Reflections

Gospel Singing Becomes A High Tech Event

By Charles Cooper

Hello everyone, hope you’re having a good week.  Recently I attended the Arkansas/Okla-homa Two State Gospel Singing Convention in Hot Springs. I got a great reception from everyone asking where I had been and how I was doing?  It was good to see old friends, Joe Windham from Longview,

Texas and Travis Watson from Mt. Pleasant, Texas and David Leach and Zane Harding from Oklahoma.   We had a great time and I realized just how much I had missed being with all of them.  I got about three invitations to singing conventions in Texas and Oklahoma and maybe I’ll be able to attend at least one of them.  

I was thinking how he high tech our singings have become when Joe would flash on the screen the name of the director, his book and page number and his pianist and the next director following.  In my early days as a young singer we world sit in a church with no air conditioning with all the windows open and the moderator would call our the name of the next director.  So much for the good old days.  

I think we are doing a good job in Arkansas in keeping Southern Gospel alive since there were several young people involved and they were good.  I have been privileged in the past to hear my old friend, David Leach sing “Amazing Grace” in both English and Cherokee. The Cherokees in Oklahoma are very involved in Gospel music and several of them are also song writers as well as singers.  Although years ago I could have gone pro, I resisted it and I’m glad I did because I think I would have felt different if I had to make a living at it.  

As it was I made many friends among the professionals and even got to fill in a couple of times when the lead singer didn’t show up.  I know some of you out there are saying Cooper doesn’t have anything to write about this week, but believe me I do.  I’m glad to hear that Alice Allen came through her hip replacement surgery and is going through rehab.  This is one time that I can say “I know what she’s going through send as I told her, it will definitely be worth it.”  It seems lately that everyone I know is going through some medical problem but I guess that comes with growing older. Years ago Alice and I world have eventually become invalids if it wasn’t for the miracles of modern medical and surgical techniques.  

When I was a kid people were dying of Tetanus, TB and appendicitis and today all of those things are not only controlled but practically eliminated.  So instead of complaining about the best health care system in the world we need to vote out of office the incompetents that want to tamper with it.  Now I know some of you will say that I’ getting into politics but that was something I just had to say. I wonder how many of you remember when we had “cotton picking” school schedules.  

We would come in and have shortened classes,, no lunch nod quit at one o’clock to give the farm kids the opportunity to help get the crops in?  Let me hear from you as your input is always appreciated.  My email address is charlescooper3616@sbcglobal.net or write me at P.O. Box 613189 Memphis, Tn 38101 and enjoy the “good old days” we are enjoying now and have a great week.