Dr. Bobby Jones - Interview (December 2006) | BlackGospel.com, Your Gospel Music Ministry Source!

Interview with Dr. Bobby Jones
December 2006, BlackGospel.com by Christopher Heron

A few weeks ago, in the picturesque surroundings of Hollywood, Florida the 19^th edition of the Dr. Bobby Jones International Gospel Industry Retreat convened. Hundreds of Gospel industry executives, internationally-known and aspiring Gospel artists, ministers of the gospel, and people who love Gospel music, gathered together at the Westin Resort Diplomat & Spa for another session of priceless information sharing, exciting showcases and well-deserved rest and relaxation.

As the founder and visionary for this pioneering industry event, Dr. Bobby Jones has dedicated a significant share of his limited time to coordinating and hosting one of the most important calendar dates in the Gospel industry. The bi-annual Gospel Industry Retreat serves as an important resource and networking hub for a new generation of Gospel artists.

Dr. Bobby Jones has been providing a forum for these new ministers of music to showcase their gifts for the last 26 years, first through his groundbreaking BET television show, Bobby Jones Gospel, and then subsequently through his industry retreat, syndicated radio show and international public appearances.

BlackGospel.com spoke with Dr. Bobby Jones about the latest symposium, municipal plans to create a Gospel complex in his honor and his projection on the direction of Gospel music. As always, Dr. Bobby Jones provided an eloquent and colorful perspective to all our questions.

Christopher Heron: I would like to congratulate you on your 19^th anniversary with this retreat. Let us discuss the evolution of this retreat from its conception back in 1997 to its current form and location. How has the Gospel Industry Retreat evolved in terms of its purpose and its reach?

Dr. Bobby Jones: The purpose and reach has not changed at all. We are still right on track with trying to keep ourselves motivated, educated, inspired and encouraged. That was our purpose initially and that is what we are still doing. I think it has always been blessed from the beginning, for the expansion only comes with our increased knowledge base as to what it is we want to receive. How we utilize that information makes us even more powerful for the Kingdom of God than when we first started.

CH: One of your more exciting initiatives which feature your name is of course the Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Complex For Education, Heritage and Preservation. Could you offer us a little insight on the vision and maybe perhaps the inspiration for this Complex? And what stage in the construction of this complex, is it?

BJ: I had absolutely nothing to do with the concept or the idea how this complex came about. It was actually brought to my attention by a gentleman who works with the convention in the Visitor’s Bureau office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I think he had a knowledge base that there was no home for Gospel music anywhere established in America and since he is in tourism industry in his city, he thought that he would approach us with the concept of a Gospel House. A lot of people call it a museum or hall of fame, and we wanted to call ours a House of Preserves.

We thought it was an interesting concept and wanted to explain to our industry retreat attendees some of the things they were doing to make this House of Preserves possible and it sounded feasible to me. Anytime anyone gets an opportunity to establish something for Gospel music and for the Kingdom to happen at that level, naturally, you say “Oh yes, this could be a wonderful contribution to what we do”. That’s how the idea came about; his name is Albert Tucker and he his totally responsible for initiating all of the efforts. At this point, I’m basically going to say, “Yes, just do it”.

CH: What were some of the special highlights that unfolded at the Gospel Industry Retreat this year?

BJ: We are always on the cutting edge. We always create environments and situations in the Gospel community that’s going to be intriguing and certainly enlightening and fascinating. Each time we bring together more universities and college students to participate in these activities. We included not only the local universities like Nova Southeastern University and Florida Memorial, but we are also brought in Savannah State University and Alabama (A & M); as well as their gospel units and presidents.

We are establishing a real incentive for education within the framework of the retreat. That is the most exciting thing I can think of. I never dreamed that we would have a component that focuses on the youth. As you know that is how anything maintains itself. You have to fill it with young people, and let it grow. And now we have the whole Broward county school system. Their high schools sent over a thousand students each day to participate; in Miami, they sent over five hundred. It was so thrilling to have that.

CH: As a true diplomat and ambassador for gospel music, I would like to hear your point of view and thoughts on gospel music as it continues to enjoy an expanding, international audience. Do you think Gospel music is in a good position to grow and to continue to experience growth?

BJ: We feel that it is a good thing for more people to hear the Word and the good news of Christ. We know it is going to be overwhelming. The Bible has already told us that the way to the Lord is narrow and that the way to destruction is broad. We don’t expect it to reach the level that a lot of people would like to see it reach because it is spiritual music. We must maintain its sacredness and we must maintain the viability of our music so that when you hear it you know that it is talking about Jesus. We struggle with that.

However, from the concept of when Gospel music started and even within the realm of the Black Christian Church, it was not an acceptable form of music in the Church at an earlier period. To see how it has grown from every element of the religious community now, the acceptance of this music is a wonderful and pleasurable thing to witness. In parts of the world, even if they are not capturing the lyrical content and activating the process, they are at least listening to the rhythm.

A lot of Europeans do not see Gospel music as a necessary aspect of spiritual musical presentation. They basically recognize this as they would Rhythm & Blues and Jazz. They put our music in one category because of the similarity of the style. It is just like having varying forms of Jazz. There is fusion Jazz, modern Jazz, and other types of Jazz. The music of Gospel, the sounds of the instruments and the vocals in Gospel are very similar to that of Pop and R&B. So, that is how they look at it.

Those of us who are in it, know that we have another vision in mind, and what we want to instill in our youth is not R&B and not Pop; the musical and instrumental sound and arrangement have some similarity, but there is a difference in the message.

For more information on Dr. Bobby Jones and the International Gospel Industry Retreat, visit the official website at www.gospelindustryretreat.com. To contact Dr. Bobby Jones for public appearances and speaking engagements, call 615-232-2560.