It is as true in gospel as it is in folk music, Susan.. as you point out, you have to make the song your own. I most enjoy the songs that we do with the Messengers that we don't have a recording to follow. The songs that I've written fall into that realm, as do songs that we have heard, and have the words to, but don't have a particular recording. We want to honor the syle of black gospel, but not by imitation. For Joe, Frankie and Derrick, they don't have to imitate being black. And I never have tried to "sound" southern Appalachian, black, Australian, or like any other musician. I didn't learn to play instruments by trying to copy what I heard on records, either. It's a matter of assimilating the music and making it your own. But, that's not really what this thread is about. Wilco requested that I share the observations I've made in a particular workshop, where we talk (and then sing) about the difference in style between the two types of gospel. I'm fortunate that I have my friends The Beans to share the workshop with us, as they have a real good feel for southern white gospel and also do Sacred Harp singing. And then at some point, we all sing together, blending our styles and background, and just singing gospel music. Great fun.

Most importantly for us, we sing to carry the message forth. A message and a faith that we've committed our lives to. There is nothing faintly scholarly about our approach. Our name says it all.
We are messengers. And, we never sing what we don't believe.

Jerry