August 4, 2025 • 17 mins
After nearly 30 years on the air, Grey Hager—the gentle voice behind Joy FM’s Southern Gospel Gold—is signing off. In this heartfelt conversation with Melody, Grey reflects on his unexpected journey into radio, the classic gospel music that became his ministry, and the legacy he leaves behind for listeners who love the heritage of Southern Gospel.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're glad that you're with us because on this
episode of Quirks, bumps andBruises, I sit down with Gray
Hager, host of Southern GospelGold, that you hear on Saturday
evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
We're going to talk aboutGray's 29 years of hosting that
show, what it meant to him, tohis heart and to the Joy FM
listening audience, and he'llgive you an update concerning
(00:23):
the future of that show.
So we're going to play thatinterview that we had, each
individual break in its entirety, as you heard it on the morning
joyride.
Well, good morning and welcometo the joyride melody along with
you.
But I have such a specialperson in here with me today and
(00:44):
many of you know who this isgoing to be because you love him
as much as we do here at joy fmand it's mr gray hager good
morning, gray, good morning and,as they say on tv, thanks for
having me on.
we are glad that you're here,and if you don't know who that
(01:05):
voice is or you're like, I thinkI know that voice but I can't
place where I've heard him.
Well, you have heard him everySaturday evening 6 to 8 pm on
what is called Southern GospelGold and we call him the
legendary Gray Hager around here, and I guess a good way to say
it.
We take you back to the glorydays of Gospel Radio, right,
(01:27):
gray?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yes, ma'am, I was thinking, coming in today, about
how we started out with allkind of cassettes and
reel-to-reel tapes and thingslike that that don't exist in
Gospel Music Radio anymore.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It has changed, so let's just go back.
Gray, how long have you beenwith Joy FM?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well, I started back in 1996, and I fought it tooth
and nail.
I thought the last thing I everwant to do is be on radio.
So my son worked at theClaremont station.
That was the only one we hadback then.
He worked on the weekends andhe was going back to college.
(02:13):
So he kept saying Dad, you needto apply for this job.
As I mentioned, I fought ittooth and nail to get him to
shut up.
I said, ok, I'll apply,thinking they're not going to
hire me.
So I did that and of course thegentleman said well, when can
you start?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Oh wow.
That's so funny because yousaid 1996?
.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yep, yep.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I came along more than 10 years later, in 2007,
and I fought it tooth and nailtoo.
Yes, I would never, really, yes, I would never.
What Radio?
So it's so interesting, isn'tit, how God places things in our
path.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It is totally unprepared for what we're
expected to do.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Absolutely, and we're going to talk more with Gray
about just that.
Here coming up on the Morning,joyride, it's Melody along with
you, but Gray Hager.
He is the host of SouthernGospel Gold that you hear on
Saturday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
And I'm learning some thingsalready about Gray, starting
with this ministry in 1996.
(03:21):
Now, that was when Joy FM firstcame on the scene, right.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's exactly right Around 1997, I believe Rodney
Baucom was the first manager,mm-hmm, and he stayed for
probably 10 years or so he did.
And then Daniel Britt yes, andDaniel and the stations had
grown all during this period oftime from one station here in
(03:46):
Winston-Salem to over 30.
Now, of course, john Long isour manager at this time.
Yes, we worked with a lot ofgreat people over the years.
I can't name everybody,wouldn't even try to attempt it,
but people like Wanda Taylor,oh yeah, been some great people,
yes.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
And well, you're included in that, gray for sure.
I will tell you this about GrayEverybody loves Gray, I don't
care who it is you talk to.
At Joy FM, past, present andeven in the future, they're
going to say Gray Hager is oneof the nicest people we know.
And that is absolutely thetruth, gray, you are so loved
here and have done such a good,good job with Southern Gospel
(04:25):
Gold.
Now, when, gray, did you startthat actual show?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
It was in 1998.
It was in February of 1998.
Rodney Baucom came up with theidea of Southern Gospel Gold and
we wanted to kind of keep alivethe old songs and the legendary
voices in Southern Gospel music.
And we've played a lot ofrecords over the years.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yes, you have and we've played a lot of records
over the years.
