Hello Everyone!

Hi everybody! Sorry it's been so long since I've been online, I've had to do some traveling out of town so I'm trying to catch up now! You know, some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed! But I digress, good to see people are still talking on here......................this is; after all, a way that we can share our thoughts and opinions on how to make things better. I do have to say.....................that I'm embarassed to see that ONE person keeps getting a new name so he can try to belittle someone that has nothing to do with this blog. I'm going to take the high road on this one, but I know who he is and why he's doing it, shame on him..............anyway, so much happening in the big world of SG music.............................groups folding, turning buses back in, now the big one is Gold City is no longer going to have a band.............for the first time, EVER...................that is big news, but it does leave me to question this. They are going to travel with 4 vocals, piano and Doug is going to be the sound guy, so they are only losing Adam.......................why?????? Surely, they can come up with some way to keep 1 salary, if it were more, I'd understand that, but only 1????? Oh well...................not mine to question. Ah, here's a new one for ya............Kirk Talley, I'm so tired of listening to the debate..............................here's the answer, you ready????? it's called GRACE.............next topic............well, I see that our time is gone, I'll get to the comments you fine folks have left today as well. Talk to you again soon!

Well...................

Ok, ok....................here it is. It's been a couple of days since I've been on and I wanted to get back into the thick of things. First of all, I have gone back and edited a couple of previous posts. I want to apologize to Shiloh, First Voice and His Grace.......................I should not have posted my comments. I have been a little harsh on somethings that I shouldn't have addressed them and I won't be as hasty anymore to jump on things, sorry guys.

But, there are some other comments that are still listed on this blog that I will not apologize for. Things need to be changed here in Texas for the sake of SG music as a whole. There has got to be something OR someone who is willing to set the bar for these groups to measure themselves by. That is why I'm posting on here, I'm honestly not trying to tear folks down, I'm trying to help. In some instances, because of whatever, groups w0n't listen to folks that do know what to do and I really want to help. Second of all, my real name is Wayne..............it's short for DeWayne.......................and that's all you get. I've been around here for a long time and have contributed into the success of a few groups around the area. But most of all, I'm a diehard Southern Gospel fan and that's where I get my credentials to say what I'm saying. I've been around the big groups, studied them, talked to them and traveled with a couple....................they are watching you.....................they are looking at what you do and most of them get a good laugh to see the presentations of the local groups. When you are part of an group, at all times.............even when you're not together, STAY PROFESSIONAL!!!!! People dont' want to see you act stupid on stage.......................if they come to see you they are expecting to see something worth while and it's your job to give them something good. If you don't you're doing nothing but breaking down the fanbase for decent local groups and even some of the professional groups.

I touched a little on the organizations a few posts back and I'm sad to say that there is NOT an organization out there that is truly helping groups get to the next level. I had at one point heard that someone was talking about one but it seems to have died on the table. If an organization is started it needs to be fashioned after the NQC. Any group should be able to come and sit up a product table as at NQC but the singing should be done BY INVITATION ONLY!!!! There should be a board of directors in place to set the standard by which the groups are chosen and invited. They could offer seminars during the day to help musicians or vocalist to learn to better themselves and someone could even work with groups to help improve their stage performance. Now I have to say it...................it's not fun but, the evening singings should ONLY be groups. If you go to any of the organizations in Texas....................every other singer is a soloist. I'm sorry, I know that each person has their own ministry and I understand that BUT, soloist are not usually a drawing card item. Your drawing card are good groups, consisting of at least trios and quartets and honestly, I'd have a LOT more quartets than trios!

Well, I'm off for today.....................I've given you enough to think about..................by the way, for those of you who keep asking for my name.................you've got my name..........it's Wayne..............you won't get the last but at least it's more than I've gotten from most of you! Have a great day!

That was quick!!

Hello everyone, Happy Monday!!!! All that I have to say today is..........WOW!!! OTGH announced just Wednesday that they were losing Robbie and Jeff and they were talking to some exciting folks, then..........Sunday they announced they had hired Tony Jarman to take Robbie's place...................wow, no auditions, nothing................looks like they just went after who they wanted...................I mean, it's ok, he was doing solo work anyway........................but didn't he just leave L5 with throat problems???? L5 didn't sing him as high as OTGH will, unless they drop their tracks. Robbie was a machine and sang it higher than most tenors, he has that unusual kind of tenor voice, like an irish tenor. He's gonna be missed terribly! I hate see Pearles leave as well, I think the only one would could really step back in and pick up the peices is Christian.............who knows....................his quartet has never really flown well, so maybe. If it happens, you heard it here first!!!! :) Well, have a great week and we'll be chatting more later on!

Here we go again...........

