The Feminization of the Male Quartet -- Southern Gospel Sound Off!

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Date Posted: 12:07:25 05/26/06 Fri
Author: Debra
Subject: The Feminization of the Male Quartet

Times have certainly changed. I can remember seeing the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen, the Stamps and other legendary groups at singings. Sometimes they were flamboyant. Some of those suits looked ridiculous. But there was one thing about all of them about which there was no mistake -- they were MEN! Most of those whom we consider 'legends' in the SoGospel field grew up during the Depression and on farms where hard work transformed them into men, not 40 year-old boys. None of us think of Big Chief Whetherington or JD Sumner as effeminate. And had anyone dared suggest such a thing to their faces, that person would have no doubt found themselves sweeping up their teeth. They were men.

I look at many of the male quartets today, and see some of the same flamboyance that I suppose will always be around. The styles make me wonder if some of these guys are being dressed by the cast of 'Queer Eye For the Straight Guy'. The hairstyles give me an overwhelming urge to reach for a comb. I could handle funky styles and unkemped hair if it weren't for one thing: these guys look as soft as Hostess Twinkies. I doubt any of them are anymore familiar with a days work than they are with a comb or a hairbrush, and look as though they'd burst into tears if asked to do anything more stressful than getting on or off the bus. As a matter of fact, they look as though they'd burst into tears over anything!

But I guess it must be said that my comments are made by one who was raised by people who had calloused hands. And I love rugged men (I'm a huge John Wayne fan). So I guess my prayer would be that of poet JB Holland, "God Give Us Men!" -- especially in SoGospel Music! Answer speedily Lord. If I see one more effeminate Quartet singer dance across the stage, I think I shall puke.

Debra

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