January 20, 1999 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) – The following testimony about Southern gospel is from a subscriber to the Fundamental Baptist Information Service. He wrote in reply to our article on "Southern Gospel."

I used to play piano for a Southern-Country Gospel group. We were Independent Baptist and preached the Gospel everywhere we went. However, our music was very Country. I can tinkle out Floyd Cramer like he were my clone and used his style a lot. Another mentor was Nashville's ever-popular "Pig" Robbins. The lead guitarist would try to mimic the stylings of Merle Haggard's guitarist. We did most of our singing in Independent Baptist churches in the Western Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee. But the end does not justify the means. While we prayed for converts to the Gospel and saw results, the music was wrong.

We played on stage with some of the larger, more popular groups. You know how the larger groups use lesser-known locals to set the tone and get the crowd ready for their entrance. We traveled together with some of these groups, riding in each other's busses. I've seen the filth, heard filth, know of bass-singing drunks. I have gone on stage sporting the odor of cigarettes from some of these "wonderful servants of the Lord."

One Sunday morning we were in motel rooms with another group and I was shamed by the sight of them getting dressed to sing the "praises of the Lord" while watching some nearly naked exercise teacher wearing spandex on the piped in TV.

I remember many of the things in your report ("Southern Gospel Music"). "Beware when all men speak well of you." Thank you for this well-done article.

Ron Spencer