by Dick Stone

 

     In 1936 I was attending Columbus School in Chariton, Iowa. The schoolhouse was located just east of the present location of the new Columbus School. A church for black people was located across the street, and the black children and I often played in the schoolyard on weekends. It was here that gospel music and I became friends. I remember the hand clapping, the amens, etc.  I loved it!  My black pals sang with gusto, songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot“, “Old Time Religion“, “The Old Rugged Cross“, “In the Sweet By and By” and many more. 

                                            

     By 1938 we had a radio. A program sponsored by the Earl May Seed Company, broadcast over KMA, Shenandoah, Iowa, always began by playing their theme song; “Turn The Radio On” The famous Blackwood Brothers quartet was a regular feature on this show.  The group was made up mostly of members of the Blackwood family.  I had the pleasure of meeting James Blackwood, the leader of the group, about 25 years ago and told him how much I enjoyed the group.  I especially admired James’ solos, which were unparalleled in that great tenor voice of his!    I particularly remember, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “He Looked Beyond My Fault”, “I Met My King”, “The Voice Of The Lord” and “As Flows The River”. 

            The Blackwood Brothers singing group won all the top honors in Gospel music. Since the family had never produced a bass voice, early on, they added bass singer, J.D. Sumner to the group.  (He left them to join Elvis Presley.)  They then added the big bass voice of Ken “Volkswagen” Turner to the quartet. Of course, he could sing all the group’s numbers and he was a whole show by himself too!   The Blackwood Brothers quartet received many more honors and was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame.

            Ken Turner of the Blackwood Brothers did things with that big bass voice that I still find hard to believe.  He could make a noise like a Volkswagen, hence his nickname.   He was funny, serious and relaxing.  One of the songs I particularly recall is “Life is a Mountain Railroad“.  He used his voice to imitate a trumpet, trombone, clarinet or a complete wind band.  The sounds were all done by Ken by dubbing over tracks.  He also did imitations of Gomer Pyle, Mr. Magoo, Red Foley, Ernest Tubb, Tennessee Ford, Ernie Ford and J. D. Sumner. 

   

                                    

            Another great gospel singer of this time was Jim Nabors.  If you had heard Jim Nabors’ odd voice as Gomer Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show you might never have believed he was a beautiful singer, but his voice was inspiringly heavenly.  I have many of his records to enjoy! 

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        Tennessee Ernie Ford was sometimes called a pea picker. I do not know if he ever picked or shelled peas but he surely could shell out beautiful hymns such as “When They Ring the Golden Bells”, “Let the Lower Lights be Burning”, “The Church In The Wildwood”, “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”, “Shall We Gather At The River” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”.  Ernie sang many other types of music including “Shotgun Boogie”, which he also composed.  Queen Elizabeth II of England was only one of his many fans. 

 

 

            In 1955, Tennessee Ernie recorded a song about a coal miner, “Sixteen Tons”.  The record sold one million copies in three weeks, two million in nine weeks and eventually sold over three million, which was a record at that time.  Other songs he recorded included “Mule Train”, “Cry Of The Wild Goose”, “Farewell” and “The Ballad Of Davy Crockett”.  God gave Tennessee Ernie Ford a great gift, and he sang from the heart. The many gifts God gave me include my family, friends and a love for thousands of songs I have been privileged to hear. I still remember the words to most of them.

 

                                  

Words to “Sixteen Tons”   

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

 

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

 

            I will mention a friend of mine, Wilburn L. Bennet of Bethany, Mo.   I did business with him for three years before discovering that he was a singing evangelist from Bethany, Missouri. One day, he invited me to attend the local Church of God where he and his wife were guest singers.  Before the Bennets sang, the congregation was singing and clapping their hands to the music, reminding me of the Gospel church atmosphere of so long ago; although, the songs were different.  Some of the hymns were “I’m Bound For That City” and “Power In The Blood”.   Wilburn and Mary Lou, accompanied by an electric guitar, sang “I’ll Fly Away”, “In The Valley and “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There”. Then Wilburn asked if anyone had a request so I asked for “Give Me That Old Time Religion” and ’Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher man”.

 

Words to:  “Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man”

By: Dolly Parton

Daddy was an old time preacher man
He preacher the word of God throughout the land
He preached so plain a child could understand
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man

He told the people of he need to pray
He talked about God's wrath and judgement day
He preached about the great eternity
He preached hell so hot that you could feel the heat

Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
Aunt Leanona would get up to testify
And we'd sing "In The Sweet By And By"
The we'd sing "I'm On My Way To Canaan Land"
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man

Revivals and camp meetings went for weeks
Folks came from all around to hear him preach
Daddy said if one is saved it's worth it all
But the aisles were always filled at altar calls
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man

Daddy worked for God but asked for no pay
For he believed that God provides a way
We never had a lot but we got by
Guess it's 'cause the Lord was on Daddy's side
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man                          

 

                                       

 

     ‘The Spiritual Vibrations” was a singing group which had been coming to Chariton, Iowa long before they became well known. The Smothers family formed the group in the camp meeting days.  Helen Smothers was a great pianist, Max Smothers played bass and banjo, Dennis Smothers sang tenor and Gordon Britt played the lead guitar.  Two Smothers sisters, whose names I have forgotten, were vocalists.

