THE BRIAN MASON SHOW (End of an Era...Beginning of a Destiny)

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Lovers of Contemporary Christian Music.

I became a believer in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ in the fall of 1970. At that time I was a young man...in a band called THE BLIND DISTORTION...and music was my life and passion. When I became a follower of Jesus...I thought my love for music was over. I quit the band, burned my albums, and went away to Bible School. Little did I know that there were rumblings across the world of the Jesus Movement...with what was filled with people known as Jesus Freaks...playing Jesus music (not to be called CCM until later).

Once I heard music...that was not limited to organ and off key singing... (I have since come to love the music of the church...and it ain't as off key as I once thought)...I was excited. I could pick up my guitar again...and rock about The Rock.

Back in 1970...there was no Christian Radio...no venue to listen to this music called Jesus music. Then I found various syndicated shows that were broadcast around the nation... but sometimes it was hard to find them. Shows like MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE with Paul Baker...JESUS SOLID ROCK with Jerry Bryant...THE ROCK THAT DOESN'T ROLL (can't remember this guys name)...THE SCOTT ROSS SHOW (Scott Ross)...THE LARRY BLACK SHOW (Larry Black taking Scott Ross' place). I remember tuning in my radio dial...trying to find these various shows...but the static...at times...presented a problem...but my hunger for this type of music helped me to endure the static...just to hear this style of music and the D.J. patter.


Then in 1980...there was a major breakthrough in NASHVILLE TN. On May 4th, 1980...on WSM-FM radio... a new show was premiered...that was (1) local (2) no static. THE BRIAN MASON SHOW was born...playing music about being born again. It started out as a 30 minute show...but expanded...by popular demand to 1 hour.

Since 1980...there has been 1500 plus shows...and I have listened to the majority of them.

In February 1983 WSM had a format change...and Brian was off...and back on again at WLAC... where he stayed for 15 years...and then another format change in 1998...Brian landed at MIX 92.9. The show has gone from the early days of 30 minutes to now where Brian is on from 6:00 to 10:00. Over the years...Brian has been on radio, TV (who can forget watching Christian music videos with Brian)...emceeing various shows...shared a dressing room with Andy Griffith, gave Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, Mary) and toy hammer...and has been pivotal in many new artists...becoming major artists. The beauty of THE BRIAN MASON SHOW...is music, interviews, access to the people we love to listen to, putting a human face on the voices that we hear.

I have had the honor of meeting Brian...having lunch with him occasionally...and counting him as a friend. Oh we are not best buddies...but I do fell a kinship with Brian in his love for Jesus...CCM...and of course Phil Keaggy. Brian's music, interviews, laughter, have been a source of encouragement for me in times of troubles, despair, good times, bad times...and has always reminded me of the reason for the music and the reason for living.

Well...on June 26th, 2011...the last BRIAN MASON SHOW will be broadcast...as Brian will be retiring the show. I say retiring the show...because Brian is not retiring from life. This is merely the transition from what God had him do for the past 31 years...to the next phase of whatever it is that God has for him.

This is BITTERSWEET for me (and of course...it is all about me). I am rejoicing at the next step in Brian's journey...BUT...what am I going to do on Sunday Mornings. I guess I could read the Bible...pray...which I do while I am listening to Brian...BUT...who can I blame now for being late to Sunday School...as I sit out in my car...listening to the interviews...or trying to win a CD by being the 6 or 7th caller?

These last two shows of course will be good...with June 19th show with Phil Keaggy (and who knows who else)...and the final show...with Gary Chapman...who was the first guest on the show many years ago.

When a T.V. show comes to an end...they either abruptly end it with all the lose ends dangling... or they wrap it up...tying up all the lose ends. Well...we will be able to tie up a few loose ends on June 26th...the LAST SHOW. A few of Brian's friends will be having a Goodbye Celebration and Reception on June 26, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at Woodmont Hills Church at 3710 Franklin Road in Nashville, TN 37204. I will be there...and hope to meet other Brian Mason friends there also.

Well...I would say good-bye Brian...BUT...I don't plan to not see Brian any longer. We will have lunch...we will bump into each other at concerts...we will talk on the telephone.

Be sure to check out the BRIAN MASON SHOW website at http://www.brianmason.com/


Brian Mason...if you are reading this Ruminator Rambling...I love and appreciate you.

Love and Contemporary Music Kisses
Rodney "Bittersweet" Boyd