What is Southern Gospel Music?
The origin of Southern Gospel Music can be traced back to 1910 and was typically comprised of a piano, stringed instruments, and a quartet. It has been described by some as folk, mountain music, old-fashioned or sacred music. The music has changed in many ways, now with keyboards, drums, electric and acoustic guitars, and technology this style of music sounds just like any other modern genre. But, why is Southern Gospel Music so obscure in society?
Try searching iTunes or Google Play stores for Southern Gospel and you’ll likely be frustrated with results from Country Music Artists singing hymns or church choirs. If smart speakers are your forte, try saying “Alexa, Play Southern Gospel Music”, chances are you will get a few Southern Gospel artists, but no doubt you will get bluegrass gospel, and hymns sang by secular artists.
I used the word frustrated, there are other words that would describe my emotions as I try to train my phone or smart speaker to play Southern Gospel Music. I have had days when I have to skip nearly every other song. Not because I don't like the song, because it doesn't fit into the genre I requested.
Each week while reviewing new music, I’m disappointed to find that the reason for the obscurity of this genre falls directly on the artist, studio and record label. The music is rarely tagged with Southern Gospel as the genre. Generally, it is tagged as “Religious”, “Gospel”, “Christian”, “Inspirational”, or simply “Music”. I’ve even had a few that were tagged as “Metal”.
So, what is Southern Gospel Music (SGM)? Today there are at least six distinct “flavors” of SGM. Male quartets are four men singing individual parts such as The Kingdom Heirs, Master’s Voice, and Tribute Quartet. Mixed Quartets with the traditional four-part harmony but with at least one female voice such as the Perrys, Exodus, and Karen Peck and New River. There are Trios like Greater Vision and the Booth Brothers. Duos (not to be confused with a duet – a song performed by two people) like Jim and Melissa Brady. You have solo artists like Mark Lowry, Joseph Habedank, Ivan Parker and Michael Combs. The sixth group is usually a family or mixed groups like the Collingsworth Family or the Gaither Vocal Band, and usually have more than one person singing the same part.
Before I forget, the best way to find SGM on a digital platform is to start with an artist you know and begin to follow the suggestions for similar artists, but that’s just my Southern Gospel Point of View.
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