We play, what could be called Americana gospel, the old-time roots music from the traditions of the black and white rural American churches. It's the "farmer formal" sacred songs from the Emancipation to the Depression, as well as some of our own. It's the music of our grandfathers and great-grandmothers, when they were fiery and young, and had to endure their hardships trusting only in Jesus. It's the songs of the old saints who were well acquainted with suffering, for some were in chains, or at the Freedmans Bureau, or in company towns, on failing farms, or at the graveside. It's a uniquely American expression of the cross and shed blood, of sin and salvation, of grace and mercy, and of repentenance and forgiveness. It's the music for times of trouble, when nothing but the unadorned full gospel of Jesus will do. And it's steely-eyed encouragement by the old songwriters in the power of the Holy Ghost to keep walking on out in Jesus name, to keep leaning on the everlasting arms, to finally lay your burdens down.
We have been at it together since 1994 performing 20 to 25 times per year. We've never sought music industry sucess but rather filled up our dance card with prison gigs, rescue missions, funerals, church services, and benefit concerts for groups doing good like the Blue Star Moms. We've self-produced five CDs. We return all band proceeds to charity, primarily into prison ministries. As our most noteworthy accomplishment, the prison chaplain once said we were "the inmates' favorite band inside San Quentin". A great complement for us and for old-time roots gospel, in our estimation. Nevertheless, it is our prayer, when it is all said and done, when we have all gone on to our reward like our fathers before us, that we were somehow out of the way of the songs themselves so that the only gospel there is, the old-time full gospel of Jesus, was clearly heard.
May the One who has overcome this mean old world, the Lord and Savior of sinners like us, be glorified in all of you. |
