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We called him
SLIM.
To many he was a great singer, preacher, songwriter, and musician but, we
called him Slim. To his family
he was husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, or cousin but, we
called him Slim. On Sunday,
February 25, 2007, Slim entered eternal rest.
This towering individual could never impress anyone with his weight; after
all he was Slim.
He was, however, a force in the gospel music industry that could not be
ignored. This gentle person was unique. He had a style
(musically) that was one of a kind. He did not try to sound like
someone else and no one could sound like Slim. He was
also a showman. Do you remember the cape?
He would pen songs that made you think. He would sing them with such
sincerity that you knew he was serious about his music ministry and
desired to show someone the way to Christ. In the early days of his
musical career, he played guitar for The Supreme
Angels. He eventually assumed the lead singer role and the
group's name was changed to Slim and The Supreme
Angels and as is often said "the rest is history."
Slim had a way of making you laugh
about yourself, about your situation, and about life in general, while at
the same time conveying a powerful life lesson. What other group or
singer could have given us "Don't Trust A Snake" other than
Slim. What about "Death
and The Beautiful Lady or "People Don't Do?"
Can you imagine any other group or singer singing these songs? Of
course not. Others may try, but they will never measure up to the
performance of these songs, and so many more, by
Slim and The Supreme Angels.
Slim will be forever remembered by those that just like good gospel music.
All of the songs he recorded were memorable in their own right, but there
are some that just standout. Such as Shame on You, By and By, What A
Friend We Have In Jesus, Stay Under The Blood, Tribute, Blind Man,
and What's To Matter Now? Also included in that list would
be Nobody But You Lord, People Don't Do, Well Done, and
Have You Heard The News?
Generations yet unborn, when introduced to gospel music (particularly
traditional gospel music), will ask the question "who was
Slim"? We hope that they are told
that he was a great singer and minister, and that he was truly a child of
God that did not mind showing you how to praise and worship God.
Then we hope that they are told to find a DVD (or whatever the video
format maybe at that time) of Slim and The
Supreme Angels and just maybe they will experience what so many
of us have in Slim's concerts – the
performance by a legend who represented the best of gospel quartet music.
And that is why we called (and will continue to call) him
Slim.
Joseph L. Smalls, Jr., Esquire
Gloryland Gospel
Soteria Management and Consultants, LLC
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