A hymn of the faith
is a well written song of the heart. These songs grip your
soul and mind and heart because of the truth and honest
feelings poured into the song.
If anybody could keep such a
promise about Black Gospel music lyrics, it
would be Janette, says Joe, a musician and family friend.
“Janette doesn’t push and she doesn’t lead,” he explains.
“She just outworks everybody.”
Her formula for success
includes strictly acoustic old-time or bluegrass
performances, an equally strict “no alcohol” rule, and a
rustic setting with exposed beams, carpeted walls, and
patches of exposed dirt floor. The stage itself is just as
casual: A vintage green sofa scattered dining chairs,
mounted deer heads, and poster-size music pictures of the
Original Carter Family are the only ornamentation with
Gospel music lyrics.
The show begins with Janette
performing a couple of Carter Family tunes with her brother,
Joe, and son Dale. They might play a mournful version of
Lonesome Valley with free Gospel music lyrics
or a snatch of a new half-written song of music they want to
try out on listeners. Then they turn the evening over to the
featured bands, some of which travel hundreds of miles just
to perform on the famous stage.
“She has a good band every
week,” says Knox Johnson, who has visited the Fold regularly
for more than 20 years. “I’d rather go there than anywhere
when it comes to
Gospel music
and entertainment.”
