That was different from what anybody else was doing, and it became our trademark. They were the first to add bass, drums and keyboards to the traditional quartet accompaniment of solo electric guitar. More innovations causing controversy followed for some time to come. The lyrics were always a very strong Gospel message, says Joe, but the music was a long way from Will the Circle Be Unbroken and the funkified Gospel they had pioneered gradually became accepted as a standard part of Gospel music. We see ourselves as singers who minister to the people and encourage them that the Lord is real and there for us, and that commitment has only grown stronger over the years, says Joe.
People today seem hungry for much more than entertainment.
That spark that only the Holy Spirit can give you is still burning strong in us, Joe concludes. If we ever lost that, we might as well pack it in and go home. This was only the most recent accolade to an unbelievably illustrious career that shows no signs of slowing down as it continues to go forward into the new millennium. It Was You , on the CGI label. Joe Ligon is excited.