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Lorraine Glazier - Senior Scene

The local gospel group, New Creation, has been busy. The group was formed 11 years ago and since then has donated time and talent to raising money for various charities.

Their concerts for fundraising are not confined to the Miramichi community. Some of the areas they have performed in for charities are Moncton, Bathurst, Plaster Rock and communities in Newfoundland. When they are not on the road doing fundraisers, they are recording.

On Friday, June 27, the group launched their new CD, titled "Just One More Soul." The concert was held at James M Hill and gospel music fans were treated to a really nice evening of great gospel music.

Several local groups and singers graciously gave their time and talents to support the efforts of New Creation. The concert was opened by local gospel singers, Dave and Claire Young, accompanied by Frank Macdonald and the Anchormen, a group of four gentlemen who also sing with the popular group, Men of Harmony. Mary and Susan Butler, accompanied by Barbara Somers, performed several favourite inspirational gospel songs, as did Mayor Jerry Cormier

There are many different styles of gospel music, and country gospel has experienced a revival due to the success of Bill and Gloria Gaither's Homecoming series.

Gospel music has an interesting history. Styles vary depending on the time and geographic location. The roots of popular gospel emerged around 1870 and became prominent in the revivals and camp meetings. There are as many styles as there are musical tastes. Some styles include black gospel, country gospel, soul gospel, cowboy, classical, jazz, new, pop, rock, southern traditional and western. The songs are usually intense and joyful and carry with them a "mood" or feeling.

Black gospel evolved through the Christian African slaves in the American south who sang on plantations.

I knew a lady once who wintered south for several months and loved listening to black gospel choirs. On Sunday mornings she would wait in the parking lot of some of these southern churches until the congregation assembled, then slip quietly into the back to listen. This worked well until one Sunday morning a young black couple spotted her standing there in a church that was filled. Without hesitation, the couple got up, walked to the back and graciously offered her their seat … up front. Once she recovered, she often returned to that same church, where she always felt welcome.

The early gospel music was called Country or Southern Gospel, to distinguish it from Black Gospel. The early gospel artists such as The Carter Family became popular on radio and through their recordings in the 1920s and 30s. Others, such as George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows, became popular through their association with evangelist Billy Graham.

One of my favourite gospel singers, other than New Creation, of course, is Mahalia Jackson. Like many popular artists, such as Elvis Presley, she began singing in her local church. Jackson, however, always refused to do secular music, despite enormous pressure to do so.

From very humble beginnings, Jackson's star rose and she was hailed as the "queen of gospel music." She sang at President Kennedy's inauguration and was the first gospel singer to be invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, in New York City. The late Martin Luther King once said of Jackson, "A voice like hers comes along once in a millennium."

Mahalia Jackson died from congestive heart failure in 1978, at the age of 60. She left a legacy of some great gospel songs. I recently found one of her CDs in my collection that was released in 1995, titled The Best of Mahalia Jackson. The two selections on this CD that carried a theme that we can all relate to this summer is "Didn't It Rain" and "God Put A Rainbow In the Sky."

So, what do Mahalia Jackson and New Creation have in common? Well, they both sing the gospel songs because they love to sing them, and the music comes from the heart, while both have a history of devoting time and energy into helping others.

Lorraine Glazier offers a unique perspective on the world from an active senior's point of view. She welcomes feedback and suggestions at piratespad@hotmail.com.