Comments on: Female pianists in southern gospel

By: Lana

Lana — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:55:39 +0000

I am a female southern gospel pianist in the State of Indiana. I would love to travel and play again for a gospel group/ministry but it seems that everyone is looking to audition only male pianist. The Lord gave us a talent to use for him and I am one that still desires to do so. We only need the “opportunity door” to open.

By: David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:23:57 +0000

James,
I remember hearing people say that Grand Ole Opry favorite Del Wood (real name: Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood) “played like a man.” In fact, Wood deliberately chose a gender neutral pseudonym when she first started playing honky-tonks in the 1940s so people wouldn’t automatically assume she was a woman and discredit her before she had a chance to prove herself.

Some might take offense to you saying a lot of women “can’t” play Southern Gospel. Of course, there are many that can. In general, though, if you observe pianist as much as I have, you’ll note that most men play from their shoulders, while most woman play from their elbows. When a brute force approach is called for, men, in general, can deliver that style easier than women…and some SG calls for a forceful approach in order to be heard.

By: James Hales

James Hales — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:41:51 +0000

In talking with a friend of mine (who is female) that plays piano, she has mentioned that probably the biggest issue with a female playing piano in a SG group is probably the style itself. SG is a very hard driving style, and a lot of women can’t play it. There are definitely exceptions to the rule, but all in all…I think she may be on to something.

By: shanjenkins

shanjenkins — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:54:19 +0000

I’m not sure who was accompanying the Perrys on the “Remembering the Greats” dvd, but I do know that Tracey Phillips which Avery mentioned in his post played with them for a short while I believe sometime in the early 90’s.

By: NG

NG — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:48:48 +0000

What about Sue Whitfield? I don’t know if the former Dixie Echo plays the piano in prision.

By: J-Dog

J-Dog — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:29:32 +0000

They don’t utilize it often, but Ginger Pitchers does do a lot of live piano work for The Lesters when she happens to be in the group’s line up.

I’m not sure that the ratio of female to male pianists on stage in SG is any different than the ratio female to male professional musicians on the whole. For instance, look at the Nashville Musician’s Union and you’ll see that males dominate the listings for virtually every instrument.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:34:44 +0000

what about the Hayes ladies? Sharon and Janet??

By: Monica Otten

Monica Otten — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:13:38 +0000

As a female pianist in SG in Mountain Creek Harmony of Albemarle, NC, I couldn’t agree with you more. I actually had the same conversation last week with Mike Pillow of Lamp Music. I am surprised at the number of people that are surprised in our concerts that I am the primary musician of the group. God has gifted us all in different ways and I am honored to represent this small group of musicians in my small way.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:02:49 +0000

How about Sue Whitfield?

By: BL

BL — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 07:14:21 +0000

I don’t think groups necessarily refuse to audition female pianists. The truth of the matter is, there just aren’t that many females pianists interested in taking a job as a full-time piano player. I’ve attended Stamps-Baxter in the past and can personally testify to the fact that there are far more female singers than musicians, and most of the females that play the piano or other instrument also sing and wouldn’t be content to just play. Having said that, there really aren’t any job openings for a young female singer to play and also sing.

By: Dean Adkins

Dean Adkins — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:08:14 +0000

The Hayes Family haveexcellent female pianists.

By: RF

RF — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 04:58:22 +0000

You forgot the Hayes family which has 2 accomplished female pianists in the group.

Other than them, the only female I’ve seen playing was in the “Remembering the Greats” DVD last year when it appeared that the Perrys had a female accompanyist. It was dark on the video and I could not tell who it was? Anyone know?

By: Trent

Trent — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 04:31:54 +0000

A point to ponder is that at least 75% of churches in America have females as their regular pianists. SG groups, though, have at least 75% male pianists (low estimate)–even counting all the part-time groups.

By: Daniel Britt

Daniel Britt — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 01:22:51 +0000

Ashley Hawkins recently won the first ever Anthony Burger award at Stamps-Baxter for great potential as a pianist. She has great talent and hopes for full-time work in Southern Gospel. I interviewed her (she also works at the radio station here in Atlanta where I work) about her time at Stamps-Baxter: http://www.danielbritt.com/audio/stamps%20baxter.mp3