Country Gospel Music: Past, Present, And Future
Gospel music is motivating and refreshing, and country music artists certainly have their own flair for the genre. Country gospel music is just one of the various gospel music categories, and gaining popularity at such a speed that major record labels (think Sony, RCA, MCA and Curb) are producing country gospel music artists. But artists who perform country gospel music are by far not a new breed. Country gospel music has been around for years.
Longtime fans and beginning listeners can enjoy the sounds of extremely well-known older country music artists such as Hank Williams, Sr. ("Jesus Remembered Me" and "I Saw the Light"), The Statler Brothers ("Sweet By and By" and "Jesus Is The Answer Everytime") and George Jones ("The Good Old Bible"). Are you wondering where all the female artists are? Loretta Lynn ("Living in God's Country" and "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again), Kitty Wells ("Dust On The Bible" and Lord I'm Coming Home") and Patsy Cline ("Life's Railway To Heaven") all contribute to this truly pure and inspiring genre of music. Contemporary country music artists haven't been shuffling their feet either when it comes to the gospel tunes. Take Alabama's "Angels Among Us," Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain," Randy Travis' "Three Wooden Crosses," and The Judds' "Love Can Build A Bridge," for example-all popular country music artists of today turning out special gospel songs.
Of course, there are musical artists dedicated solely to this branch of gospel music as well, such as Gary R. Smith, a Redeemer Record Company recording artist and songwriter who along with releasing ten albums, has also entertained audiences with his music on the Wal-mart Country Gospel Tour since 1994. Smith has won several awards thus far during his musical career including Country Gospel Connection's "2004 Male Vocalist," and in 1999 alone he earned the titles of "Gold Cross Male Newcomer of the Year," "Special Gold Cross #1 Song of the Year," and "Silver Cross Male Vocalist of the Year," all presented by the International Gospel Music Association.
No, country music artists performing gospel songs are definitely not a new trend, just as country gospel music isn't new. Artists of both the past and present have contributed to this moving music, and if history repeats itself, listeners have more country gospel music to look forward to. As with any other particular category of gospel music, those who sing country gospel music desire to spread the word of God and, with the growing popularity in both the older and the more contemporary country gospel music, it seems they are doing just that.