Yes, you have, and there'sgetting ready to be maybe a
little change with that, withyou, gray, and we're going to
talk about that in just a moment.
Coming up on the MorningJoyride, stay with us.
It's Gray Hager.
You know him, the host ofSouthern Gospel Gold that you
hear on Saturday evenings 6 to 8.
And I'm Melody and we're herejust having a conversation, gray
(05:18):
and I, about the ministry ofSouthern Gospel Gold, and you
said you started in 1998, andhere we are in 2025, gray, I
can't even figure out how manyyears that is.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, it will be 29 years when we sign off on August
2nd.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
All right.
So, yes, you just heard that hesaid signing off on August 2nd,
and so, Gray, tell us a littlebit about you coming to that
decision, and you know just alittle bit about what you're
going to do as you move forward.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Well, I had a birthday not too long ago and I
got to thinking well, I'mgetting kind of old Me too, gray
, me too.
So also I've been having somehealth issues and I've decided I
think the Lord has kind of madethe decision easier to kind of
step away.
It's a good time 29 years andwe've had some great times over
(06:09):
the years and getting to knowall the people, incredible
people to work with.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Anyone that doesn't work in a christian environment
has no idea how much money it isto to come to work and to meet
the people and socialize withthem it is, and it is a blessing
to work with like-mindedbelievers, isn't it that that
love the Lord and love thismusic and just want to share it
(06:34):
with as many people as we canand that's why we're here is to
share the hope and the love ofJesus through this quirky kind
of music that we call SouthernGospel.
The lame Melanie Ball oh, youare so sweet, gray.
I just remember the first timeI met you and I thought that is
like the sweetest man and wehave always just loved having
(06:56):
you come in, gray.
You come in every you know,about once a week and we're able
to see you, and I don't get tohang out with you near as much
as I'd like to because myschedule is always so crazy and
wonky, but I just know that youhave been a blessing to so many
through the years, and in just amoment coming up, I want to
talk to you a little bit aboutsome specifics of that.
(07:16):
Before we do that, though, youmade the comment about you know
when God is telling you it'stime and he did that to me when
I was in church ministry work acouple of years ago just knowing
it's time and it's hard, it'shard to give something up that
you love.
It's really hard to do and Iknow that you love it and you're
(07:38):
gonna I'm gonna cry that youlove what you do and it's very
apparent and how you do it.
So I know making that decisionfor you has been, has been
difficult?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
yes, it has, and, like I say, there's incredible
people that you work with here,as well as the listeners that
let us know from time to timethat they enjoy the program and
get a lot out of it.
It seems like we play thecorrect song at the proper time.
Oh yeah, of course we have nocontrol over that, nope.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
But the Lord does, doesn't he?
Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
He does.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So it's Melody, along with you on the Joyride with
the one and only we call himaround here, the legendary Mr
Gray Hager.
You hear him every Saturdayevening from 6 until 8 pm,
Southern Gospel Gold.
Now, Gray, tell us kind of whatbirthed, so to speak, this
program.
What made you come to the ideaof you know what we need like a
(08:37):
couple of hours a week where weplay just some of the old
Southern gospel music?
Was it because you love it somuch, or did somebody put that
idea in your head?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, going back to a cold winter night when my wife
was watching cooking shows and Idecided to go in the bedroom
and tune the radio down to tryto find some good gospel music,
and unfortunately there wasn'tany at the time.
I wanted to hear some of thegreat old songs from years gone
(09:09):
by and there wasn't.
So you sort of need to becareful what you want, because
you might get it.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
You might get it.
You might get it, I know.
So you just had that desire toto have a place to kind of uh
catalog some of the older music,because here on regular joy fm
radio that you hear, you know,during the week we're constantly
getting new music from artistsall the time and so we keep that
going in rotation, you know.
(09:38):
But we wanted a place where wecould just have that older
Southern gospel music, and youwere the one to kind of begin to
put all that together right,well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, it's kind of funny because the music that we
play isn't really timeless.
A couple years ago, tributeQuartet recorded a song.
You might help me remember thename of it.
It was the number one song.
