Today’s post was written by Paul.
Back in late October of 2023, the Martins Creek Community Center held its final Saturday night singing of the year. I hauled off granny’s garbage that day, and someone at the landfill told me the Millsaps Family would be singing that evening at the community center.
I arrived late but was able to make it in time to hear some from all three groups that performed. I came kind of unprepared with a FlipCam that wasn’t fully charged and was mostly full. The entire concert, which lasted a good hour and 15 minutes, was great. Unfortunately, I was only able to capture about 20 minutes of it, switching over to my cellphone when the FlipCam failed.
The Chastain Family is a mixture of 3 generations of gospel singers who always put on a great show. The one clip that I was able to capture (“Our First Day in Heaven”) features daughter Alexis doing a vocal solo, but the family does a lot of great harmony. Alexis and her brother, Aiden, have been singing and making music for several years now, even though they’re only in elementary school! There’s no telling how good they will be one day! They’re pretty darn good right now! As Scott Millsaps points out toward the end of this upload, it’s wonderful to see parents singing gospel music with their young children.
Sonny Reighard performed solo that night and in several other configurations, including some trio numbers with a couple of young ladies from his church. It was all very good. I wish I had been able to record the complete sets of everyone who performed, but some is better than none.
The one song I caught Sonny doing is one of his signature songs. Someone in the crowd requested it. Sonny said he learned the song many years ago from a preacher who sang lots of funny Bible songs.
The Millsaps Family is comprised of three brothers: Scott Millsaps, Craig Millsaps, Carol Millsaps, plus Luke Millsaps (Craig’s son). They performed their entire set after the other performers, but I couldn’t resist moving their minor version of “Amazing Grace” to the front of the video. Someone in the crowd requested it, possibly Paul Ray Morgan. It’s such a gem. Please don’t get me wrong. The original “Amazing Grace” could never be replaced or improved upon, and it is my favorite arrangement, as I’m sure it is their preference too. However, hearing that rich, 4-part harmony in a minor key is pretty special and powerful. I only wish they had sung all the verses. I immediately recognized that the melody being used is from “House of the Rising Sun.”
Scott shared with me that back in the early 70’s, the North American Mission Board hired a youth minister to come to his area (Robbinsville, NC), and while on a camping trip with the youth of Scott’s church, the youth minister sang this version of “Amazing Grace.” As a young man at the time, Scott was very familiar with the Animals’ hit song, “House of the Rising Sun.” He said the youth minister commented that the devil had already gotten too much use out of that melody, and it should be used for the Lord.
Scott went home and learned to sing it and chord it on his guitar. Later, one of his brothers suggested they sing it acapella. I’ve never heard anyone else do “Amazing Grace” this way, but Scott shared that recently, several groups have posted themselves singing this version online.
I never had a problem with “House of the Rising Sun” because to me, it doesn’t glorify sin but instead presents a cautionary tale.
This all reminds me of something a young pastor friend said to me about 20 years ago. He was just starting out in his ministry, and he complained to me about Christian rock music by saying, “I don’t want to hear the Lord’s message with the devil’s beat.” While I don’t care for Christian Rock music, I’m glad that there are folks who enjoy it and use it to praise God. I didn’t respond to his comment, but I remember thinking: the devil doesn’t have a beat. He doesn’t own any aspect of music. It all belongs to God, though for now He lets us use it as we see fit. Anyway, those are just my thoughts.
Even if you don’t like the minor version of “Amazing Grace,” hopefully, you’ll enjoy the rest of this upload.
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed a peek at the last gospel concert of the year.
Paul
I remember singing‘Amazing Grace’ in the minor key back in the 70’s at church!! Really enjoyed it then and in this video as well!!!
Beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.
Amazing Grace also works to the tune of Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Thanks for sharing the last gospel concert of the year with us! Happy New Year everyone!!
I join you in disliking Christian rock music. In fact, I abhor it. I am of the generation that bought into rock and roll. I now regret having done so as I can find none of it that is redemptive or uplifting.
For those who don’t know it, Amazing Grace was written by a reformed captain of slave ships. He took his melody from the pentatonic scale which he heard from the songs of the African slaves. Learning that background gave Amazing Grace gave me even greater meaning and enjoyment.
I watched the YT post of the community center concert. I was appalled at the noise from children. Kids will be kids; their noise comes with the package, but the parents who brought them and failed to control or remove them deserve special condemnation. At the first disruption those kids should have been removed so that their behavior would not disturb those who came to hear the music.
Yes, I raised a daughter and helped raise a couple dozen nieces and nephews. They were all taught what behavior was acceptable for what occasions and were removed from the presence of others who were trying to enjoy the entertainment. I find it sad that parents fail in that regard because their children will grow up thinking they have license to behave as they will and will suffer for it. I fired more than one who didn’t learn the lessons of respect for others.
Beautiful and very moving….thank you..
Wanted to wish you and all yours and Sweet Granny a Happy New Year’s and God Bless all.
Whoops, sorry Paul. I just realized that was your post. Thanks for sharing.
Oh! I enjoyed this so much, sang right along with some of them. Yes, those two young ones have a great future in music! My son-in-law’s father plays the banjo and has sung that version of Amazing Grace for many years. I’ve always thought how interesting that the words fit right to that tune. Thanks for sharing the night of music with us, Tipper.
