My mother was full German so I was brought up in the Lutheran Church. It didn't take all that long for me to realize that the majority of the Lutheran Hymnal was a book of what sounded like funeral dirges. A friend of mine who lived near us and was the same age as I invited me to go to his church one evening. I believe it was a non-denominational type of church. Boy...did they ever know how to sing!!! That is where I was first introduced to what I now know (or think of) as Gospel Music. Their songs had a good beat, nice rhythm and just try to keep your feet still! I was about nine years old then and can still remember that night. It was the beginning of the end of my Lutheran affiliation. I of course had to continue going to our 'family church' until I was confirmed, but my heart was never really in it.