Religion ^ _ B6
'Godfather of Gospel' bids farewell to off-air duties
By ROBIN BARKSDALE
Community News Editor
The "Godfather" has gotten an offer so good he
couldn't refuse it: retirement.
A1 "The Godfather of Gospel Music" Martin has
announced his retirement as operations manager of
radio station WSMX. But, he promises, he's not ready
to retire from the radio business. In fact, he said, he
couldn't even if he wanted to.
"I think it's in my blood. I love radio and I love
music," said Mr. Martin, who began his radio broad
casting career in 1966. "I didn't retire from radio. I
retired from my position as operations manager, but I'll
still be on the air for my shift Since I was a kid, I've
"If myymce fails, I'll do a final show , "
he said. "But as long as I have my voice ,
and as long as someone will allow me on the
air, I'll stay in radio . "
-- Al Martin
liked being a dee jay."
Mr. Martin said that his ambitions of soaring to the
top of the radio industry were stymied by Afro-Ameri
cans' exclusion from the airwaves. A graduate of Atkins
High School, he attended Russell Commercial School
and graduated with a special honor from New York's
School of Announcing and Speech. His radio career
began in Huntersville, Ala., and he decided to return to
Winston-Salem in September of that same year. His
first job in local radio was at WAAA, where he worked
until 1974.
"Back when I started, there was no?chance_for
blacks to get on the radio except as~Amos and Andy,
and they weren't
even really black,"
he said. "Because
of that, I got my
start in radio late.
I was 39 when I
started in radio."
Mr. Martin
said he chose to
pursue a career in
gospel music
announcing as
opposed to other
music because he
loves the music
form. Being a
gospel announcer,
he said, also
increased his
longevity in the
field because
gospel announcers
tend to last longer
in the business.
; "After you
get a certain age,
you won't last
long in radio,"
said the 62-year
old Mr. Martin. "I .
felt the best way
for me to stay in
would be to go
into gospel."
Mr. - Martin
left WAAA and
photo by Mike Cunningham
Al "Godfather of Gospel Music" Martin has announced his
retirement as operations manager at radio station WSMX. But
the radio personality says he will continue to do a shift of music
at the station.
headed for
Greensboro's
WEAL but
returned to
WAAA in 1974.
He became
gospel director
and announcer
at WAIR and
joined the staff
of WSMX as
announcer, reli
gious Erector,
music director
and station
coordinator in
1982. It was
during that time
that he was
given the tag,
"Godfather of
Gospel."
- The last
time 1 was at
WSMX, Jay -
Springs, who
was working at
the station, said
that I had been
in radio so long
that I was a god
father and the
name just
stuck," he said. =
"I'm very proud
of the things
I've accomplished, but I think I'm proudest about the
fact that I've been able to help other people along the
way."
In 1986, Mr. Martin was agospel announcer at
WTNC in Thomasville but returned to WSMX to
assume a position as operations manager.
Mr. Martin said that his role as a gospel announcer
allows him to bring inspiration to his audience through
the choice of music he plays.
"I get satisfaction from the fact that I can bring
inspiration to my audience, 11 he said. "An announcer
can bring inspiration to so many people with music. All
dee jays work differently, but I've never pulled (out
lined ahead of time) a show. I never pick a show. I do it
at* random according to what the mood is. Radio
announcers are not born, they are made."
Mr. Martin said that the recent trend in gospel
music has been toward a more contemporary, upbeat
form of gospel, but he has chosen to stay true to the tra- ?
ditional style of gospel music. Still, he said, he under
stands the appeal the new forms have to younger audi
ences.
"In recent years, contemporary music has come
along. It's geared to young people," he said. "You're
never going to be able to satisfy all styles so you just
have to try to reach a happy medium. I favor the more
traditional gospel music. But ultimately, it's not the
music, it's the message."
The community honored Mr. Martin with a retire
ment banquet last weekend at a downtown hotel. But
Mr. Martin said that it will be a while yet before he
completely disappears from the airwaves.
"If my voice fails, I'll do a final show," he said.
"But as long as I have my voice, and as long as some
one will allow me on the air, I'll stay in radio." 4
'Dedication Sunday' at Mount Zion Baptist
to feature premiere of $1.8 million facility
On Sunday, June 25, Mount
Zion Baptist Church will hold
"Dedication Sunday," to dedicate
the Goodwin-File Enrichment Cen
ter, the church's new multi-purpose
addition to the church.
Dr. K.O.P. Goodwin, the
church's pastor emeritus, will pro
vide the morning message and pre
side over the dedication.
The special occasion is part of
the monthtong centennial celebra
tion at Mount Zion.
Life for Mount Zion began in
the late 19th century in the hearts of
a group of vocalists from Virginia.
Under the leadership of the Rev.
G.W. Holland, the group of singers
organized Mount Zion. Shortly after
its organization, the Rev. G.W.
Johnson became the church's pastor.
He served as pastor for 19 years.
The congregation worshiped at
the original site on Third Street
until it was destroyed by fire in
1904. Following the fire, the con
gregation worshiped at various
places until Easter Sunday 19Q77-Afr
that time, the church was able to
hold services at its new facility on
Ninth Street. Rev. Johnson died the
following year. At that time, the
church had 1 10 members in its con
gregation.
