Singing The Glory Down: Amateur Gospel Music in South Central Kentucky, 1900-1990

264 Pages·1991·44.4 MB·English

by  William Lynwood Montell

SINGING THE GLORY DOWN

SINGING THE
GLORY DOWN
Amateur Gospel Music In
South Central Kentucky
1900-1990
WILLIAM LYNWOOD MONTELL
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Copyright © 1991 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky
Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
Editorial and Sales Offices: Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Montell, William Lynwood, 1931-
Singing the glory down : amateur gospel music in south central
Kentucky, 1900-1990 / William Lynwood Montell.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and Index.
ISBN 0-8131-1757-7 (alk. paper)
1. Gospel music—Kentucky—History and criticism. I. Title.
ML3187.M66 1991
782.25'09769'6—dc20 91-8688
This book is affectionately dedicated to all the
shape-note music teachers, gospel song writers,
singers, and musicians from south central
Kentucky, including those whose time to cross over
the river they wrote and sang about came before
their involvement in gospel music was documented
in print.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. The Shape-Note Era 9
2. The Singing Convention Movement 30
3. Shape-Notes and l Quartets 52
4. The Transition Years 73
5. The Beginnings of a New Era 93
6. Present Times 116
7. Walking Narrower 138
8. Singing the Glory Down 157
9. Singing Families 180
Conclusion 199
Appendix A: South Central Kentucky Singing Groups 203
Appendix B: South Central Kentucky Shape-Note Teachers 226
Notes 229
Bibliography 238
Index 244