I got in an interesting conversation on air with a radio host during an interview this week. I went off on one of my tangents about how 'Black' Gospel music is getting watered down, and while everyone coming together is great, American society hasn't come so far along that we can discard those elements of our culture which helped us survive unspeakable oppression. (look for a more in depth discussion of this topic in a future post) Anyway, she agreed and went on to observe that while fifty years ago people people were being gunned down in the streets like dogs just for the right to exercise their right to vote, today many of us don't even bother, because we believe our vote doesn't matter. Then we complain about what the almighty they are doing to us.
The point is, that if you don't at least make an attempt to show up and advocate for your interests, no matter how corrupt the mechanism, you shouldn't really be surprised when things don't go your way. This is true in politics, and it's true in the Gospel music industry. Last week I was the first recipient of the Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year.
I was the only nominee in the category.
In my acceptance speech, I voiced my hope that there are 5 or 6 solid nominees next year. Because if there aren't, we will eventually see the same scenario we've witnessed before: Another industry award will eliminate the instrumental category for a lack of 'qualified applicants'. The Dove awards eliminated its instrumental category in 2009. The Stellar Awards chose not to give out an instrumental award this year.
The irony is, that instrumental praise music is on the upswing, largely spurred on by airplay from a host of Internet broadcasters. Now Gospel Jazz programs are popping up on terrestrial radio across the country. I'm getting more calls from churches that want to incorporate instrumental praise into programs and events. I was in my local FYE last week, and the number one selling Jazz title in the store was the latest project from Christian saxophonist Jeff Sparks.
Yet and still, the 'industry' continues to act like we don't exist. And we aid and abet this neglect by refusing to even submit our projects for recognition by the awards. If they even have a category for us in the first place. There's a growing award in Atlanta that has no instrumental category. I reached out to them to find out why. No response to date.
Paraphrasing from my acceptance speech again: NO; statues, plaques and recognition aren't why we do what we do. And YES; i recognize that there are serious misgivings with the way some of the awards are run. Despite all that, if the exposure of our individual and collective effort exposes our ministries to someone who would not have heard us otherwise, it's worth it. There are people all around the globe who will not, cannot receive 'Gospel' music in its more familiar vocal form. But they may receive instrumental music.
There's tremendous potential for healing and deliverance in this music. I often tell people that showing up is 90% of my job, and by the power of the Holy Spirit something happens through the music that far exceeds whatever skill, knowledge talent or ability I bring to the table. Despite frustrations, financial hardships, snubs, 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune', I keep showing up. I hope my brother and sister instrumental psalmists will adopt that same mindset. And regardless of what the industry does, I pray the listeners who enjoy the music will continue to support us, because we can't do it without you.
