Times, They Are A Changing CONTINUED

After the Second World War, popularity in Southern Gospel music started to decline. Realizing that their needed to be a change to keep up with the contemporary style and a changing audience.  Groups and soloist began combining the rudiments of rock and mainstream country into their projects. In 1963 The Plainsmen were recording on “the SIMS label”, which used a broad range of pop, country and gospel artists. The Plainsmen dressed up in trendy clothes of that era and sang music influenced by the Beatles and the Oak Ridge Boys, performing songs intended to appeal to a younger crowd familiar with rock and country music and yet, staying true to a Christian theme.

I think this is great that Southern Gospel music, or Christian music period, made an effort to reach the youth by appealing to their taste in music. In Southern Gospel music, I have noticed a few new faces in this music, such as The McClellan Singing Sisters, Red Roots, Abby Paskvan, etc. They are young, they still sing Gospel Music, it still has that Southern Gospel flavor, but the spirit, the feel and the type of music is more appealing to the 15 to 30 age groups.  They have essentially made a change.  Even those known for “the traditional” gospel sound have begun to inject a younger modern sound.  For example: Brian Free & Assurance and “Long As I’ve Got King Jesus”.

Understand, there is nothing wrong with any Gospel music that uplifts The Lord.  Keep on Singing!  I’m just saying that if we truly are “reaching out to all the world” and preaching “The Gospel”.  Then let us not neglect a group of people, the young.  They need Jesus as much as: or even more than the “older” generation.  My dad is 66 years old and he enjoys ALL Christian Music.           

I have attended the NQC (National Quartet Convention) and from what I hear, this is the biggest event in Southern Gospel music. I have been going to the NQC for the last two years and have notice something peculiar.  Where is all of the youth?  Other than a few young artists there to perform, I was the youngest fan there, and I am 30 years of age.  The other youth there seemed to be “brought in” by their older parents or relatives.  The age group seems to be around 50 years of age and up. I was thinking to myself, if the Lord does not come back in the next 20 to 30 years what will happen to Southern Gospel music? This was even brought up by many others who attended the NQC.  Maybe their grand-kids will be able to watch Southern Gospel music on the history channel. 

 Because of the seeming lack of interest from the youth, I think if this genre of music wants to live it will need to change with the times.

I have noticed that Southern Gospel music has changed quite a bit over time and like before, maybe it needs to change again to conform to a younger audience.  Some Christians think change is a bad thing but change can be a good thing. God created everything including music, there are different forms of music such as rock’ in roll, country, blue grass, gospel, blues and jazz just to name a few.  This alone shows the variety of music accepted by different people.  If we are to reach them for the Lord, maybe we need to reach them in ways they will accept.  You don’t need to change or alter the message, just the style of the presentation.