"Glee" -- And This Is A New Thing?

After watching a short documentary on the musical phenomenon sweeping the country as a result of the television series "Glee" a group of us were were having a lively discussion about when the "Glee" concept actually began. Some thought it was as old as the madrigal groups of the 1960's (I remember hearing Hugh Thurlow and the Sprurrlows).

I recall that during that same time every High School in the town where I grew up had a madrigal group as a part of it's music program. In addition, so did every church in town . . . they were just called "youth choirs."

The more I think about it the more I can see something of the basis for the Glee phenomenon in these groups. However, in my mind the phenomenon's roots are much older than that. I don't think that really is where it started. I don't think it started with the television series either. That begs the question of where then did it start?

For me the Glee phenomenon didn't start anywhere. . . it evolved over time. In my mind it is nothing more than the natural evolution, secularization and popularization of what was happening in the youth music ministries in evangelical churches in the 1970-80's. Briefly these youth oriented music programs were moving from a straight stand-up on the riser choir process to more of a "song and dance" kind of performance groups. Perhaps the major difference between the secular "Glee" groups of today and the church "Youth Performance Groups" was the church group's emphasis on conveying a spiritual truth and/or message.


The more I think, the more convinced I am that I may in fact know one of the men who made major contributions to this who performance genre. That maybe, just maybe I had a front row seat from which I watched the birth of what has become the "Glee" phenomenon.

I feel both privileged and honored to have served on staff on a couple of occasions with a man who I believe was a pioneer in the development of the phenomenon. Did he know that he was part of the development of something that would one day be known as the "Glee" phenomenon? Probably not! Most ground breaking people don't see themselves in that way. Would he be happy with the way it has been secularized? Maybe not and maybe so. I say, "maybe not" because he always insisted that the gospel was a key element in what he was trying to do. But I also say, "maybe so" because I know how much he wanted youth to be able to express themselves in a positive way through music and performance.

Ron Asbury is the man of whom I am speaking. If you were to ask him I suspect he would say he was just investing in the lives of young people not developing anything. But make no mistake about it, he was doing exactly that. But as he sought ways to invest in and develop the spiritual lives of youth he was also pioneering what has come to be known today as the "Glee" concept. He began in Knoxville, Tennessee with his performance group known as "Joyful Sound" and continued when he went to Beaumont, Texas where he soon developed a similar and more "Glee" like group called, "Shinning Light." So when I saw the television show "Glee" I thought, what' so new about this?

Now, while it's on my mind I wanted to take a moment here to say how much I appreciate the opportunity I had to witness as Ron and Carolyn made investments in the lives of youth that will bear fruit long after the "Glee" Phenomenon has taken it place alongside the madrigal groups of the 1950's and something else comes along.

My mother always said that we should give folks flowers while they can enjoy them and that's what I am attempting to do here. Ron is a very special man who invested his life in the lives of Youth and I am grateful to God for placing Ron and Carolyn in my life.