Since the dawn of the audio recording age, music has been one of America’s biggest exports. Generally when one thinks of geographical areas that are music mecca’s, large cities like New York, Los Angeles and Nashville come to mind. Yet, those are just the cities that house the record companies, producers and massive recording facilities; the talent comes from elsewhere and no city on the planet has produced more international talent than Augusta, Georgia.
Until the rise of Lady Antebellum, the first name to come to mind in thinking of Augusta talent is the Godfather of Soul James Brown. While Brown certainly deserves his rightful place at the top of this list, there are many, many others that have sprung from Augusta into the international spotlight. Nearly everyone on that list have two things in common, they all come from relatively humble backgrounds with little or no ties to the music industry at large and they were all exposed to one form or another of southern Gospel and a blues sound that is unique to the CSRA. If you listen closely, you can hear that thread running through their music, whether it is Brown’s funk sound, Lady A’s unique Country crossover, or the honest and soulful music of Terri Gibbs.
James Brown grew up in the black churches of the segregated South. While predominately white churches historically featured stodgy hymns accompanied only by an organ, the black church has always been a place that mixes spirituality with entertainment. While Brown’s turn in the movie “The Blues Brothers” was certainly a parody, it is not far off the mark. The experience of a large choir of soulful singers backed by a full band is more than enough to make one “feel the spirit.” Brown would later go on to take his gospel roots and combine them with jazz while inserting his own invention, “the hot space,” which utilizes tiny musical rests between blasts of sound, creating the genre of funk. It was pure genius on his part.
By comparison and contrast, singer Amy Grant took the stodgy “white” gospel sound and infused in her own pop sensibilities creating a sound that took Christian music beyond the normal audience and into the masses. There were times radio stations were confused as to whether they were playing a Christian or a secular song by Grant, but the public didn’t care, it was great music. In the 1980’s Grant was criticized by the Christian establishment for wearing leather pants and having a “rock” guitarist on stage with her, but she certainly got the last laugh. Grant’s voice is one of the most recognizable in the music industry.
Listen closely to the world’s biggest band today, Lady Antebellum, and you can hear that Gospel thread. Their signature song, “Need You Now,” could easily be confused with a modern Christian song (If you take out the lyric about being drunk!). In a recent interview, band members Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood said that song came together in about two hours. Any musician will tell you that is the product of inspiration and not writing to a formula. The lyric “I would rather hurt than feel nothing at all” resonates with everyone who feels anything at all.
Other musical greats from Augusta have taken their inspiration full circle. Terri Gibbs’ massive 1981 hit song “Somebody’s Knocking” draws from a cornucopia of influences. You can hear James Brown’s funk mixed with a little country and a heavy seasoning of southern gospel. Gibb’s later decided to return to her gospel roots and even transformed the lyrics of her signature piece to be an actual gospel song.
“God told me early on that I would be leaving Country music and returning to Gospel,” says Gibbs. “And when he opened that door, I walked through it and never looked back since.”
Up and coming Bluegrass singer/songwriter Eryn Eubanks makes no bones about her gospel roots, she is an ordained minister with an outreach ministry tied to her music. Her wildly popular annual music festival is almost a combination of a celebration of Bluegrass and an old fashioned tent revival.
It took a while for Augusta to fully embrace the fact that this area has had a massive impact on the world of popular music. It may be a combination of James Brown’s legal troubles in the 1980’s and the fact that the heritage is spread over decades, but the pedigree is undeniable. From Brenda Lee teaching voice lessons at Jay’s Music downtown in the 1950’s, to the international success of Brown, Grant, Gibbs and the Kelley brothers, Augusta’s influence on music is undeniable and that influence sprang from this area’s unique commitment to community values and the music of the church.
Music is big business, but to the average Augustan, it is a source of homespun pride.
SCOTT HUDSON is a freelance reporter for WGAC and co-owner\operator at Cheers on Washington Road in West Augusta. Please send any comments to scott@wgac.com.
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