It was an Arthur Smith song andI'm thinking you know this song
came out back in the 1950s.
(10:10):
Tribute Quartet brought it tonumber one.
So that kind of insinuateswhere we need to be as far as
what we're thinking about, yeah,that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I kind of think about the inspirations now, how
they're doing just that, youknow, and they do it so well and
you know, just kind of carryingon the real tradition of the
old inspirations, and really Imean they're knocking it out of
the park.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
They are.
They are so good.
But also the Chuckwagon Gangalso is carrying on the
tradition of that group as well.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
And I'm thankful for that and you know, because I
feel like where we are withSouthern Gospel now is built on
that foundation.
Without the songs that you hearon Southern Gospel Goal, we
wouldn't be where we are right.
That's exactly right.
And so we don't want thatheritage of music to just go by
the wayside.
It's kind of taking church pewsand hymnals out of the church.
(11:08):
Now you know you don't want theold hymns to go away.
You know you want them toalways remain a part of
Christian music and so wedefinitely want that to continue
happening with these oldersongs.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
yeah, we want to know who the statesman quartet is
right.
The blackwood brothers happygoodman family, yeah, yeah well
when we come back.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I want to talk to gray about some of his very
favorite older southern gospelsongs.
Stay with us here on themorning joyride with melody.
Well, good morning and welcometo Joy FM.
And we are having some fun thismorning with Mr Gray Hager,
such a sweet, sweet man wholoves the Lord and loves
Southern Gospel music, butreally loves the older Southern
(11:53):
Gospel music.
And you hear Gray on Saturdayevenings from 6 to 8 on Southern
Gospel Gold here at Joy FM.
And so Gray has announced todaythat he's going to be retiring
from doing that show, whichbreaks our hearts.
But we certainly understand it.
The Lord always has a way, Ithink of just in your spirit,
when you know that it's justtime, and so it's hard to do,
(12:16):
it's hard to walk away fromsomething that you really love.
But when the Lord is sayingit's that time, then we have to
be obedient to that, and I feellike that's where Gray is in
this process right now.
But, gray, I want to ask youbecause, oh, my goodness, the
songs that you have played overthe last 29 years, by the way,
(12:37):
29 years y'all doing this thesongs that you have played, is
there just a favorite?
Is there a favorite song, or isthere just a favorite group
that it will just always hold aspecial place in your heart?
Speaker 2 (12:51):
well, yeah, uh, there's been a lot of group.
We tried to make it to where itwas something for everybody.
We played some of the songs inthe 50s and 60s as well as up to
the early 2000s, and CandyPayne was the music director for
a number of years here at JoeFM and we got to thinking, well,
maybe we could take this secondhour of the program
(13:14):
occasionally and play just allthe same groups, and we'd have
some of the groups that Ienjoyed, like the happy goodman
family.
We play nothing but that theirmusic as well as that.
Yeah, the singing rambos and, um, oh, I don't know there's.
I guess my favorite group ofall time is the statesman
quartet.
Oh, okay, they had jks andhovey lister and the big chief
(13:39):
and the way out and the RosieRoselle a number of people in
that group that made great musicand still today I enjoy hearing
them.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yes, yes, I agree with that.
And there's just somethingabout that music especially when
you're older, like I am, andyou are great and you grew up
hearing those songs it justbrings that sense of nostalgia
back to your heart you know itis, but I enjoy today's gospel
music as well.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I try to go to every concert I can get close to oh.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I know, I don't care where we are, I'll look out
there and there's Gray.
I know when it's in your blood.
Gray it's in your blood.
Gray it's in your blood isn'tit yeah, it's funny because you
know I love music, all kinds ofmusic, being in the world of
music at my church and being aworship leader for a long time,
and in fact you've been to mychurch before to see uh
(14:37):
patriotic uh celebrations thatwe would do.
You like sandy, oh, sandy patty,still to this day, is one of my
favorite singers, right?
But, um, you know, I, I love itall and uh.
But sometimes we have peoplecoming into the station that
maybe their preference is moreof the contemporary christian
music, but nine times out of ten, because they're in the
(14:59):
building and they're hearing it,and they'll say something like
you know, that just takes meback.
