Thank you Mary Tom! You were an inspiration to a 10 year old boy with a burning passion for Southern Gospel Music, and I will never forget you for that!”

Bill Gaither, Guy Penrod & Jeff Easter (Originally posted 10/20/04)

A few weeks ago, some of you may have read my little article on SoGospelNews about some very special people in my life named Jesse and Kathleen Glenn. As I stated, Jesse has terminal cancer and Hospice has come in to make him as comfortable as possible. As part of his Hospice care, Jesse was granted a last wish. His wish was to attend a Gaither Homecoming concert. The closest concert within a reasonable amount of time was in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday, October 16th. He got his wish and was able to attend. The Hospice organization paid for their tickets and furnished them a hotel to spend the night. To say they had the time of their lives is an understatement.

I spoke with Kathleen a couple of days before the concert and she told me Jesse wanted to have a chance to meet Bill Gaither and thank him for making the Homecoming videos tell him how much they mean to him. I told her that she should tell someone working the Gaither booth or tell one of main Homecoming artists their situation and I am sure they would make a way for it to happen.

Jesse was in a wheelchair and he and Kathleen were looking at the booths and happened upon Jeff & Sheri Easter’s booth. Jeff was there and just struck up a conversation with them. Kathleen remembered what I had told her and before they left their booth she proceeded to tell Jeff their situation and of Jesse’s request to meet Bill. Jeff asked if they had a cell phone and told them that if they give him a few minutes, he would make it happen. Sure enough, not 10 minutes later, Jeff called them on the phone and told them where to meet him and he would take them to see Bill Gaither. Jeff took them down the elevator to the backstage lounge area and they got to meet Bill and Guy Penrod. Bill spoke with them was very honored that they loved the videos and that they wanted to come to the concert as part of Jesse’s last wish. Bill shared about his brother Danny, who died of cancer and how his dad had now just been diagnosed with cancer. Guy was very gracious as well, as he held Jesse’s hand the whole time and spoke with them and told them that he would be praying for them everyday. As Kathleen put it, “You could just see the love of Jesus in Guy’s eyes.” Jesse and Kathleen spent about 20 minutes or so talking with them and then they went back upstairs to enjoy the rest of the concert.

I am so thankful that Jeff Easter took the time to make this last wish for Jesse all the more memorable, and for Bill and Guy for taking the time to talk with them and share their hearts. This is what Gospel Music is all about!

Precious Memories… (Originally posted 09/22/04)

I have been thinking lately, Southern Gospel Music has some amazing unknown talent. Some are just as good as the professional ones. Even before I started working with SoGospelNews back in 2000, I was always on the lookout for new talent. I love listening to new and unknown artists that no one else has heard and becoming their fans before the vast majority has ever heard of them.

Allow me to reflect…I remember the first time I heard the Crabb Family back in January 1996. No one had ever heard of the Crabb Family. The group consisted of Gerald, Jason and Kelly singing, Kathy on the piano and some young guy playing the drums. (Sorry, his name escapes me.) They sang some of Gerald’s song and literally tore the place apart with “I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand” and “Ain’t no Grave Gonna Hold my Body Down.” Seems that a concert in eastern North Carolina fell through and they needed somewhere to sing and this church gladly took them in and let them sing. It was a great night. I spoke with Gerald and Kathy that night and found them to be very warm and cordial. Look at them now…singing to packed houses every night and they have become one of the most popular and most loved groups to ever grace a Southern Gospel stage. And to think, I saw them way back when…such precious memories.

I first heard the Down East Boys back in October 1984, long before Ricky Carden ever thought of joining the group. I became good friends with their tenor singer at that time, Michael Conner. I was barely 12 years old and treated me like I was one of the boys…even took me on a tour of their bus. They were a local group back then and sounded awesome! Michael died a few years ago, but I still have their first albums from back them to hear him sing. What a great tenor he was. But the group has pressed on amidst management changes between Sherrill Futual and Ricky. But, Ricky has done a fine job with the DEB and just look at them now. They have become one of the most exciting male quartets to grace a stage.

David Hester, bass singer with the Dove Brothers Quartet is another. I first heard David back on December 31, 1988. He was singing bass with a mixed group from eastern North Carolina called the Celestials. He always took time for this young teenager back then, and I will never forget him for that. And by the way, he was rattling the floors even then! Now over 15 years later, look at him now…

I could go on and on about different artists I have “discovered” and have found some real gems down through the years. There is such an abundance of talented people out there yet to be heard. I want to take this moment to mention a few names I think that could one day become major names in the industry…the Frosts, Tony McGee & New Covenant, the Dills, Promised Land Quartet, Testify, Kindred Spirit, Phillips Family and a countless number of others. It is groups like these that make doing reviews so much fun and keeps the Southern Gospel industry so exciting for me!

Precious Memories…

I have been thinking lately, Southern Gospel Music has some amazing unknown talent. Some are just as good as the professional ones. Even before I started working with SoGospelNews back in 2000, I was always on the lookout for new talent. I love listening to new and unknown artists that no one else has heard and becoming their fans before the vast majority has ever heard of them.

