Is it just me, or is gospel the only genre that allows (maybe expects, and even demands) artists’ names to follow the format of “So-And-So” & “Such-And-Such”?
Think about it… Jonathan Nelson & Purpose, Myron Butler & Levi, DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet…
But it didn’t just start happening… there was Israel & New Breed, Kirk Franklin & The Family, Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ…
And before them, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family, Andraé Crouch & The Disciples…
And let’s not forget the choirs– Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Ricky Dillard & New G, John P Kee & New Life, Milton Brunson & The Tommies, O’landa Draper & The Associates…
Understand this– my absolute ALL-TIME FAVORITE gospel artists are mentioned above, so I’m not mad at their names at all. Love you guys and you KNOW it! 
I definitely think the the name choices make sense– ours is the only genre with the artist format of frontmen backed by an ensemble or a choir.
But I’d be lying if I said it isn’t refreshing when I hear creative names like Mary Mary, Excelsior, 21:03 and Mali Music.
In short, it’s not a good or bad thing, just… a thing. A gospel thing.
Anyone noticed???
lol @ "a gospel thing." :-)
Excelsior is VERY refreshing. In fact, it sounds like some sort of sparkling beverage. :)
It's also a gospel thing for the frontman to be the only one on the CD cover. I don't get that at all, lol...
@v4c I actually do get the front man being on the cover. Members of the "such-and-such" change...a lot. New breed essentially has all new members except for daniel johnson. And let's not get started on how many "such-and-suches" Kirk Franklin has had in the past couple of decades! Lol! The frontman is the only constant, so that's who the most attention is focused on.
Good point, Mylum...never thought about it like that. Oh alright...I'll cut'em some slack on that one, lol!
Hmmm..don't quite get it. I think the frontman and His/her group concept might stem from how the group is formed and possibly the contract agreement binding them. Having a so and so really implies that all group members do not have equal powers in the group (unlike a case of say 21:03 or the murrils,etc). The front man is usually the visioneer of the group,the face of the group,the creative force driving the group,many times the group's musical director,producer,main song writer for the group,most times lead singer and definitely the guy paid the most,walking on the red carpet, doing the interviews and the spokesman for the group. It's interesting though these days to artistes who don't sing much like Kirk Franklin and James Fortune being front men.
Funny you mentioned it because that's something that poped in my mind not too long ago. Would be nice for creative names but oh well lol.
I don't think you can single out Gospel music on this one. What about: Hootie & The Blowfish Kool & The Gang Tony Orlando & Dawn Gladys Knight & The Pips Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Frankie Beverly & Maze Diana Ross & The Supremes Heavy D & The Boyz ...I could go on and on. ~D!
@D!-- you're brilliant beyond your years. And you're right.
@D!: That was a great comparison for the previous groups......long gone. However, you do not hear as many of those combinations of names now in other categories of music. Other genres mainly highlight one artist now. I don't think that list would be as long now in the same genre. On the other field (gospel music groups) today, the presentations with the front man tends to be multiplying. I don't think it is negative, just interesting. It is the trend for gospel music groups today, no question. *As long as the lyrics are of substance and they present geniune talent, it is acceptable for me. For instance, right now I am unable to get over lyrics from Earnest Pugh's "Rain on Us". Who is the group that does the beautiful chorus on that song? Somebody is qualified for opera!
@Katydid I believe the group is Charles butler and trinity. Lol! How ironic!
Its a marketing thing.
I think that it's something that was really common back in the day for all genres, and for whatever reason in gospel it just kind of stuck! @Osi, it is interesting that 'non-singers' like Kirk Franklin and James Fortune can be such successful front men for gospel groups. However for these two in particular, their music is so awesome it doesn't even matter that they're not exactly great vocalists! Their gifts can pretty much stand alone.
I never noticed that, that is a good observation. I don`t think it matters though, as long as they are living for Jesus!
@v4c regarding the frontman being on the album cover... also note that generally its only the frontman who's name is signed to the record label. Not the Family, not Vision, not When Singers Meet... Half of the time i think its a courtesy to even give the group a name and have the name appear on the album cover. I think having group names can be limiting and cause for misguided expectations from invidivuals whom are not actually signed to the label.
They didnt show any love to the groups and thats where it all began.. In my opinion the overall show was just that a show and not church except for Tremaine, Shirley, and Dottie..