I mean, that just doessomething to my heart and they
don't even really realize itright away.
But there's just somethingabout this music.
I always say there's no fluffin it.
You know you're talking aboutJesus with Southern Gospel music
(15:19):
, there's no doubt.
There's no doubt it's meaty,it's just full of Jesus.
You know, and I always say,along with hymns, that those
songs can convict our heartslike nothing else.
And you mentioned, right songat the right time, at the right
place.
We have story after story afterstory where these songs have
ministered to someone's heart atjust the perfect time.
(15:41):
Even our hearts, right, gray?
Oh, yes, when we're goingthrough hard times, even our
hearts as well.
So hopefully you've beenlistening here this morning on
the Joyride because we have MrGray Hager along with us
Southern Gospel Gold, saturdayevenings, 6 until 8 pm Just a
great place to go to hear someof that old Southern Gospel from
(16:02):
years past that still touchesour hearts in such a big, big
way.
And, gray, you have decidedthat.
You said you had a birthdayrecently and you decided that
the Lord was kind of saying toyour heart it's time to let go,
time to retire after 29 years ofSouthern Gospel Goal here on
(16:22):
Joy FM, and I know that you aregoing to be missed by, oh, my
goodness, so many people.
In fact, if you would like tocall in and wish Gray well, I'm
sure he would love to hear thesevoicemails from you and you can
do that at 888-985-6936.
So, gray, from the Joy FM teamhere, I hope you know how much
(16:46):
you're loved.
I hope that you won't be astranger.
Just because you're not goingto do this show don't mean you
can't come visit anymore.
Oh, I'll be here, don't make mecome get you, gray, I will come
to your house and get you andwe would love to just make sure
that we stay a part of your lifeand that you stay a part of
ours, because you are so veryappreciated here, you're so very
(17:07):
loved and you mean the world tous.
So, gray, this coming Saturday,august the 2nd, this coming
weekend, will be your last showas the host of Southern Gospel
Gold.
Again, that's this comingSaturday, august the 2nd, from 6
to 8 pm, be sure and tune in.
And so, gray, each and everySaturday evening, when you end
(17:28):
your show, you say what?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
May your spirit be filled with the gospel and your
heart stay pure as gold.
We're glad that you're with us because on this
episode of Quirks, bumps andBruises, I sit down with Gray
Hager, host of Southern GospelGold, that you hear on Saturday
evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
We're going to talk aboutGray's 29 years of hosting that
show, what it meant to him, tohis heart and to the Joy FM
listening audience, and he'llgive you an update concerning
(00:23):
the future of that show.
So we're going to play thatinterview that we had, each
individual break in its entirety, as you heard it on the morning
joyride.
Well, good morning and welcometo the joyride melody along with
you.
But I have such a specialperson in here with me today and
(00:44):
many of you know who this isgoing to be because you love him
as much as we do here at joy fmand it's mr gray hager good
morning, gray, good morning and,as they say on tv, thanks for
having me on.
we are glad that you're here,and if you don't know who that
(01:05):
voice is or you're like, I thinkI know that voice but I can't
place where I've heard him.
Well, you have heard him everySaturday evening 6 to 8 pm on
what is called Southern GospelGold and we call him the
legendary Gray Hager around here, and I guess a good way to say
it.
We take you back to the glorydays of Gospel Radio, right,
(01:27):
gray?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yes, ma'am, I was thinking, coming in today, about
how we started out with allkind of cassettes and
reel-to-reel tapes and thingslike that that don't exist in
Gospel Music Radio anymore.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It has changed, so let's just go back.
Gray, how long have you beenwith Joy FM?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well, I started back in 1996, and I fought it tooth
and nail.
I thought the last thing I everwant to do is be on radio.
So my son worked at theClaremont station.
That was the only one we hadback then.
He worked on the weekends andhe was going back to college.
(02:13):
So he kept saying Dad, you needto apply for this job.
As I mentioned, I fought ittooth and nail to get him to
shut up.
I said, ok, I'll apply,thinking they're not going to
hire me.
So I did that and of course thegentleman said well, when can
you start?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Oh wow.
