Savannah Sacred Harp Singers

Born in Rome, Ga. in 1945.  Raised in Sacred Harp the first 14 years of my

life,,, rarely seeing or hearing any other kind of  "CHURCH" music and even

more rarely singing any other kind.  I have and still sing some Southern

Gospel, Country Gospel, and Blue Grass Gospel, as well as the "Old

Church Hymns",,,,  BUT I STILL LOVE THE GOOD HEARTFELT, SOUL-

STIRRING,  SIMPLE ACUPELLA  SOUNDS OF SACRED HARP.  I was raised in the

same Church, (Mount Olive Baptist Church) that  Sister Lynell McClure (ONE OF

MY FIRST COUSINS) was raised in.  She is several years younger than me and I do not know if she remembers or not,,, but our Granddaddy Tyree was also one of our

"SINGING SCHOOL" teachers.  All of us Grandchildren went to singing school back

then and all of us also went to Church back then.  WE WERE NEVER ASKED IF WE

WANTED TO GO OR NOT.  UNLIKE TODAYS CHILDREN,,, OUR PARNTS BELIEVED THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE IF WE SHOULD BE IN CHURCH OR NOT AND THEY DETERMINED IF WE "FELT" LIKE GOING OR NOT.  CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT

THEY EVEN WENT A FEW STEPS FURTHER THAN THEY???  They decided where

we could and could not sit and they decided that we could not play and talk during the

singing and during any part of the service,,,, JUST A SINGING OR IF IT WAS A REGULAR

SERVICE  WITH TESTIMONIES AND PREACHING.  I AM PROUD THAT MY

MOTHER BROUGHT ME UP THAT WAY.  WHEN I WAS ABOUT 14, WE MOVED TO DELAWARE AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE WAS NO WHERE TO GO AND SING SACRED HARP ANYWHERE NEAR THERE AT THAT TIME.  That, too has changed now.  We use to still sing

it at home a lot.  I even sang it at times by myself when

I was in Vietnam.  I use to sometimes find myself

very silently (for fear of being shot), sing songs in my

mind while watching and waiting for the enemy to

attack.  I HAVE FOUND THAT,,, EXEPT FOR PRAYER,,, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN SOOTHE A WOUNDED

SOUL OR CALM A TROUBLED HEART LIKE SINGING THESE OLD SONGS EITHER OUT LOUD OR JUST IN THE MIND,,,, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES,,AS TO WHERE YOU SING OUT LOUD OR  QUIETLY......  Also, if you ever can,,, got to

a funeral where the family of the one gone on,, has sung Sacred Harp.  You will be blessed.  I have seen the family shouting as the singers were singing over their loved one's empty tomb (body).

I have a few health problems,,,, but God has been real good to me,,,, so no matter what happens to me,

here,,, never feel too sorry for me and when I leave this walks of life,,, do not grieve, my friend,,,,, just

THANK GOD AND KEEP PRAYING AND SINGING AND

IF YOU ARE A GOD CALLED PREACHER,,,, KEEP PREACHING.  UNTIL THEN,, LET ME PRAY, SING, AND

PREACH ON.  

God bless each of you is my Prayer and I hope to

one day soon, surprise Lynell and sneak in on one

or your singings.  It is only a  ""FEW""miles and hours from here.

I'm a retired school band teacher of 20 some-odd years.  Currently direct the music at Jones Creek Baptist Church just outside of Ludowici.  Also play first trumpet with the Sons of Jubal, a GA Baptist mens' choir.  I attended my first sacred harp sing in Hoboken earleit this month -- had a ball.

Male

Richmond Hill, GA 31324

I've been singing shape-notes for 2-1/2 years and I'm hooked!