Susan: I don't know the people who were requesting that black gospel groups introduce spirituals into their performance... I'll go into the community on the internet and see if they respond... The Black Gospel Musicians community isn't like Mudcat... you're lucky if one person enters a message a week... So far, no one has responded to anything that I've posted. But, I'll try.

The Adirondack Folk Gospel Festival. Ah, yes! No, I'm sorry, but it ended a good ten years ago. I went the last four years, and was on the Board their. I've recently tried to track down Field Horne, who was the Director, but my contacts can't find him. (That sounds creepy...) When Field called and booked me the first time, I couldn't out why he asked me. I'd written three or four gospel songs that I performed, but I would hardly have considered myself a gospel artist. I didn't even know who Field was, but he heard me do a concert at Cafe Lena, and sensed that I had a love for gospel. It was really through that festival that I became more committed to gospel, and did a gospel album, never released, with friends of mine in Mass., Jim and Cindy Bean, and The Beans. The festival created a hunger in me that I've never satisfied, and led me to black gospel... something there was very little of at the festival. I've been feeling the need to get back up into the Albany area to bring the Gospel Messengers up there. If I do, if you send me your e-mail address, I'll keep you posted. I don't know what part of the country you live in, but the Messengers are performing farther and farther from out home base here in Connecticut. Last April, we performed at a folk festival in Missouri. If you'd just like to get in touch with me, my e-mail address is gospelmessengers@msn.com.