Mention Southern Gospel Music and most people chuckle and run. Images of four men in bright colored suits singing in harmonies accented with a heavy twang and piano come to mind. That's not today's Southern Gospel Music! Southern Gospel Music has undergone a renaissance over the past few years and the results are a rebirth of this once popular genre of Christian Music. Gone are the poorly produced, poor quality recordings. No more twang, no big hair, no lime green suits. Today's Southern Gospel music encompasses a variety of styles.
The quartet style is still popular with groups like Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Brian Free and Assurance, The Gaither Vocal Band, and the Dove Brothers regularly topping the charts and drawing large crowds where ever they perform. The traditional sound has been updated to include more modern music. The vocals, long the center piece of quartet music are now complimented with electric guitar solos, something unheard of ten years ago.
Groups like the Crabb Family, Austins Bridge and Mike and Kelly Bowling have broadened the scope of Southern Gospel music to include a more Country sound. The response has been tremendous and has resulted in the genre being aboutto reach a wider audience.
While these groups have helped to capture a new audience for Southern Gospel music from country music fans, groups like The Isaacs, The Living Waters Trio and Doyle Lawson have drawn a crowd of Bluegrass fans. These groups have a sound that compliments both quartets and soloists. The result is a well-rounded new Southern Gospel Music.
Bill Gaither and the Homecoming Tour regularly perform to audiences in sold out arenas. The Gaither Homecoming Series of CD's, Videos, and DVD's has sold more than most secular artists and the tour's attendance is often in the top of all tours for all genres of music.
Today's Southern Gospel Music has a lot to offer. If you have not listened to a Southern Gospel Radio station or attended a Southern Gospel concert lately check it out. You might be surprised by what you hear. Today's Southern Gospel Music is not your daddy's Southern Gospel Music.
