The Night Beat HOF: The Founders Class

The Founders Class of The Night Beat Hall of Fame technically would consist of any artist prior to 2021. Considering that our starting point is Larry Norman's Upon This Rock in 1969 that's 52 years. That's unworkable. So the founders class will be the First decade 1969-1979. It also coincides with the Jesus Music Era and would encompass, according to HOF rules, the Classes of 1994-2004.

While not a Comprehensive list, this would include:

Larry Norman, Daniel Amos, Servant, Petra, The Archer's, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, The Second Chapter of Acts, Keith Green, Resurrection Band, Sweet Comfort Band, DeGarmo and Key, Denny Correll, Love Song, Chuck Girard, Evie, Barry McGuire, Reba Rambo, Dallas Holm, Kansas, Don Francisco, Darrell Mansfield, Andrus Blackwood and Company, Glad, Truth, Andrea Crouch, Phil Driscoll, Amy Grant, Michael Omartian.

I invite you to make your own suggestions, as I think this is far from complete, but I think this is a good start. Next up is the CCM era 1980-1989, when things started to become a coherent industry, which in my opinion was a very good thing. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Hall Pass: Recognizing the True Gems

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions of 2021 came out recently, and a quiet riot has erupted, not necessarily because of who was inducted, but because of who was not. 

Now since I got born again in 1975 and switched to a Christian Music Only diet beginning in 1978, I admit that my knowledge of Mainstream Music is limited, but I did live through the 80's and 90's and you pick up things through osmosis. So yes, I am aware of Journey, Madonna, Chicago, Van Halen and a bunch of others from the era, even though I did not choose to purchase that music.

I decided to check out the RARHOF Website and both check out Eligibility (25 years from First Album) and scroll the inductees. Not that I was surprised, but there was no Christian Rock Band represented unless you consider U2, which I would, but that means that they are a token to pacify the religious. While CCM and Mainstream Rock have become separate industries, it sounds pretty much the same instrumentally speaking. Lyrically, it is definitely cleaner and there may be a reverential reference to Jesus as a bonus.

"What's the big deal", I hear you say. You have a Gospel Music Hall of Fame. You have yours and we have ours. That would be fine, except the GMHOF is really the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame. It is mostly SG, no amplifier necessary. Petra is the only Rock entry, and maybe Amy Grant. Big Whoop. Even the Jesus crowd can't get around to honor the righteous rocker.

What we need is a Night Beat Hall of Fame, and I am going to Start the seeds of it right here. I'll use the RARHOF standard this year 1996=2021, that will come later, and first I'll try to come up with a Founder's Class of inductees from the Golden Era. It should be a fun exercise and Unwelcome your input as well. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.