Published: June 23, 2009 02:34 pm      

At Random: Gainesville is home to gospel music star

Mary Fay Jackson’s profile sheet reads like a rockstar’s, songwriter, recording artist, musician. Not to leave anything out, she is also a television producer, promoter and the host of the award-winning Texas Country Gospel television program that has been on the air more than 14 years. Jackson also travels a lot as the spokesperson for Gospel Music Television, a network her family bought six years ago.

Jackson definitely leads a busy and exciting life in the spotlight as well as behind-the-scenes.

Speaking of herself and her family Jackson said, “We just love it. We all want to sing. All the young generations coming up are singing, singing, singing.”

“We feel like it’s a ministry here,” said Jackson of her family’s and her work and life, as she sat in her office chair at the corporate headquarters of Gospel Music Television Network in downtown Gainesville.

“I was born to this,” said Jackson of her life and talents.

She remembers going up to the front of the church to sing when she was so young she was holding the hymn book upside down but singing away. Officially, she began singing and playing the piano and accordion in church when she was only six.

“I learned all the old hymns,” said Jackson. “Dad would get me and my sisters up in front at church revivals.”

She also got a lot of practice for the gospel world by gathering her friends to ‘play church’ while growing up. They would go around the block and she would lead them singing and playing the accordion. Then they would have to listen while she preached her sermon.

Jackson is the oldest of nine children born to Jimmy and Dorothy Fay Jones.

“They chose me to be the spokesperson from the family, to be up front,” said Jackson. “I was bashful.” Jackson said the people she grew up with would never think of her growing up to be a spokesperson, but she is.

Jackson said she has interviewed hundreds of people. “I just love getting up close and personal with people. I like to spot light other people.”

“I sing in a lot of cowboy churches,” said Jackson. “They are getting to be very popular.”

Jackson said the cowboy churches are more laid back, come as you are, boots and hats and jeans - a country flavor. Some have praise and worship. They usually have country style music and they usually have a sermon.

One of Jackson’s favorite original songs she wrote is “Roses.” Other favorites are “Live Every Day,” which she co-wrote with Mike Culpepper and “I’ll Be Your Pillow,” written by Connie “Aunt Connie” Perry.

Jackson was also called upon to write the theme song for Gainesville’s Depot Day, to commemorate the railroads and train depot.

Jackson said her own favorite music artists are B.J. Thomas, Karen Carpenter, Anne Murray, Glen Campbell and John Denver.

Her favorite gospel artists are Andrae Crouch, Dottie Rambo and Lannie Wolfe. She said these gospel artists were very instrumental in her wanting to write and sing.

Her favorite books are Joyce Meyer’s “Battlefield of the Mind,” and Joel Osteen’s “Your Best Life Now” and “Become a Better You.”

Jackson said Meyers and Osteen are also two of her favorite ministers.

Jackson said one highlight of her life is when she went to Israel with a small church group. “We sang for the Israeli soldiers outside of Jerusalem” said Jackson.

Another highlight is when she performed with her family group, “1 A Chord” in 1995 at the Grand Ole Opry. “The Grand Ole Opry” is so beautiful and so big,” said Jackson.

Jackson’s recordings include several CD’s as a solo artist and several with her family and friends.

The walls and shelves of the network office display the many awards Jackson has won as an individual artist, awards with her family’s gospel group “1 A Chord,” awards for the show she hosts and awards with her family for Gospel Music Television Network.

Among many other awards, “Texas Country Gospel” was awarded “Top TV Show of the Year” seven times from 1997-2006 by the International Country Gospel Music Association (ICGMA). Jackson’s song “Roses” charted #6 by the Country Gospel Music Guild and “In Spite of Myself” charted #2. Jackson has won many awards by the ICGMA, includes Songwriter of the Year 1997 and Duo of the Year 2003 with Mike Culpepper.

She comes from a family famous in the world of gospel.

“It’s encouraging to get an award,” said Jackson, “it’s like ‘keep up the good work.’”

Jackson could live in many other towns or cities, but said “she loves Gainesville.”

“The Jones family of Gainesville are carrying out seven generations of music,” said Jackson. In days past, many of the Jones’ sang and played live on KGAF radio, including Jack Jones, Tommy Jones, Katie Eberhart and Janie Shasteen of Cooke County. Jack Jones was Jackson’s grandfather.

“That’s our ministry, to sing through our songs,” said Jackson.

“’Texas Country Gospel’ is a one-hour show that airs all over the nation,” said Jackson. “It is positive family entertainment.” “Texas Country Gospel” airs on the GMT Network and on the world wide web at www.gmtn.info.

Jackson said she is working to have Gospel Music Television Network connected to the local Gainesville area through Suddenlink. Now, it can be viewed though Sky Angel and other channels. For more information about Gospel Music Television go to www.gmtn.info. Go to www.texascountrygospel.com to view the schedule for “Texas Country Gospel.”

For more information about Jackson, visit her website at maryfayjackson.net or e-mail her at maryfay@ntin.net.