The world would be a different place without Gene Black. It’d be quieter, less friendly. Those who know him, who studied under him, who had him blend their voices into something special, can’t imagine what that’d be like. They can barely even accept that the esteemed former professor of music and dean of the school of music at Samford University in Birmingham is retired. Years later, they’re still throwing him parties and celebrating his accomplishments.
For his part, 75-year-old Black, a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, seems thankful for the recognition, if not a bit perplexed. “I mean, I’ve been retired several years,” he said.
But that didn’t stop Marty Estes, who sang in one of Black’s a cappella choirs while attending Samford in the ’70s, from coordinating the latest outpouring of affection: an a cappella choir reunion concert held in his honor at Samford Oct. 24–25.
Black first came to Samford (then Howard College) in the ’50s as a student. In 1965, he joined the faculty as an assistant conductor and assistant dean of the school of music. In 1967, he became the full conductor of the student choir. In 35 years in music education, he earned many degrees, held many titles and attained prestigious memberships, and today his reputation as a music coordinator — especially as conductor of Samford’s renowned A Cappella Choir — extends throughout the country and even the world.
“What year did I retire?” Black asked his wife, Faye, known affectionately as “Mama B” and just as popular among his former students.
“In 2000,” she replied.
“Yes, in 2000,” he said. “This whole thing was put together by Marty Estes. It got to be so big they finally had to tell me, but there were still a lot of things I didn’t know were going to happen.”
A video salute from friend and Chick-fil-A Chief Executive Officer Truett Cathy and proclamations from the governor were among some of those things.
“They put all this kind of thing together, and then they tied it in with music,” Black said. “It was really fantastic.”
Estes thinks so, too — and she’s not bragging on her event-coordinating skills. She was simply thrilled to be under Black’s baton “just one more time” as he served as guest conductor during a portion of the concert.
“On a personal level, I probably have more reason (than anyone) to say thank you to him,” said Estes, who after college, went on to a 25-year career in church and school musical production, a field she says few women then thought open to them.
“He was the one who helped me to discover a gift,” Estes added. “He not only trains you but makes you believe in yourself and gives you the confidence that you can use [that gift]. I think that’s what is so unique and special about the man.”
Bob Hatfield, longtime minister of music at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, agrees.
“Dr. Black had a very positive influence on my life as a student at Samford,” Hatfield said, calling him a role model for his choirs, as he held high a standard of excellence in music “with the purpose of offering our best to God. He took a personal interest in me, gave me wonderful opportunities to learn and encouraged me in my musical and spiritual journey.”
But then again, Hatfield noted he is just one of “literally hundreds” who could say the same thing.
Hatfield and Estes both rank Black as a giant in church music.
“Dr. Black’s influence upon church musicians across our state, nation and world is so great that it cannot be adequately measured,” Hatfield said.
Black said the secret to his success is simple: Do all unto God’s glory.
“My philosophy was and still is that with a group like Samford University, if we didn’t offer something that was distinctively different than what you could get at one of the state schools, if we weren’t singing to glorify God, then we didn’t have a reason to exist in our Christian faith and our Baptist heritage,” he said.
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