That's so funny because yousaid 1996?
.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yep, yep.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I came along more than 10 years later, in 2007,
and I fought it tooth and nailtoo.
Yes, I would never, really, yes, I would never.
What Radio?
So it's so interesting, isn'tit, how God places things in our
path.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It is totally unprepared for what we're
expected to do.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Absolutely, and we're going to talk more with Gray
about just that.
Here coming up on the Morning,joyride, it's Melody along with
you, but Gray Hager.
He is the host of SouthernGospel Gold that you hear on
Saturday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
And I'm learning some thingsalready about Gray, starting
with this ministry in 1996.
(03:21):
Now, that was when Joy FM firstcame on the scene, right.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's exactly right Around 1997, I believe Rodney
Baucom was the first manager,mm-hmm, and he stayed for
probably 10 years or so he did.
And then Daniel Britt yes, andDaniel and the stations had
grown all during this period oftime from one station here in
(03:46):
Winston-Salem to over 30.
Now, of course, john Long isour manager at this time.
Yes, we worked with a lot ofgreat people over the years.
I can't name everybody,wouldn't even try to attempt it,
but people like Wanda Taylor,oh yeah, been some great people,
yes.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
And well, you're included in that, gray for sure.
I will tell you this about GrayEverybody loves Gray, I don't
care who it is you talk to.
At Joy FM, past, present andeven in the future, they're
going to say Gray Hager is oneof the nicest people we know.
And that is absolutely thetruth, gray, you are so loved
here and have done such a good,good job with Southern Gospel
(04:25):
Gold.
Now, when, gray, did you startthat actual show?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
It was in 1998.
It was in February of 1998.
Rodney Baucom came up with theidea of Southern Gospel Gold and
we wanted to kind of keep alivethe old songs and the legendary
voices in Southern Gospel music.
And we've played a lot ofrecords over the years.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yes, you have and we've played a lot of records
over the years.
Yes, you have, and there'sgetting ready to be maybe a
little change with that, withyou, gray, and we're going to
talk about that in just a moment.
Coming up on the MorningJoyride, stay with us.
It's Gray Hager.
You know him, the host ofSouthern Gospel Gold that you
hear on Saturday evenings 6 to 8.
And I'm Melody and we're herejust having a conversation, gray
(05:18):
and I, about the ministry ofSouthern Gospel Gold, and you
said you started in 1998, andhere we are in 2025, gray, I
can't even figure out how manyyears that is.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, it will be 29 years when we sign off on August
2nd.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
All right.
So, yes, you just heard that hesaid signing off on August 2nd,
and so, Gray, tell us a littlebit about you coming to that
decision, and you know just alittle bit about what you're
going to do as you move forward.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Well, I had a birthday not too long ago and I
got to thinking well, I'mgetting kind of old Me too, gray
, me too.
So also I've been having somehealth issues and I've decided I
think the Lord has kind of madethe decision easier to kind of
step away.
It's a good time 29 years andwe've had some great times over
(06:09):
the years and getting to knowall the people, incredible
people to work with.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Anyone that doesn't work in a christian environment
has no idea how much money it isto to come to work and to meet
the people and socialize withthem it is, and it is a blessing
to work with like-mindedbelievers, isn't it that that
love the Lord and love thismusic and just want to share it
(06:34):
with as many people as we canand that's why we're here is to
share the hope and the love ofJesus through this quirky kind
of music that we call SouthernGospel.
The lame Melanie Ball oh, youare so sweet, gray.
I just remember the first timeI met you and I thought that is
like the sweetest man and wehave always just loved having
(06:56):
you come in, gray.
You come in every you know,about once a week and we're able
to see you, and I don't get tohang out with you near as much
as I'd like to because myschedule is always so crazy and
wonky, but I just know that youhave been a blessing to so many
through the years, and in just amoment coming up, I want to
talk to you a little bit aboutsome specifics of that.
(07:16):
Before we do that, though, youmade the comment about you know
when God is telling you it'stime and he did that to me when
I was in church ministry work acouple of years ago just knowing
it's time and it's hard, it'shard to give something up that
you love.