Beautiful! Thank You for Sharing this . I had this as one of the songs performed at my husband’s service. The singer, my sister in law became overwhelmed, so my husband’s brother who was one of the many speakers said “Let’s All Sing “. It was Beautiful.
Who on earth wouldn’t like that rendition of Amazing Grace! It was poetry to my ears! Simply beautiful.
Paul has it right- music is the glorious creation of the only Creator! Satan creates nothing – he can only pervert what the Father created and Satan’s power and his time will end at a time God has ordained.
I’ve never heard Amazing Grace sung to that music, but those guys certainly did a great job with it.
Loved that version of Amazing Grace
I loved that version of Amazing Grace. I’ve never heard that before. Their voices together are so soothing! I thought it was interesting how Paul heard about the concert through the man working at the landfill. I guess it stood out and made me wonder what we’ve lost by having the modern conveniences of things like having our trash picked up at the curb and our mail dropped off at the box. And now so many people don’t even go into a grocery store anymore they just have it curbside or delivered. These things are convenient but I wonder if it’s worth the trade we’ve made for the social health of our communities. I guess only the older folks will really know the answer to that ☺️
“If you all liked it, I loved it!” That’s my new resolution for the New Year- to be more positive! I’d say these guys sang beautifully. Happy New Year to all you Blind Pigs looking for acorns such as myself! I wish you southerners all the snow you can handle-good stuff! May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you! Amen
I watched this on your YouTube channel the other night! It surely has the power of God on it! So beautiful!
Thank you for sharing!
God bless all y’all and have a Happy, healthy, and safe New Year!
I watched the video yesterday and again this beautiful Sunday morning. I really enjoyed it! All the groups are very talented and have a serving heart for Jesus. I enjoyed the young boy and girl performance. It’s so good to see young people their age using their talents to praise the Lord, since we don’t see that very often in the church now days. Kids want to play their games on line, play sports, watch TV or hang out with their friends rather than practice using their talents to glorify our Lord. I hope they will continue to grow in the Lord and go further with their talents.
Good Morning, Paul, I love Amazing Grace and so enjoyed all the gospel songs sung. Love the harmony! You are right God created everything including music and I love to hear the gospel songs praising the Lord. Alexis did a beautiful job on “Our First Day in Heaven.”
As I said when I posted my comment on YouTube, the tune for House of the Rising Sun is a very old tune way before the Animals made their lyrics a hit. I too Paul, never minded the song. I loved it used for Amazing Grace.
The other songs and singers were wonderful. Thank you Paul.
Yes minor version four part harmony of Amazing Grace is powerful and very enjoyable to listen to. I’m not a christian rock fan, did like House of the Rising Sun song. Paul, I always enjoy reading your post.
Happy New Year to all the BP&A readers and especially to your mother.
Thank you for the the singing and post. I heard a lot of Acapella growing up, as some of the churches did not play music. I must add that I agree about any worship music or the way they are done as being God’s, because “the devil doesn’t have a beat.” I see too many opinions by too many supposedly holy people with no bibical source. When we know better we do better! I was a victim of the “fire and brimstone” preaching growing up, and as a child would leave church sometimes fearful to go outside. Fortunately, the music and singing was there also, and it seemed to represent more the goodness of God. I can well remember the simple “When the role is called up yonder I’ll be there.” It mattered not the beat or how it was sang, I wanted to be there. As an adult I learned of the great love God has for his children, and I also was able to separate what those old timey preachers frowned on from the kindness and humility our Lord actually expects from us. I absolutely also love where scripture teaches us to be good to look out for our parents, and you are truly following those commandments by doing so much for Granny. I always hear that is the one commandment with promise.
Love the video! Such talented people.
one more day and God will have let us live another year, thank you God for this blessing please bless granny with Healing and health in Jesus Christ name
You are right,Paul, the harmony is beautiful. I have never heard it this way but certainly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. My family has always enjoyed a fifth Sunday singing or singing in the community by people willing to share their talents and love for music.
I like anything sung in a minor key, I like 4 part harmony and I like Amazing Grace. I got them all wrapped into one right there. Amazing Grace sung in a minor key isn’t something new. I heard it many years ago when I was new. I think the tune is fairly common but I can’t name the other songs that share it right now.
Loved it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Paul. Fr. Richard Simon turned me on to Amazing Grace sung to House of the Rising Sun, and I found a good version on Spotify that I enjoy. As for other mashups, there’s a Youtuber named Bill McLintock who does the best ones. He takes two songs you’d never think would go together and combines them digitally, and the result is usually better than the original songs.
Thanks for sharing. Paul I hope you have a great retirement from your career in education.
I was so glad to see that the community center is still putting on wonderful events for your area. Thank you so much for posting the video so we could be a tiny part of the last concert of the year. This was a wonderful way to start out the last morning of 2023 and I look forward to 2024 with the Wilson, Pressley, and Graddick families. God bless you!
I sure loved Paul’s post this morning from the Community Center, what talent!! I really love harmony.
Thank you, Paul for sharing. God bless all of you today and always.
I liked the minor version of “Amazing Grace”. Once in a blue moon we will sing “Flee As a Bird” at church which is also in a minor key. The minor keys always grab my attention and allow me to focus on each word.
Beautiful!!