Harmonies of Faith

by Anne Boyette

'HARMONIES OF FAITH" offers a compelling exploration into the heart of Southern Gospel Music, a genre steeped in rich history and profound spirituality. This book weaves the tapestry of Southern Gospel's evolution, from its humble beginnings to its profound impact on American musical culture. In nine insightful chapters, readers are invited to delve into the soulful world of Southern Gospel. The book provides a unique lens into the genre’s transformative power, its enduring legacy, and the personal stories of faith that resonate behind every harmony paired with insights from the life and styling of Peg McKamey, comparing her career against American musical history.

"HARMONIES OF FAITH" is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the depth and breadth of Southern Gospel Music and its timeless influence on both music and spirituality.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2024

Reviews

[Jewel Carrie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written like a textbook with headings and subheadings and is well organized. It does a good job of overviewing how major historical events, such as American slavery and the Great Depression, as well as musical artists, like the Carter Family and the Gaithers, among others, influenced Southern Gospel music.

I wish there were song lyrics included in the book, but lack of lyrics does not deter from the book's overall message. In fact, it will inspire you to look up the songs and listen to them, an important point considering that the author wrote this book because she is a fan of the genre.

*I received this book as an ARC, and this is my honest review.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boyette did not intend to create an academic book on Southern Gospel music. The main figure discussed in the book is Peg McKamey Bean, whose story is included in the broader picture of the genre. As such, as a collection of memories, the book is fun to read with a great level of detail without getting bogged down.

The stories of Southern Gospel tend to be oral, passed along from participant to participant, participant to fan, and fan to fan in concerts. As such, much information is not documented as it might be in another genre. A quick search of a library database showed the albums produced by the McCamey clan, but not a traditional book. This title fills a needed gap.

I am more familiar with Southern hymnody, but some more details to understand the unique musical structures would have been helpful. Understanding the denominational background of the family would have been helpful in placing their role in society. More information on the personal life of a woman born in 1943 and married in 1959 would have been helpful.

This book is organized for quick location of content, not as a narrative. Some content is in multiple sections. It was interesting to see how some of the conflicts between traditionalists and modernists also appears in the realm of Southern Gospel, in terms of styles, instrumentation and technology.

The book is a solid purchase for people who want to understand the "why" behind the genre. Below is a bibliography that would be a helpful place to start for additional sources on Southern Gospel:

Database: WorldCat
America's gospel top forty : Southern gospel's best. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. 1986. 88 pages : music ; 31 cm Winona, MN : Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, Note(s): "Piano, guitar, four-part vocal."
John Bealle. Public worship, private faith : sacred harp and American folksong / 1997 English Book xv, 308 pages ; 24 cm Athens : University of Georgia Press, ; ISBN: 082031921X 9780820319216 0820319880 9780820319889
Lois S Blackwell. The wings of the dove : the story of gospel music in America / 1978 English Book 173 pages, 16 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm Norfolk, Va. : Donning, ; ISBN: 0915442507 9780915442508 0915442558 9780915442553
Stanley Heard Brobston. Daddy sang lead : the history and performance practice of white Southern gospel music /2006. xiii, 446 pages : illustrations, music, facsimiles ; 24 cm New York : Vantage Press, ; ISBN: 0533153530 9780533153534.
Buell E Cobb. The sacred harp : a tradition and its music / 1989 English Book xvii, 245 pages, 4 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, music ; 24 cm ISBN: 0820310220 9780820310220 0820304263 9780820304267
Don Cusic. The sound of light : a history of gospel and Christian music / 2002 1st Hal Leonard ed. x 502 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm Milwaukee, WI : Hal Leonard, ; ISBN: 063402938X 9780634029387 142235024X 9781422350249
Paul F Gillespie. Foxfire. ministers and church members, revivals and baptisms, shaped-note and gospel singing, faith healing and camp meetings, foot washing, snake handling, and other traditions of mountain religious heritage / 7 : 1982 First edition. 510 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm . Garden City, N.Y. : Anchor Press/Doubleday, ISBN: 9780385152433 0385152434 9780385152440 0385152442. ): "Contains articles first published in Foxfire magazine"--Title page verso./ Includes bibliographical references and index.
James R Goff. Close harmony : a history of southern gospel / 2002 xiv, 394 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, ; ISBN: 0807826812 9780807826812 0807853461 9780807853467
Ryan P Harper. The Gaithers and southern gospel : homecoming in the twenty-first century / 2017 xi, 315 pages ; 25 cm ISBN: 9781496810908 1496810902 9781496823403 1496823400
Douglas Harrison. Then sings my soul : the culture of southern gospel music / 2012 Urbana : Univ. of Illinois Press, ; ISBN: 9780252036972 0252036972 9780252078576 0252078578 9780252094095 0252094093
Bill Gaither; Jerry B Jenkins. Homecoming : the story of southern gospel music through the eyes of its best-loved performers / 1997 217 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan, ; ISBN: 0310213258 9780310213253
Eddie W Jones, Sr. Gospel music : the sound of hope / 2015 237 pages ; 21 cm Enumclaw, WA : Redemption Press, ISBN: 9781632328106 1632328100 9781632328113 1632328119’
Kip Lornell. Happy in the service of the Lord : Afro-American gospel quartets in Memphis / 1988 x, 171 pages, 30 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm. ISBN: 0252015231 9780252015236. Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 1988
W K McNeil. Encyclopedia of American gospel music / 2005 English Book xviii, 489 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm New York : Routledge, ; ISBN: 0415941792 9780415941792. Article: Contents: McKarneys, The
Bill C Malone. Sing me back home : southern roots and country music / 2017, First edition. x, 355 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. ISBN: 9780806155869 0806155868
Murray, David Bruce, 1966- . Murray's encyclopedia of southern gospel music / : Musicscribe Publishing, 2005. 165 pages ; 23 cm ISBN: 141962458X; 9781419624582
David Warren Steel; Richard H Hulan. The Makers of the Sacred Harp. 2010 English Book xv, 321 pages, 6 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm. Urbana : University of Illinois Press, ; ISBN: 9780252035678 0252035674 9780252077609 0252077601
Phillip G Wammack. Gospel trivia : a guide to southern gospel music / 1991. [x], 100 pages ; Corinth, MS : Gospel Trivia, P.O. Box 2131, ; ISBN: 0963009893 9780963009890

[Tianne Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst this is a study or essay on Southern Gospel it might be more a spotlight on Peg McKamey Bean. The detail is alright but it seems to be more focussed on one family. It would be better to maybe do more on the other parts and names of the music. I did find a few small things that stick with me but mostly it’s a mediocre book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads more like a textbook or reference book than what I was expecting. It is packed full of history and weaves American history and Southern Gospel into a beautiful tapestry.

I received this book free from the author, publisher, or other source. My only obligation is to provide a fair and honest review.

[Jessica Hembree · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at Southern Gospel. It includes history and major players. The book explains some of the cultural ties, connections to food, and representation in literature, television, and movies. I learned several things that I did not know about Southern Gospel music.