It's really hard to do and Iknow that you love it and you're
(07:38):
gonna I'm gonna cry that youlove what you do and it's very
apparent and how you do it.
So I know making that decisionfor you has been, has been
difficult?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
yes, it has, and, like I say, there's incredible
people that you work with here,as well as the listeners that
let us know from time to timethat they enjoy the program and
get a lot out of it.
It seems like we play thecorrect song at the proper time.
Oh yeah, of course we have nocontrol over that, nope.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
But the Lord does, doesn't he?
Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
He does.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So it's Melody, along with you on the Joyride with
the one and only we call himaround here, the legendary Mr
Gray Hager.
You hear him every Saturdayevening from 6 until 8 pm,
Southern Gospel Gold.
Now, Gray, tell us kind of whatbirthed, so to speak, this
program.
What made you come to the ideaof you know what we need like a
(08:37):
couple of hours a week where weplay just some of the old
Southern gospel music?
Was it because you love it somuch, or did somebody put that
idea in your head?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, going back to a cold winter night when my wife
was watching cooking shows and Idecided to go in the bedroom
and tune the radio down to tryto find some good gospel music,
and unfortunately there wasn'tany at the time.
I wanted to hear some of thegreat old songs from years gone
(09:09):
by and there wasn't.
So you sort of need to becareful what you want, because
you might get it.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
You might get it.
You might get it, I know.
So you just had that desire toto have a place to kind of uh
catalog some of the older music,because here on regular joy fm
radio that you hear, you know,during the week we're constantly
getting new music from artistsall the time and so we keep that
going in rotation, you know.
(09:38):
But we wanted a place where wecould just have that older
Southern gospel music, and youwere the one to kind of begin to
put all that together right,well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, it's kind of funny because the music that we
play isn't really timeless.
A couple years ago, tributeQuartet recorded a song.
You might help me remember thename of it.
It was the number one song.
It was an Arthur Smith song andI'm thinking you know this song
came out back in the 1950s.
(10:10):
Tribute Quartet brought it tonumber one.
So that kind of insinuateswhere we need to be as far as
what we're thinking about, yeah,that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I kind of think about the inspirations now, how
they're doing just that, youknow, and they do it so well and
you know, just kind of carryingon the real tradition of the
old inspirations, and really Imean they're knocking it out of
the park.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
They are.
They are so good.
But also the Chuckwagon Gangalso is carrying on the
tradition of that group as well.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
And I'm thankful for that and you know, because I
feel like where we are withSouthern Gospel now is built on
that foundation.
Without the songs that you hearon Southern Gospel Goal, we
wouldn't be where we are right.
That's exactly right.
And so we don't want thatheritage of music to just go by
the wayside.
It's kind of taking church pewsand hymnals out of the church.
(11:08):
Now you know you don't want theold hymns to go away.
You know you want them toalways remain a part of
Christian music and so wedefinitely want that to continue
happening with these oldersongs.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
yeah, we want to know who the statesman quartet is
right.
The blackwood brothers happygoodman family, yeah, yeah well
when we come back.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I want to talk to gray about some of his very
favorite older southern gospelsongs.
Stay with us here on themorning joyride with melody.
Well, good morning and welcometo Joy FM.
And we are having some fun thismorning with Mr Gray Hager,
such a sweet, sweet man wholoves the Lord and loves
Southern Gospel music, butreally loves the older Southern
(11:53):
Gospel music.
And you hear Gray on Saturdayevenings from 6 to 8 on Southern
Gospel Gold here at Joy FM.
And so Gray has announced todaythat he's going to be retiring
from doing that show, whichbreaks our hearts.
But we certainly understand it.
The Lord always has a way, Ithink of just in your spirit,
when you know that it's justtime, and so it's hard to do,
(12:16):
it's hard to walk away fromsomething that you really love.
But when the Lord is sayingit's that time, then we have to
be obedient to that, and I feellike that's where Gray is in
this process right now.
But, gray, I want to ask youbecause, oh, my goodness, the
songs that you have played overthe last 29 years, by the way,
(12:37):
29 years y'all doing this thesongs that you have played, is
there just a favorite?
