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Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/10/2008 10:21:37 AM
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jchaz
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As many of you are aware, I'm a HUGE Wendy Bagwell & The Sunliters fan. I grew up in their home church, and to say that they were influential in my life is an understatement. I saw a side of them that many in the SG world didn't see. They were 'real' people who loved their church, and were highly committed to it-- to the point that they would often drive all night to be back in time for Sunday School. They were also very spiritual people. In general, they were not known for being that, because the comedy and entertainment pretty much was what people saw and expected.
One of the things that was special about them (aside from the comedy routines) was Wendy's songwriting ability. Especially back in the 60s and early 70s, he would write what some would call 'story-songs'. Again-- I"M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE COMEDY STORIES. Some that come to mind are "The Little Country Preacher", "Ole Lijah Prayed", "Pearl Buttons", and "The National Georgraphic Magazine". Mostly, these were little narratives, set to music with a recurring chorus. Oh!, I just thought of another favorite... "The Miracle of Emmett Jones". It was COOL!
Do any of you remember any of these compositions? Like I said, most people just remember the comedy stories, and their 2 or 3 signature songs like "I Firmly Promise You" and "This Train" and "Walk Around Me Jesus". I 'd LOVE to see a tribute recording of some of the current day acts doing some of these sweet little ditties. I could hear Gerald Wolfe do "The Little Country Preacher"...
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/10/2008 11:59:36 AM
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sgf_brad
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My parents had an LP with "Pearl Buttons" on it. I remember listening to it as a kid. Another story-song I remember is "Bud Womack Died". Wendy and The Sunlighters really had a talent that was overlooked because of the comedy. I loved Wendy's comedy and emcee work, but Geraldine and Little Jan were great singers, and they really had great harmony.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/10/2008 12:14:07 PM
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robertyork
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Other than band changes the group never changed personel.
BMI list Wendy with 69 song compositions. I'm sure some of the songs they sang were also written by Little Jan.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/10/2008 10:48:46 PM
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jchaz
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quote:
ORIGINAL: robertyork
Other than band changes the group never changed personel.
BMI list Wendy with 69 song compositions. I'm sure some of the songs they sang were also written by Little Jan.
Technically, Bobby, they did have a few personnel changes early on. Wendy & Jerri sang with Dot Presley & Georgia Jones and a few other ladies during the first few years, but when Jan joined them in '61, they sang until '96. That's 35 years without a major change, so that is pretty impressive. They didn't add an extra musician until 1972 (Charlie Beatenbo). After he left in the late 70s, they startetd using a couple of band members, but they usually were multitaskers. Wendy always had a vast array of interesting music in the 80s. Some of the more notable pickers were Matt Mundy, Kevin Williams, Larry Pate, Darryl LeCroy, and Steve Thomason. There were several others that I can't seem to recall right off...
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 3:59:08 PM
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tgprsing
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I appreciate this thread. I LOVED WENDY AND THE SUNLIGHTERS. They were unique, sang beautifully, entertained and made you glad you bought the admission ticket. I heard that Wendy did alot to help other singers back when times were bad for some of the gospel music family. Didn't he own a furniture store?
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 4:06:52 PM
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robertyork
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Little Jan is still singing today. Sometimes with her husband Jerry Goff and sometimes solo. Still sounds great.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 4:33:43 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
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Jan and Jerry were on the cruise in Feb and they were both a joy to be around.
Yes, Wendy owned a furniture store, when I lived in Atlanta, I went to church with Wendy and the girls for a while. That year, as Mother's day got closer he asked me if I was going home for mother's day and I told him know, $$ were tight so I'd have to wait a few weeks.
On Thursday before Mother's day, he had one of the guys at the store call me and ask me to come by the store on my way home from work. When I did, as I came in he said 'hey just a minute, can you wait in my office - oh and can we move your car we need to load something.' as I turned to go back and move the car, one of the guys said 'I'll move it' so I handed him my keys.
I was in the 'office' for about 20 minutes and every little bit he would say 'just another minute. Finally he came back with my keys in his hand. He said - 'you are going home for mother's day - your gas tank is full and there's a present for mama in the back seat'. I couldn't believe it - I could he was that type of man but still I was surprised.
When I got out there there was a cherry wood 'planter' with a marble top - my mother had several marble top tables in her living room and Wendy knew that.
The next day I got a call from a friend that said 'Wendy said to look in the dash pocket before you leave'. There was $50 in the dash pocket with a note that said - in case of emergency. I didn't have any emergencies going or coming but when I got back Wendy said - "I didn't say in case of emergency on that trip - keep it for the next emergency".
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He's planned a beautiful design, but it will take some fire and time, But it's gonna be okay, 'Cause the Potter knows the clay'.
<<<Mark Trammell, Erin & Alicia
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 4:38:46 PM
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jchaz
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That's our Wendy!!!
