REAL Traditional Southern Gospel Music
At the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
New Years Eve 2021, I was walking down the hallway at the Jekyll Island Bluegrass Festival when I heard someone say, “Hey REAL Southern Gospel Music man!” I turned around and saw an elderly couple seated on a bench in the hallway waving for my wife and I to come over. The gentlemen said, “We never miss watching your Live with Les shows. You play our kind of music; real traditional, Southern Gospel Music.” I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t at the National Quartet Convention, a convention which spotlights Southern Gospel Music. We had a great conversation that makes me smile even as I am reminiscing to write this story. Some friends of ours met us in the hallway, we found our seats and settled in to listen to some world-class bluegrass music!
Even when we got into the auditorium, I had to do a double take. This stellar bluegrass festival featured artists I play on my Les Butler and Friends, Bluegrass Gospel Radio Show as well as on the REAL Southern Gospel Radio Network. Jeff and Sheri Easter, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent and the Triumphant QT are headliners at Jekyll Island, as well as the largest Southern Gospel events in America.
At one point in the afternoon, the folks who were seated in front of us vacated their seats. Another couple slipped in and sat down in those seats. At an appropriate time, the gentlemen turned around and looked at me and said, “We never miss your Live with Les shows. We love your stories, the interviews and the REAL traditional Southern Gospel Music you play!”
This story works both ways. There are churches all across America who feature REAL, traditional Southern Gospel Music as part of their daily worship services. I’ve gone to those same churches and also heard Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Paul Williams, Doyle Lawson, on and on it goes. The moral to the story is this; We are all one big happy family!
Dec 1 and 2 our families will meet once again, this time at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky! And, something somewhat unusual in the world of Southern Gospel Music will be happening during that weekend. The stage will be filled with live musicians! We’ll experience drums, electric, acoustic and bass guitars, piano, mandolin, Dobro and banjo! WOW! I know for you bluegrass fans that is usual fare. In the world of Southern Gospel Music, this is a real treat! And, it will all be happening at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. These two musical worlds will collide in an explosion of sweet, REAL Southern Gospel Music!
Come and join the Hoppers (America’s First Family of Gospel Music), the multi award-winning Williamsons, Dixie Echoes Quartet (members of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame), Barry Rowland and Deliverance (will be singing the songs of Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame member, Kyla Rowland) and the incredible mixed group, New Ground who are celebrating their 30th Anniversary this year!
I’ve been playing, hosting, touring, and recording this great music for nearly 50 years. I’m super excited to be hosting both nights of explosive, genuine, REAL traditional Southern Gospel Music!