Allow me to reflect…I remember the first time I heard the Crabb Family back in January 1996. No one had ever heard of the Crabb Family. The group consisted of Gerald, Jason and Kelly singing, Kathy on the piano and some young guy playing the drums. (Sorry, his name escapes me.) They sang some of Gerald’s song and literally tore the place apart with “I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand” and “Ain’t no Grave Gonna Hold my Body Down.” Seems that a concert in eastern North Carolina fell through and they needed somewhere to sing and this church gladly took them in and let them sing. It was a great night. I spoke with Gerald and Kathy that night and found them to be very warm and cordial. Look at them now…singing to packed houses every night and they have become one of the most popular and most loved groups to ever grace a Southern Gospel stage. And to think, I saw them way back when…such precious memories.

I first heard the Down East Boys back in October 1984, long before Ricky Carden ever thought of joining the group. I became good friends with their tenor singer at that time, Michael Conner. I was barely 12 years old and treated me like I was one of the boys…even took me on a tour of their bus. They were a local group back then and sounded awesome! Michael died a few years ago, but I still have their first albums from back them to hear him sing. What a great tenor he was. But the group has pressed on amidst management changes between Sherrill Futual and Ricky. But, Ricky has done a fine job with the DEB and just look at them now. They have become one of the most exciting male quartets to grace a stage.

David Hester, bass singer with the Dove Brothers Quartet is another. I first heard David back on December 31, 1988. He was singing bass with a mixed group from eastern North Carolina called the Celestials. He always took time for this young teenager back then, and I will never forget him for that. And by the way, he was rattling the floors even then! Now over 15 years later, look at him now…

I could go on and on about different artists I have “discovered” and have found some real gems down through the years. There is such an abundance of talented people out there yet to be heard. I want to take this moment to mention a few names I think that could one day become major names in the industry…the Frosts, Tony McGee & New Covenant, the Dills, Promised Land Quartet, Testify, Kindred Spirit, Phillips Family and a countless number of others. It is groups like these that make doing reviews so much fun and keeps the Southern Gospel industry so exciting for me!

What About the Hinsons?  (Originally posted 09/27/04)

I did not grow up a fan of the Hinsons like I did the Happy Goodman Family or the Kingsmen. But I did come to grow to love them, but it didn’t come until their later years and more so after they had disbanded. I consider it my loss that it happened that way. I grew up watching the Gospel Singing Jubilee in the late 70s and early 80s until it went off the air around 1982, and enjoyed watching the Hinsons back then. But I was too absorbed in the Goodmans and the Kingsmen to give them much of my attention. In fact, the song “Too Many Times” is the song I think of most when I think of the Hinsons because they used to sing that song all the time on the Gospel Singing Jubilee.

The first time I ever saw them in person was in July of 1984 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Civic Center. I won’t say I was not impressed, but this was the first time I heard them without Chris Hawkins, and sister Yvonne did nothing for me. I was a kid at 12 years old and didn’t know any better! LOL! Only later did I come to love and respect both versions of the Hinsons equally.

The first album I ever owned by the Hinsons was High Voltage, which was given to me by my Great-Aunt Margaret. I thought it was a great album, and rank it as one of my all time favorites. That was in December of 1984. The next time I saw the Hinsons was in November 1986 in Durham, North Carolina. I met Yvonne that night. All I had was $40 and she gave me seven of their records for the $40, when it normally would cost probably over $60 for the lot. Yvonne won me over that night with her gentleness and kindness.

They put on a great concert that night and I fell in love with their music and their spirit. The Hinsons always boasted a strong Campmeeting atmosphere in their concerts and in their music. Not many groups could beat the Hinsons in a live show and their live albums were absolutely exhilarating to me. All three of their live albums, Live and On Stage, On the Road and Lift the Roof Off exhibited everything great live albums are made of…exciting performances, great songs and a lively crowd. On the Road is probably my favorite Hinson album and one of my all time favorite live recordings. That was one of the records I bought that night in Durham. This live album contained all the aforementioned elements for making a memorable live album. I remember listening to that record over and over for a good 3-4 weeks solid. Too bad they don’t make live albums like that anymore.

The Hinsons developed their own unique sound. In the very early days, they just sounded like any other Pentecostal group singing whatever felt good at the time. I don’t feel the Hinsons really came into their own until after Chris had joined the group. Though they had some good records up to this point, probably their album, Harvest of Hits from 1975 proved to be their defining album for their sound and it just got better from there. They were country when country wasn’t cool. Kenny’s song “Desperation” from their 1977 album The Group That God Built probably solidified them as Country Gospel because it reeked of country! Kenny was the basis for their sound and Ronnie was the basis for their songs. (Though Kenny did write some splendid material).

I hate that it wasn’t until after the group disbanded that I truly became a fan and undeniably fell in love with their music. I feel I missed something. I did get to see them on their “One More Hallelujah” Tour in May 1993 when it came through Charlotte, North Carolina and it was a great concert. That night I got a glimpse of what it may have been like in a Hinson concert back in their heyday. It must have been something to behold.

Personal

I was born in 1972 and live in North Carolina. I have been married since 1997 and have one child, who was born in 2000. I have been a staff writer for SoGospelNews since 2000 and am proud to continue contributing to the site. My hope is to be able to express my thoughts, opinions and basically just ramble on as much as I want about my passion and love for Southern Gospel Music through this medium.