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 4:54:45 PM
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Smokymtnsanta
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Great story Dee. I've heard those type stories about Wendy before.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 6:00:45 PM
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DSQ1
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I was Minister of Music in a church in Mableton, GA just 1 mile from Wendy's furniture store. One day while eating lunch at "The Krystal" in Mableton, GA when he came in. I recognized him so I introduced myself. He then joined me for lunch and after about an hour I felt as though I had known him all of my life. During the conversation over lunch he asked me, "Why don't you let us come sing at your church?" I was floored that he would ask me. I told him that we couldn't afford a nationally known group on our budget. He insisted that they come for a love offering, so we set a date for them to come which was our homecoming Sunday. Our sanctuary was packed for that Sunday service and they sang for over 2 hours. After the service was over I gave Wendy the check that represented the love offering. He looked at the check and handed it back to me and said that he couldn't take that much money. He told me that they had sold more product that day than they had sold in the past three weeks and had earned enough money from sales to pay expenses and personel. I told him that I couldn't take the check back because people had give their love offering to the group. He reluctantly took the check and they left.
The following Thursday, the church secretary came into my office and asked me what should she do with a check that she received in the mail that day from Wendy Bagwell. He had written a check to the church for the amount of the love offering check that we had written him on the previous Sunday! By the way, that money went into the music ministry budget and started a fund that brought several well known gospel groups to our church in the coming years.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/13/2008 6:17:33 PM
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THB
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I too knew Wendy Bagwell. I was singing with a major group and got to be good friends with the lady who ran their record table (Betty Sue Hyatt). When my family decided one summer to go to Six Flags, Betty invited us to stay at her house. While there we went to church on Wednesday Night and there on the front row with Bible in hand was Wendy, Little Jan and Geraldene. They didn't come any more real than Wendy Bagwell. I still miss him today.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 7:52:18 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
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Wendy was indeed 'the real deal'. When I moved to Atlanta I had been very hurt by 'the church' and the first church I visited in the area did nothing to help that situation. One Saturday night Wendy & the Sunlighters and the Nelons were at Cobb County Civic center. I went with a friend.
That night Wendy and Rex 'cornered' me. They had both known me for a while and both knew why I had moved to Atlanta and that I wasn't in church at the time. After talking to me a few minutes Wendy said 'so are you going to my church or his (pointing to Rex) in the morning'. When I stumbled over the answer he said 'either you come or I come get you but you are going to church'. He was smiling but I knew he meant business!
I went to his church and those folks just loved me! I understood the true meaning of Christian love.
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D. Ann Bailey
He's planned a beautiful design, but it will take some fire and time, But it's gonna be okay, 'Cause the Potter knows the clay'.
<<<Mark Trammell, Erin & Alicia
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 8:05:15 AM
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Seaton
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What great stories! I remember seeing Wendy Bagwell & Sunliters many times as a youngster.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 8:21:44 AM
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jchaz
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Yeah, we kinda got off track of the OP, but that's OK with me! I, too am enjoying hearing new things about my 'hero' that just go to prove that he was the great man I already knew he was....
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 8:36:30 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jchaz
Yeah, we kinda got off track of the OP, but that's OK with me! I, too am enjoying hearing new things about my 'hero' that just go to prove that he was the great man I already knew he was....
I think I'm the one that got them off track and I'm sorry - Wendy and Rex both were major influences in my life during one of the worst times in my life. I'm not sure I'd be here today without them. The above are just a couple of stories I could tell about the 2 years I lived in Atlanta.
But to get us back on track - I loved Wendy's story songs. All of their songs came from the heart and even his comedy came from his desire to ministry to those who were hurting!
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D. Ann Bailey
He's planned a beautiful design, but it will take some fire and time, But it's gonna be okay, 'Cause the Potter knows the clay'.
<<<Mark Trammell, Erin & Alicia
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 8:54:26 AM
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jchaz
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One of the old story-songs was "The Dream". It was written from the persective of a deceased person who is laying in their coffin, while people come around to view their body. It's kinda macabre, but it really makes you think!
Another one was "He Was Talking About Me". It followed the life and ministry of Jesus. It was very poetic, and probably WL's most spiritually profound work.
Don't worry DAB-- You are certainly welcome to keep adding your memories of our buddy!
I'll never forget the last time I saw him alive. I went to hear them sing at a small church in Gillsville, GA. After soundcheck, the promoter brought in KFC and watermelon. We spent a couple of hours eating, telling stories, and good old-fashioned care-free fellowship. Just a few weeks later, I got the call he had been taken to the hosptial, and an hour or so later, that he was gone. There's been a particular void in my life ever since, that won't be filled until I get to Heaven.
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RE: Wendy Bagwell Story-Songs (not comedy) - 5/14/2008 9:00:35 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jchaz
One of the old story-songs was "The Dream". It was written from the persective of a deceased person who is laying in their coffin, while people come around to view their body. It's kinda macabre, but it really makes you think!
Another one was "He Was Talking About Me". It followed the life and ministry of Jesus. It was very poetic, and probably WL's most spiritually profound work.
Don't worry DAB-- You are certainly welcome to keep adding your memories of our buddy!
I'll never forget the last time I saw him alive. I went to hear them sing at a small church in Gillsville, GA. After soundcheck, the promoter brought in KFC and watermelon. We spent a couple of hours eating, telling stories, and good old-fashioned care-free fellowship. Just a few weeks later, I got the call he had been taken to the hosptial, and an hour or so later, that he was gone. There's been a particular void in my life ever since, that won't be filled until I get to Heaven.
I remember those! Wow, Wendy could tell a story whether serious or comedy he was one of the best storytellers around!
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D. Ann Bailey
He's planned a beautiful design, but it will take some fire and time, But it's gonna be okay, 'Cause the Potter knows the clay'.
<<<Mark Trammell, Erin & Alicia
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