Commentary

The Essential Songwriter Collection series lists ten songs each from legendary songwriters that every Southern Gospel fan should add to their collections. God Handled It All: Gold City, Walk the Talk, 2003. This song was Jay Parrack’s final big solo during his years on the Gold City bus, a fitting capstone to an era of indisputable […]

The Essential Songwriter Collection series lists ten songs each from legendary songwriters that every Southern Gospel fan should add to their collections. “Aloha Time”: Blackwood Brothers, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, 1960. Bill Shaw James Blackwood makes one of the most challenging Southern Gospel tenor parts ever written seem effortless. “Because of Him”: Weatherfords, Golden Gospel Favorites. There

In Southern Gospel, what do we call a rousing, dramatic orchestrated song? We often call it a ballad. But we don’t use the term “ballad” for just that; we’ll use it for any slow song. So we have any number of qualifiers for the term: “soft ballads” (“There’s Something About That Name”) “big ballads” (a

‘Tis the season . . . where people complain about how the familiar Christmas carols are too overdone. Granted, there’s some truth to the complaint. But this is a glass-half-full sort of website, so let’s look at ten Christmas songs that aren’t overdone. At The Right Time (Booth Brothers, Carry On, 2007, on YouTube here): The Booth Brothers

When controversial discussions arise, frequently someone states that the discussion cannot continue because Matthew 18 has not been followed. The verses in question—verses 15 through 17—state: Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But

A friend recently emailed me, asking my thoughts on the last line of the chorus of “Come, Ye Sinners.” Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and power. Refrain I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me

“They say Heaven’s pretty / Well, living here is, too.” Living here is not. I saw a man in his 50s driving an old white car on Thanksgiving weekend—by himself. His license plate bore the familiar Komen logo and the words “Driving for a Cure.” I saw some of the sweetest little children I have

Tony Greene in ICU with Collapsed Lung According to several reports from around the Internet, Tony Greene of the Greenes is in Intensive Care. He had gone to the hospital earlier this week facing a possible kidney rejection, but after thousands of prayers, was able to keep the kidney. Now his lung has collapsed, and

In what can safely be said to be one of Southern Gospel’s biggest stories in the last few years, Bill Gaither announced the departure of half the Gaither Vocal Band—lead singer Guy Penrod and baritone Marshall Hall—and the return of three alumni, David Phelps, Mark Lowry, and Michael English. [EDIT, 11/8/10: The link is broken

I was recently listening to a Florida Boys song entitled “Over There.” A few of the lines in the song state: I’ve got me a fire Gonna keep it burning I’ve got me a light Gonna let it shine I’ve got me a prayer-wheel Gonna keep it turning… This, of course, brings to mind the