For this entry of Danny's Diary, I'd like to recognize a dear friend of mine who's been in Southern Gospel music for quite some time. The name might not ring a bell with you, but there are many people in this industry who respect his talent and his spirit immensely.

    Gerald Sweatman hails from Cumming, Ga., a Northeast bedroom community of Atlanta. Currently he's singing throughout the Southeast as a soloist, but he's spent his fair share of time with a lot of strong regional groups, including the Liberty Quartet—a group that dominated the local area's gospel music scene for many years. Gerald brings a lot of excitement to the stage and you'll be hard pressed to find someone who puts more heart and soul into his or her singing.

    On the national level, it's Gerald's songwriting that has turned the spotlight his way. Groups like the Kingsmen ("God Can Save Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime"), the Dixie Melody Boys ("Ride That Glory Cloud"), the Mark Trammell Trio, the Hoppers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and the Perry (just to name a few) have recorded his compositions.

    Even though all of this is great, it's the man himself that people truly love. Gerald is what most people used to call "just a down-to-earth good man." Always true to his word, Gerald is one of those people who you just immediately like and trust. Further, you only have to be around him for about, oh, five or ten seconds, to know that he genuinely loves the One he sings about.

    Last month (October), Gerald hit the four-decade mark of Southern Gospel service - and that means he's been in this music for most of his life. And since one of his sons (Dustin of the Mark Trammell Trio) is following in his footsteps, don't look for him to slow down anytime soon.

    And that's just fine with me.