JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Music Theory and Education Genres

I think that like our nation, the strength of our group is our diversity. I'm gonna be real careful with this post out of respect.

I'm sure that Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond had no use for James Baldwin or Richard Wright. However, those writers touched the soul of many who had no concept of the Black experience. 'Black Butterfly' is a recording by pop/gospel singer Denice Williams, It's a far cry from James Browns' 'I'm Black and I'm Proud,' that lost James' a huge chunk of his white audience in the 60's.

It's impossible that gay artists don't have similar artistic expression of their human condition that would touch, educate and inform many of us that are not gay in similar ways, as well as provide understanding and support to their brother/sisters.

A separate musical genre? Perhaps as we become more tolerant as people, such a genre may well develope and as Brian said, get up and walk on it's own feet. I'm sure there are enough gays to support it. Whether straight folks want to hear the songs is a differrent issue. If I don't like the message in the songs, I'm not going to listen to them. But that's just me.

As much as I would like to respond to other comments, I'll quit while I'm ahead. I would like to make a couple of points though. I'll be equally careful. I don't care about the intimate, let's say 'physical' details of my friends & neighbors personal lives and prefer not to hear about them regardless of orientation. But that's just me. Also, there are many popular R&B and other genres of songs getting radio play that provide personal details of activities that I don't want to hear about.. I have a choice. I can change the station.

I'm sure gay oriented music would have the same stylistic diversity as other music. There'd be inspirational, romantic, sexy and even militant music being made. The question is if a mainstream audience would accept it. For the purposes of the group however, that may not matter as much. But now I'm just guessing.

One more thing, The Bassist for Kings X, Doug Pinnick came out recently. Hes Black, plays heavy metal in a band that's considered Christian music and he's over 40. He's one of the most respect muscians in rock. I love America!!! Hell, an enterprising radio station could make a ton of money playing only gay artists. Again Like Brian said, those artists might probably prefer to be considered Rock, Jazz, Disco, R&B or Pop artists rather than gay artists. Again, I'm just guessing.

Love, peace & soul......

Wendell