Local duo's song hits No. 1 on Christian country charts

SIKESTON, Mo. -- In a week's time, a Sikeston songwriter and Wyatt, Mo., gospel music singer have created a Christian country song that's being played all over the U.S. and Canadian airwaves.

Written by Sandy Bloemer of Sikeston and sung by Mitch Pullen of Wyatt, "Daddy Was a Jesus Man," hit the No. 1 spot on the Christian Country music chart for Radioactive Airplay.com just four days after it was posted on Jan. 4. Radioactive Airplay is a website for radio DJs, program directors and others in the medium to download music for broadcast purposes.

"The Lord has been blessing. It's something we've wanted to do. You've just got to have faith," said Pullen, who has been singing with his siblings in the gospel group, The Pullen Family, for nearly 20 years.

Bloemer, who has had No. 1 songs on Radioactive Airplay before, said what sets "Daddy Was a Jesus Man" apart from the others is how fast it topped the charts.

"Most songs climb slowly," Bloemer said. "This song came in at No. 242. The next day it was 64, and the next day it was in 30s and then No. 1 -- all with four days. It's amazing."

A song moves up the chart ranks when a radio station downloads it or plays it, Bloemer said.

"Mitch is the sweetest person. He was over here the other night, and we pulled up the Radioactive Airplay site when the song was No. 242. He said: 'Wow!'" Bloemer said with a laugh. "He was excited it was No. 242."

The song was reviewed and played on stations across the United States and Canada. It's also receiving airplay on the country music station B97.9 based in Sikeston.

"Mitch and I are just spell bound. I always told Mitch: 'God works in surprises,'" Bloemer said. "This is a surprise, let me tell you."

Pullen doesn't have a record label, which makes the song's growing popularity even more unusual, Bloemer said.

"Mitch just recorded the song and thought he'd put it on there [Radioactive Airplay.com] and see how it did. It just took off," Bloemer said.

Pullen agreed.

" ... I'm amazed at how God has taken control of this song," Pullen said.

Even Charles Brady, CEO of Radioactive Airplay.com, is impressed. He told Pullen and Bloemer he's seen very few songs climb as fast in Radioactive Airplay as "Daddy Was a Jesus Man" has.

"Great songwriters need great artists that can deliver their message in a powerful and unique way that gets the attention of radio and ultimately listeners. Bloemer and Pullen have connected to form a team that is rocking the radio world and climbing the charts in record time," Brady wrote in an email to Bloemer. "Radio loves this talented and gifted team and they are certainly showing it. Anytime a song debuts on the charts at No. 1, it certainly gets my attention."

For Bloemer, the song has extra meaning because it's about her own father.

"My dad was my best friend in the world. I wouldn't have penned 300 songs if it hadn't been for my dad. He taught me the sound of piano, guitar and the fiddle. So many songs are written about mamas whom we love as well, but little are written about our dads," Bloemer said.

She said her dad taught her about Jesus by the way her father lived his own life.

"As the song says, 'he never wore a diamond on his hand. We had a Bible we lived by and plenty of food on our table. We were rich in blessings,'" she said.

Listeners may also be connecting with the song because it is a true story and it's touching their hearts, Bloemer said.

Another song written by Bloemer and sung by Pullen, "The King," is currently No. 5 on the Southern Gospel charts of Radioactive Airplay.com and is also spreading to more and more stations, according to the Radioactive Airways CEO.

"I would like to see it go as far as the Lord will allow it to go, of course," Pullen said.

Over the years Pullen and his siblings sang in area churches and performed during the annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon in Sikeston.

"During all this time, we got to know Sandy, and she's written numerous songs. She's a great songwriter actually and has been approached by several people in the music industry. Fortunately, this 'Daddy Was a Jesus Man' was one of her songs, and I could record it," Pullen said.

When his brother, Marty, died this past September, the family group slowed down its performances, and Pullen decided to record his first CD.

"My wife encouraged me to do a CD, and I felt like this was the time if I was going to do it, and the Lord has blessed," Pullen said.

His CD was made in memory of his brother, Pullen said. "He's greatly missed. That's for sure," Pullen said of his brother who died of cancer at age 53.

The local musicians said they know their "Jesus men" -- Bloemer's late father and Pullen's late brother -- would be especially proud of them.

"He would just rejoice if he knew what this song was doing, and it's all about him," Bloemer said of her father.

Pullen said he's thankful for his brother, Marty, pushing their family to get their music group started in the first place.

"If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be doing this," said Pullen, who also works in construction, is a Sunday school teacher and mayor of Wyatt.

In the meantime, Bloemer and Pullen are enjoying their song reaching more and more people every day.

"We're also so proud that it's a country song, and we were able to get the name of Jesus into the song," Bloemer said. "We're hoping that it will make daddies be more of a 'Jesus man.' That ripples on down to their children, and we just have a better world."

The song is also available for purchase on iTunes. Pullen's CD is available for purchase through "The Pullen Family" Facebook page and also at Paul's Christian Bookstore in Sikeston.

leonnah@standard-democrat.com