In 1909, the Rev. R.L. File
accepted the call as the church's
second pastor. By 1914, the church
had increased its membership sig
nificantly and a move to another
building became necessary. The
congregation relocated to Ninth and
Maple streets, where Maggie L.
Palmer laid the first brick in 1916.
Rev. Goodwin became Mount Zion's
pastor in 1946. A native of Washington,
D.C? he received his bachelor's degree
from Howard University and his master of
divinity degree from Shaw University.
Under his leadership, Mount Zion expand
ed its membership and enlarged its internal
structure and joined the National Baptist
Convention.
In 1963, urban renewal forced yet
another move for the Mount Zion congre
gation. A tract of land was purchased at
Eighth Street and Claremont Avenue and
construction began in 1968. During its six
years of displacement; worship ser:"
vices were held at the Patterson
Avenue YMCA, Clark S. Brown
CHURCH
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
? The C.C, Turner Invitational Mass Choir of Calvary Hill will cele
brate its eighth anniversary through June 25. The program June 24 will
fee held at 7 p.m. and the June 25 program will be held at 4 p.m. The
church is located at 2411 Urban St Elder Claude C Turner is the host
pastor.
? The Winston-Salem Day Chapter of Women's Aglow Fellowship
International will hold an interdenominational meeting at 9:30 a.m. at
the Central YMCA. The guest will be from the Livmg Water's Ministry
inLittcblhton. For more information call 723-0869.
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
? Pitf# Memorial Baptist Church's Missionary Department will present
"The Seven Seals" from the Book of Revelations at 6 p.m. at 2000
Wilbur St Various ministers will participate. Dr. Bracy Bonham is host
pastor,
? The L.S. Tate Gospel Choir will celebrate its 8th anniversary at 4
p.m. Dr. Lawrence S. Tate is host pastor. For more information call 784
7699.
? First Calvary Baptist Church, 401 N. Woodland Ave.t wil celrtnrte
the 52nd anniverary of its Vocal Choir at 2:30 p.m.
JotmWfesley AME 2ion Church will observe its annual homecoming
day beginning with the I I a.m. service. The Rev. McConnell of Pilgrim
Baptist Church, will be the special guest speaker. He will be
Please see page B7
and Sons Funeral Home, First Bap
tist Church and at Grace Presbyteri
an Church.
In 1969, the ribbon was cut at
the present site and worship ser
vices were held in the new building.
Dr. Goodwin retired in 1977
after 31 years of service.
In 1979, the Rev. Gilbert G.
Campbell Jr. was called as fourth
pastor of the church. He served as
pastor for three years and was suc
ceeded by the church's current pas
tor, Dr. Serenus T. Churn Sr., a
native of Camden, N.J.
Dr. Churn, who is celebrating
his fifth anniversary during the cen
tennial, has a bachelor's degree
from Morgan State and a master of
divinity degree from Howard Uni
versity. He received his doctorate
from Drew University.
During his tenure at Mount
Zion, the church has experienced an
increase in membership and has
established several new church
organizations and services.
TFelirst pnase ot the Centenni
al Fund Project, the Goodwin-File
Life Enrichment Center, was com
i^? ? ? ii
Finishing Touches
Mount Zion Baptist Church
will continue Its centennial
celebration June 25 with
"Dedication Sunday." The
highlight of the program will
be the dedlcajlonj>f jhe $1.8
million multi-purpose addition
to the church, the File-Good
win Enrichment Center. The
dedication will be held at 1
p.m. with Dr. K.O.P. Goodwin,
the church's pastor emeritus,
presiding. At right, workers
finish up their last tasks to
prepare the building for its
debut.
or?
photos by Mike Cunningham
pluul uiiilu Di. Clium's leaduship.
Dedication services for the new
$1.8 million center will be held at 1
p.m. The center includes a library, banquet hall. It also will be used for
classrooms, lounges and a 400-seat adult and youth day care programs.
Vacation Study
Keir Pettegrew discusses a
Bible lesson with his teacher,
Delores Miller, during a St.
John CME Church Vacation
Bible School session earlier
this week. Looking on is
Andrea Davis. Members of
IMrs. Miller's class are 2- and 3
year-old children. The Vaca
tion Bible School at the
church will run through Friday.
photo by Mike Cunningham
United Church of Christ opposes
FCC lottery for license applications
Special to the Chronicle
A proposed lottery for award
ing new radio and TV licenses will
create a "sweepstakes atmosphere"
for "sham" operators to acquire a
piece of a scarce public commodity,
claims the Office of Communica
tion of the United Church of Christ
W . .
in comments filed in Washington,
D.C., with the Federal Communica
tions Commission.
Responding to a rule-making
change proposed by the FCC to
replace the current system of com
parative hearings with a lottery, the
church agency charges that such a
plan will not favor the most tjuali
fied applicants.
Under the FCC proposal, says
Andrew Blau, spokesperson for the
church communications office,
comparative hearings, which are
meant to determine how competing
licensees propose to serve the com
munity, would be eliminated.
"We have always fought for the
most qualified applicant to serve a
community," Mr. Blau asserts, "and
we're not about to see merit
replaced by numbered ping pong
balls."
Another change that disturbs
the church office centers on the
treatment of license applications
from minorities an women.
?