Sunday Morning Praise Party With Trusouldj 2-21-16

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I was a board operator at a leading Gospel music radio station. Actually, it was three Gospel stations owned by one company and housed in a small and unassuming building in the heart of Indiana.

It was a weird, wild experience.

For one,. I could tell people that I was working at a radio station. But I couldn't tell them that I was on the radio. Which is what people assumed when you told them that you worked at a radio station.

Essentially, I was trained as a board operator. A person who runs the huge mixing board that fades in and fades out the music, live in studio talk fests and telephone calls from listeners who either want prayer or are requesting music. Nice enough, but it was not all it was cracked up to be.

First of all, the pay was lousy. Even though they told you how we were the foundation of the company, they wouldn't pay us accordingly. Whereas I was making about $6.25 an hour (circa 1996), I found out that board operators at the leading Urban stations were being paid $25 an hour to do the exact same thing that we were doing. Except that we also had to monitor the Emergency Broadcast System (later the Emergency Alert System), take payments from ministers for their broadcasts, no matter the time of the day or night they came in. As well as do our own security.

The ministers who had programs on the air were mostly pleasant, though there was at least one predatory type who touched a female staffer and wasn't punished for it. But besides the comradery with my fellow board operators, the main reason to be at the station was to play music. Which, unfortunately we did very little of.

Our general manager was all about the dollars and cents. And since we didn't get the big advertising accounts like Mainstream stations did, we had to rely on doors and windows vendors and aloe juice hawkers and folks promoting colonics and diet drinks. Which meant that we had to supplicate ourselves to the listeners who bought those items. And those listeners allegedly only wanted to hear preachers preaching or non contemporary Gospel music. So the little music we played followed a strict format. We had play two choirs, one soloist, one quartet, two choirs ... or something mundane like that. And often those music segments only lasted 15 to 30 minutes, the rest of the schedule filled with church broadcasts or informercials.

Don't get me wrong. I loved the old stuff as well as the new stuff; traditional, contemporary and Urban Contemporary. But unfortunately, the station wasn't as avant-garde as my own personal tastes.

Yeah, I understood it. I got the business of it. But a young adult who loves Gospel music isn't trying to work at a station where he can't actually play said music. No, he or she wants to be able to break new artists and promote veteran artists who don't get enough exposure.

So the alternative is to either become a mobile DJ and play music at as many events as you can book ... Or place yourself in an article where you can pretend to be the host of your own radio show ... And away we go ...

That was the bewitching BEYONCE KNOWLES CARTER with MELBA MOORE, ANGIE STONE and the mighty, mighty O'JAYS ... And as for me? It's your boy, the TruSoulDj, coming at you once again with one of my unique non radio, radio shows. I hope you can get a little something of value from my efforts.

If you like what I'm doing -- and even if you don't -- drop me a line in the comment section. If you have requests or want to dedicate a song for someone ... If I can find it, I'll do that for you. And if I can't, I'll try to find you something just as good.

We started off this set with the legendary DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, followed by THE CANTON SPIRITUALS. Up next, SAM COOKE and POP WINANS want to holler at you. Then we'll see if we can find an encouraging word from INEZ ANDREWS, and THE GOSPEL KEYNOTES. Keep it locked right here and don't forget to press and play on the videos as you read to get the full effect. God bless.

Today's word comes from the NIV Bible. Ephesians 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ain't that alright?

When it's all said and done, there's no sense in worrying about it, because God has already worked it out. Just realize that no matter your status, no matter your accomplishments, you didn't do it on your own. No man is an island. Look to the hills, for that's where your help comes from.

Listen here ... Let me tell you ... When I hear the jubilant Jackson Southernaires, it really feels like Sunday. There 's nothing like a good ole' fashioned quartet to bring some light into a room filled with darkness ... I'm just sayin'.

This has been the Sunday Morning Praise Party for your listening pleasure and spiritual edification. And I'm the TruSoulDJ. Have a blessed week and thank you for joining me today.

Hezekiah Walker - Let The Glory

John P. Kee/ Fred Hammond - They That Wait

Douglas Miller - Do Not Pass Me Buy

Clay Evans - Everything Will Be Alright

Witness - We Give Thanks

Richard Smallwood - Holy Spirit

Richard Smallwood - Thank You

Timothy Wright - Master Can You Use Me

Beautiful Zion Choir - I'll Make It Alright

Bishop Norman L. Wagner - Lift Up Holy Hands

Charles Jenkins - Awesome

Chicago Mass Choir - He That Believeth

Chicago Mass Choir - I Can Go To The Rock

Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer - Make Me Better

Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer - Jesus Can Work It Out

GMWA Women of Worship - Order My Steps

First Church of Deliverance - He's Been So Good

First Church of Deliverance - As Far As You Can See

Gospel At Colonus - Now Let The Weeping Sleep

Gospel Music Workshop of America - Lord I Thank You For These Blessings

Soul Seekers - It's All God

Ernest Franklin - My Lord & I

Edna Tatum - Praise Go

Jackson Southernaires - Can't Make It By Myself

Jackson Southernaires - Don't Look Down On A Man

L.A. Mass Choir - Back To The Drawing Board

L.A. Mass Choir - Can't Hold Back

Perfected Praise Choir - Jesus Saves

Perfected Praise Choir - Caught

Perfected Praise Choir - Worthy

Little Cedric & The Hailey Singers - Be Born Again

Yolanda Adams - Even Me

Melvin Williams featuring Harvey Watkins Jr. - Tell Heaven

Thomas Whitfield - Soon As I Get Home

Thomas Whitfield - Dear Jesus

Thomas Whitfield - I'm Saved

Mississippi Mass Choir - Having You There

Mississippi Mass Choir - It Remains To Be Seen