The Night Beat HOF: Generation Next

1980 was a turning point in the world, and I don't just say that because I was an 80's kid. Ronald Reagan was elected in November of that year and launched a Republican Revolution that is still in Progress. TV was better, Fashion was Better, Hair was Better, and Music Was Better. 

Christian Music was also better then. The genre was growing up. Growing up is painful, and it is no different with CCM. As the years went on the Jesus Music Movement cooled off and artists didn't feel pressured to utter the name of Jesus every other word. Purists call it selling out, but it's really maturity and it led to a better product. Ironically despite the selling out image, some of the most spiritually on fire music came out of the era.

CCM had barely come together as a genre when it began to fracture into many sub-genres. Pop and Rock began to develop into separate worlds, and Rock itself was splitting into Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative and Metal.

Like it's predecessor era, this is just a ten year era. The 90's would be another era altogether. Our 80's inductees include: 

The Choir, 77s, AD, Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, Stryper, Whitecross, Bloodgood, Saint, Bride, Michael W Smith,

Russ Taff, Leslie Phillips, Barren Cross, Shiela Walsh, Life Savers Underground, Steve Taylor, White Heart, Undercover, Altar Boys, Carman, Farrell and Farrell, Crumbacher, Newsboys, DC Talk and Kicking off the most amazing decade ever, ArkAngel.

The 90's Await. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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.