Is there a favorite song, or isthere just a favorite group
that it will just always hold aspecial place in your heart?
Speaker 2 (12:51):
well, yeah, uh, there's been a lot of group.
We tried to make it to where itwas something for everybody.
We played some of the songs inthe 50s and 60s as well as up to
the early 2000s, and CandyPayne was the music director for
a number of years here at JoeFM and we got to thinking, well,
maybe we could take this secondhour of the program
(13:14):
occasionally and play just allthe same groups, and we'd have
some of the groups that Ienjoyed, like the happy goodman
family.
We play nothing but that theirmusic as well as that.
Yeah, the singing rambos and, um, oh, I don't know there's.
I guess my favorite group ofall time is the statesman
quartet.
Oh, okay, they had jks andhovey lister and the big chief
(13:39):
and the way out and the RosieRoselle a number of people in
that group that made great musicand still today I enjoy hearing
them.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yes, yes, I agree with that.
And there's just somethingabout that music especially when
you're older, like I am, andyou are great and you grew up
hearing those songs it justbrings that sense of nostalgia
back to your heart you know itis, but I enjoy today's gospel
music as well.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
I try to go to every concert I can get close to oh.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I know, I don't care where we are, I'll look out
there and there's Gray.
I know when it's in your blood.
Gray it's in your blood.
Gray it's in your blood isn'tit yeah, it's funny because you
know I love music, all kinds ofmusic, being in the world of
music at my church and being aworship leader for a long time,
and in fact you've been to mychurch before to see uh
(14:37):
patriotic uh celebrations thatwe would do.
You like sandy, oh, sandy patty,still to this day, is one of my
favorite singers, right?
But, um, you know, I, I love itall and uh.
But sometimes we have peoplecoming into the station that
maybe their preference is moreof the contemporary christian
music, but nine times out of ten, because they're in the
(14:59):
building and they're hearing it,and they'll say something like
you know, that just takes meback.
I mean, that just doessomething to my heart and they
don't even really realize itright away.
But there's just somethingabout this music.
I always say there's no fluffin it.
You know you're talking aboutJesus with Southern Gospel music
(15:19):
, there's no doubt.
There's no doubt it's meaty,it's just full of Jesus.
You know, and I always say,along with hymns, that those
songs can convict our heartslike nothing else.
And you mentioned, right songat the right time, at the right
place.
We have story after story afterstory where these songs have
ministered to someone's heart atjust the perfect time.
(15:41):
Even our hearts, right, gray?
Oh, yes, when we're goingthrough hard times, even our
hearts as well.
So hopefully you've beenlistening here this morning on
the Joyride because we have MrGray Hager along with us
Southern Gospel Gold, saturdayevenings, 6 until 8 pm Just a
great place to go to hear someof that old Southern Gospel from
(16:02):
years past that still touchesour hearts in such a big, big
way.
And, gray, you have decidedthat.
You said you had a birthdayrecently and you decided that
the Lord was kind of saying toyour heart it's time to let go,
time to retire after 29 years ofSouthern Gospel Goal here on
(16:22):
Joy FM, and I know that you aregoing to be missed by, oh, my
goodness, so many people.
In fact, if you would like tocall in and wish Gray well, I'm
sure he would love to hear thesevoicemails from you and you can
do that at 888-985-6936.
So, gray, from the Joy FM teamhere, I hope you know how much
(16:46):
you're loved.
I hope that you won't be astranger.
Just because you're not goingto do this show don't mean you
can't come visit anymore.
Oh, I'll be here, don't make mecome get you, gray, I will come
to your house and get you andwe would love to just make sure
that we stay a part of your lifeand that you stay a part of
ours, because you are so veryappreciated here, you're so very
(17:07):
loved and you mean the world tous.
So, gray, this coming Saturday,august the 2nd, this coming
weekend, will be your last showas the host of Southern Gospel
Gold.
Again, that's this comingSaturday, august the 2nd, from 6
to 8 pm, be sure and tune in.
And so, gray, each and everySaturday evening, when you end
(17:28):
your show, you say what?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
May your spirit be filled with the gospel and your
heart stay pure as gold.
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