Yesterday's blog seemed to really strike a chord with readers. If you'll recall, I walked to July 1994 and shared from that month's Singing News. And people responded, sharing with their own memories of that issue.
And then someone made the big mistake - "Since you've looked ten years ago, what was going on two decades back?"
I'm glad you asked. So, let's just see what was going on in July of 1984...
On the cover was a family group, the Hoppers to be exact. At this time, Dean is only 20; Michael is a ripe old 14. Connie is as classy as ever and Claude, well, Claude was using something from a bottle that had turned his hair dark, as opposed to the silver hair that had appeared on previous record covers. (Maybe he had just gotten back from the Fountain Of Youth in Saint Augustine, FL?) Other members of the group at that time were Texan Sharon Watts, Reb Lancaster on the bass guitar and Ypsilanti, MI's own Steve Keen on piano.
The Kingsmen were announcing a brand new album on Heartwarming Records. "Kingsmen Silver" was their release celebrating their 25th year of singing Southern Gospel Music. Quick - who was the vocal line-up then? (Gary Sheppard, Jim Hamill, Wayne Maynard and Ray Dean Reese.) One other question - what was the hit from that album (which included mostly previously-released material?) "Gonna Be Movin'."
Although no one knew it at the time (including the group), the Hemphills were celebrating the release of one of their very last albums, "Together." Candy, Joel, Trent, LaBreeska and Joey were also tickled to see the first radio single from that album, "It Wasn't Raining When Noah Built The Ark" land near the top of the charts.
The Perrys had signed their very first recording contract by July 1984. (OH MY GOSH! IS THAT GROUP THAT OLD ALREADY?!?!?!?) The Singing Perrys - as they were known then - signed with Eddie Crook's MorningStar Records and were on the verge of their first "real" charting success with "Look What He's Done For Me."
That song came from the first album on MorningStar, "Looking Back" and as we do look back, it's bittersweet. You see, on the cover is the group pictured in front of Mill Creek Baptist Church near Dawsonville, GA. During the year 2004, George Perry ("P1"), sons Johnny and George and grandson Logan (Tracy and Libbi's son) now rest under the towering trees that line the church property.
The top five songs that month were (in order) "Call Me Gone" (Hinsons), "I Think I'll Read It Again" (Gold City), "Movin' Up To Gloryland" (Cathedrals), "Oh For A Thousand Tongues" (Nelons) and "Who Put The Tears" (McKameys).
And finally, the Dixie Echoes were gearing up for their first major release since the untimely death of Dale Shelnut. The recording, "Feeling Good,' would soon yield a Top 5 song for the group - "It Feels Alright."
After all this looking back, I can't help but ask where has time gone. I remember when the new kids on the block were the Perrys, Karen Peck & New River, Greater Vision, Bishops, Isaacs, Down East Boys, Greenes - even Gold City! I was in that group, too, because I was one of the new kids on the block on the "business" side of Southern Gospel Music.
Maybe I need to get more rest. I'm starting to feel really old.
But don't send the flowers just yet.
