They say there are two kinds of people in the world. There are Beatles People and there are Elvis people. What that means is there are people who enjoyed the more down home, traditional music of the King as compared to other people who preferred the experimental sounds of the boys from Liverpool.

Makes sense to me, as I am an Elvis person. Not that I don’t like the Beatles it just has to do with my childhood.

When I was a kid, my folks were pretty strict. Pretty much the only music I was allowed to listen to was Elvis or Johnny Cash, Gospel music and Classical music. Needless to say, I became a huge fan of Johnny Cash and Elvis.

Gospel music was the type my grandparents preferred.

On the other hand, Elvis and Johnny Cash performed a LOT of Gospel music that was of an optimistic, upbeat nature and I gravitated more towards that. Some of those songs are so powerful they can still bring a chill up my spine to this day. Particularly Elvis’s version of “Peace in the Valley.” I can’t listen to it without getting goosebumps. Some of Johnny Cash’s songs with June Carter have the same effect on me, as well. What is really interesting is that both Cash and Presley were tremendous fans of Gospel music themselves. Personally I consider them to be among Gospel music’s finest artists.

For the folks out there who enjoy listening to Gospel music, the month of November has a LOT of it coming to our region.

It’s not too late to get signed up for the Dignity Hospice Southern Gospel Talent Contest. The winner of this particular event will sign a Nashville recording contract on the stage that night from Homeland Records, I am told. This particular event is Saturday, November 7, starting at 7 p.m. at the Coalfield Jamboree in Logan. The recording package includes 10 songs with live studio musicians, a Nashville photo shoot and a nationally-released single to charting radio stations all over the United States. So far, not many people have signed up this year, so that means your chances of winning are good. Homeland Records has recorded such artists as the Gaithers, the Cathedrals, the Oak Ridge Boys, The Singing Rambos and many others.

To sign up, visit www.YourDignity.org and click on the button that says, “CLICK HERE FOR SOUTHERN GOSPEL CONTEST” or call 304-855-4764.

And as the pitch man on television says, BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!!

The weekend of November 14 promises to be a good one for fans of traditional Gospel music as a trio of free concerts will be coming to the Logan and Man area.

These gospel sings in Logan and Man will feature “Land of the Sky Boys” with tenor Ernie Phillips and baritone Ray McKinney, formerly of “The Kingsmen,” from Asheville, N.C.

The first gospel sing will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14. starting at 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Logan.

The second gospel sing will be held at the Logan Nazarene Church on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. on November 15.

The third show will be at the First Baptist Church of Man at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Another event will take place that weekend in conjunction with the gospel music sing is a free old fashioned supper at the First Baptist Church of Logan on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. featuring brown beans, white beans, sauerkraut and wieners, fried potatoes, corn bread, tea, homemade lemonade and cookies.

Now, I know what you are thinking, nothing in life is free. But this event is free. Sort of. I spoke Bob Barker, who is putting these Gospel sings together, and he said the shows will be free, but an offering plate will be passed around to help meet expenses for those who wish to contribute.

“I will probably lose my shirt on this, but it’s not being done for money,” Bob told me recently when I visited his gift shop.

“We used to have a lot of gospel sings in the Logan area in the past,” he explained. “And a lot of people really enjoyed them and looked forward to them. It was just something we wanted to do again. Its free admission, but we will be passing around the collection plate for those who want to help out. We would like to see a good turnout for these gospel sings and hope the public will attend.”

Once again, it looks like the month of November will have a little something for everyone, especially Gospel music fans!