         

                                   

 

      Some of the songs they sang were “Meet Me On The Other Side”, “Touched By The Master’s Strong Hand”, ’Take Me To Jesus And Tell Him I’m Home”, “Going Home”, “More Than You’ll Ever Know” and “It’s My Desire”.  The Spiritual Vibrations and the Bennets returned to Chariton periodically and I always went to hear them.

         

     

            On Sunday morning I watched Jimmy Swaggart’s TV program.  I will leave judgment of the man to God, but I will judge the music presented.  Jimmy had a great song, “You Don’t Need To Understand”. I understand that Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley were first cousins, and all are accomplished pianists.  Mickey Gilley wanted Jimmy to join him in performing but he did not. 

            Some of Swaggart’s best songs were ‘I’ve Got Nothing To Lose”, ‘God Took Away My Yesterdays”, ‘Where Roses Never Fade”, “Reach Out And Touch The Lord”, “I’ve Found The Answer”, “When I Wake Up In Glory”, “God’s Valley of Peace”, “Something Within Me”, “The Name Of Jesus” and “Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know”. 

 

                                                 

 

     Big John Starnes, a great gospel singer with a powerful voice, sang solos on the weekly Jimmy Swaggart Show, which was seen by over five million people. He sang from the heart such songs as “We’ll Talk It Over”,  “I Shall Not Be Moved”, “I Feel Like Travelin’ On”, “Softly And Tenderly”, “The Hallelujah Side”, “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be”. I enjoyed listening to all these great songs sang by an equally great vocalist.  

   

                                 

 

The Speer Family is an older gospel-singing group I have enjoyed over the years.  Some of their musical offerings are “Wait A Little Longer”, “I Believe”, “I Can Call On Jesus Anytime” and “Suppertime”.

 

 

                                                    

 

            Gloria and Bill Gaither wrote and performed a number of the songs presented on their TV show, which is still running in 2003.  Most of the greatest gospel singers have appeared with them including J.D.Sumner, Glen Paine, James Blackwood and many who have died since I first started watching the show.  Some of the songs I recall best are “Praise Be To Jesus”, “Peace Shall Come”, “It Is Finished”, “Reaching” and “Free To Go Home”. 

                                                                                      

          George Beverly Shea is still a powerful singer, but his voice does not compare to what it was 30 years ago.  I have several of his records and particularly enjoy listening to “How Great Thou Art”, “Rocked In The Cradle Of The Deep”, “Sweet Hour Of Prayer”, “Deep River” and “The Love Of God”.

                             

     I treasure a signed promotional copy of The Plainsmen.  Members of the gospel-singing group were Rusty Goodman, bass; Jack Mainord, lead singer; Easmon Napier, piano and singers Howard Wellborn and Thurman Bunch.  I have some of their records including one of my favorites,  “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Rock Of Ages”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “Beyond The Sunset”, “Sweet Hour Of Prayer” and my father’s favorite hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”.  ‘                   

                                               

I like The Gospel Lights although their songs are a little different than most. “To God Be The Glory” was their theme song. A few others I really like are “The Baptism of Jesse Taylor”, “The Eastern Gate”, “Hallelujah Square”, “My Tribute” and “What A Time”. 

 

                                 

      One of the greatest singers of all time, Elvis Presley, sang gospel tunes such as “How Great Thou Art”, “Somebody Bigger Than You And I”, “Where Could I Go But To The Lord”, “If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side”, “Crying In The Chapel”, “By and By”, “Stand By Me”, “Run On”, “So High”, “In The Garden” and “His Hand IN Mine”.  Many of these selections were sung with The Jordanaires and the Jordanaires quartet. 

                                                 

The Plummer Family country music show played one of my favorite songs, “The Old Country Church”. It reminds me of the first time I remember attending church in 1933. The May church was directly across the road from May school where attended first grade.   Both buildings are long gone.  Other songs by the Plummer family were “Lonesome Valley”, “My Lord’s Going To Lead Me Out”, “Shout And Shine”, “Old Gospelship”, “I’m Traveling On” and “Give Mother My Crown”. 

 

                                       

                                       

 

                          

     The queen of gospel music was Mahalia Jackson. I especially like her rendition of “Go Tell It To The Mountain” and “Move Up A Little Higher“.  Other songs by her include “I Can Put My Trust In Jesus”, “He’s My Light” and “I’m Glad Salvation Is Free”. 

As I thought about different artists, the great Billie Holliday who sang “God Bless The Child” so well came to my mind.  Maybe, I am even fonder of this song at the moment because I will become a great grandfather within the next few weeks.

         

                              

Some other gospel performers I like are singer Jake Hess, the Goodman family, Glen Paine, The Oakridge Boys and The Statler Brothers. I could spend day’s writing about the approximately fifteen hundred gospel recordings I own and love to hear played. I think you get the idea. I love gospel music.  I hope you get the idea, because I do!

 

Dick Stone, August 2003