It seemed like last year around NQC time, we went through a major overhaul of tenors. Everyone seemed to start losing tenors and refilling.................are we starting again???? Two of the best tenors in the business are stepping down to go other ways, Frank Seamans of L5 and Robbie Hiner of Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet. I hate to see them both go but understand they both have a commitment to their families and need to follow the leading of the Spirit. Both of these men are class acts and I hope that the guys coming in behind them understand the big shoes they are both leaving to be filled. Who's next to go? Who are the candidates to fill their spots? Any thoughts?

New day, same thoughts

I don't know if you had a chance to read Nick's link that I left yesterday or not but it makes a lot of sense. I love his quote:

"In the Singing News Top 80 chart for the month of July, 45 of the 80 slots are occupied by amateurs, in my opinion. What we are saying to the world is… “These 80 artists are the best we have to offer…45 of them still don’t know how to sing professionally”.Does this make sense to you? First of all, we don’t need a Top 80 chart. It only fuels the fire for the ego driven amateurs that would do just about anything to see their name on the chart. Billboard has a Top 100, but their market is huge compared to SGM...about like the difference between a basketball and a dime. It makes sense for them, but not for us."

This is not eye opening to those of us that know the realistic side of the business. Most people who are trying to get into the biz is either too blind or dumb to see it. It has always made me chuckle when I hear local or regional groups say, "We just signed with 'such and such' label". Woo-hoo.........so you signed a contract for them to produce an album for you and for YOU to pay for it.................way to go, so what???? This is what Nick is saying............anyone with the right amount of money can get in and record a great album, the bigger studios even have the capacity to digitally make any of your vocals that might be sharp or flat perfect. They can make anyone sound, decent.............case and point, Ashlee Simpson..............but when they hit the road.............ugh!!!!!! This way is cheating to me. There has to be someone or some way of measuring true talent and not the checkbook quartet! This is why I"m here................this is what Nick is saying.......................it's the no talent groups that are destroying our industry...................they are making it hard for a actual talented group to make a living on the road or good up and coming groups have to struggle more to get to where they should be. I saw a group one time, that was up and coming and charted a song but could not travel to the dates to promote the song...................why in the world would you send a song to chart in an area that you can't afford to travel to???????? Ah, back to the ego again.....................it seems to be a resounding issue in our industry! Bottom line, if you can't tote the mail, stay home!!!!!

Nick Bruno's Comments.....check it out!

Post from Nick Bruno. Pretty eye opening. The ideal of the illegal aliens might be a little over the top to prove his point but hold on, he'll get there!

http://sogospelnews.com/index/articles/comments/4268/

I'll have more to say tomorrow!

Monday, Monday............

Ah, the excitement of a new week, the smell of Starbucks in the morning and another day of just trying to live through to the weekend!!!! It was quite an eventful first week for my first week of blogging! It's fun to be able to share my thoughts and hopefully help to make a difference in the way some think of their presentation. I was very sorry to hear of the fire at Central Baptist Church in Irving. The Crusaders Trio had booked Poet Voices in for this past Saturday and had to cancel them due to a fire in a bathroom, the PV offices said they had a lot of smoke damage in the church. Fortunately, PV was able to be rebooked in Quinlan quickly. I put in a call to the church this morn to make sure that everyone is ok and see if donations were needed to help rebuild the damage. You can contact the church as well, the website is: www.centalbaptistirving.com . I got to take in a couple of couple singings this weekend, on Saturday night I went to the GMMA meeting..........the featured groups were Amazed and Southern Joy. It wasn't too bad, just a couple of thoughts, Amazed really needs s third singer and Southern Joy needs to lay off the Gold City material, it's too high for their upper end guys!!!!! Then on Sunday, I got to go see Harmony at 2nd Baptist Church in Dallas. They did a nice job, I think that the new tenor is going to fit in . He still has a way to go yet, but he'll get there. It's kinda hard to get used to a new sound when you're used to the old one but I think give them some time and they will gel just fine.You know, it's so important that we support our traveling ministries. It has made me SO mad over the years to see folks, especially Christians, go out and spend $20 or more on tickets to see a secular act but then maybe put in a dollar when the plate is passed for a traveling group! (Still, there are some that $1 is WAY TOO MUCH, but I won't touch that one today!) These people are out there, just like the secular acts, leaving the comforts of home and family and traveling; not only so that you can be entertained with their program but in some cases that people can be ministered to and lives can be changed. Most of these folks have lives away from traveling and for them to keep going they need support from you and your money. The old song, "Excuses" really still rings true, you can go and scream and shout for your favorite ball team, but throw your neck out of socket on Sunday to turn and see who just said, "Amen"! Or, you'll spend your hard earned money for expensive playoff ticket to sports events but just throw in a piddling for a group. Shame on you!!!!! If you don't want to support a group, don't book them, don't go see them! Don't think that the only way to support is to buy a cd or cassette, that money helps but it's also paying off that new project that you're enjoying in your car or home! I know that I may sound harsh on some things but how would Simon do it? I'm just trying to help make a difference! Have a wonderful week!