Unsung

"The main thing is to seek as much education as you can get"
-Donny Hathaway

I'm watching a marathon of the series, 'Unsung' on TV One. A series about the lives of under recognized Black recording artists like Phyllis Hyman, Stacy Lattisaw, Billy Preston and one of my favorites, Donny Hathaway. Two things struck me about the stories: First, the old recording industry ate artists alive. So many had their finances wrecked by corrupt labels, managers and promoters. The rigors and pressures of the industry drove many of them to self destructive lifestyles, including drug and alcohol abuse.

The second thing that jumps out at me is how many of the artists suffered with mental illness. Depression was a common theme in so many of the artists' stories. Some even suffered from psychosis. Too many died too early from substance abuse and suicide. Hits close to home. I used to feel bad about the fact that my music career has taken so long to develop. I realize now that I was, to borrow a verse from Psalms 91, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. While I have had my own struggles with depression, I see that my blessings were held back for a time such as this.

We live in a time where the stranglehold that record labels have held over the music industry for a century is loosening. Today's recording artists have much more say over the direction of their careers. No longer is a record deal the holy grail for an artist. Many like me are happy doing what we do as independent artists, even if we have to 'keep the day job'. It may be harder to become a star, but making at least a partial living at music is more doable than ever. We're living life, and experiencing our art on our own terms. I think that makes for a richer experience for the listener. This will certainly not be the end of tragic stories of talented artists making an early exit from the stage of life, but the game has definitely changed, in favor of the ones who make the music.

True spirituality: Held Hostage by the American Dream

My wife shared a story with me today that she heard at a presentation by psychologist and author Jeffrey Rubin. A certain zen master was robbed in his home. Since his possessions were few he removed all his clothes, and gave them to the robber. As the thief departed, the zen master noticed the beautiful full moon that was in the sky, and that the robber couldn't enjoy or even notice it, because he was consumed with his ill gotten game.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. -Luke 6:30 NIV

The greatest obstacle to a Believer's growth in Christ in America is America itself. This is an arrogant, self absorbed, materialistic culture. As if that weren't bad enough, we have created a bastardized, counterfeit ME-ology that celebrates rampant materialism and retched excess, in marked contrast to the teachings of the Gospel.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? -Mat. 6:26

I do not believe one must take a vow of poverty to be an authentic Believer. But how many of us in America who claim Christ would be able to detatch ourselves from posessions as the zen master in the story did? As Jesus taught us? We are faced with a choice in this country: do we at last put Jesus on the throne of headship of our lives, or do we continue to submit ourselves to the sweet siren song of the false gospel of materialism and excess, and pay the mental, emotional and spiritual price?

31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Mat. 6:31-33 NIV

As hard as these days are, it's an opportunity to turn away from the false gospel of 'prosperity' (read: materialism and retched excess) and back to the true spirituality of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. The church has so cluttered the message and meaning of Jesus with so much self-serving idolatry and sensationalism that it's driven many to look to other belief systems for spiritual fulfillment, when it's all right here in the Word! So many (myself included) have compromised themselves, shortchanged their callings, driven themselves into poor emotional and physical health, even death. All for that ellusive 'American Dream'.

"...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:25 NIV

Hi. My name is Todd. And I'm an American dreamer. And I'm trying to wake up.

Showing Up

I got in an interesting conversation on air with a radio host during an interview this week. I went off on one of my tangents about how 'Black' Gospel music is getting watered down, and while everyone coming together is great, American society hasn't come so far along that we can discard those elements of our culture which helped us survive unspeakable oppression. (look for a more in depth discussion of this topic in a future post) Anyway, she agreed and went on to observe that while fifty years ago people people were being gunned down in the streets like dogs just for the right to exercise their right to vote, today many of us don't even bother, because we believe our vote doesn't matter. Then we complain about what the almighty they are doing to us.

The point is, that if you don't at least make an attempt to show up and advocate for your interests, no matter how corrupt the mechanism, you shouldn't really be surprised when things don't go your way. This is true in politics, and it's true in the Gospel music industry. Last week I was the first recipient of the Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year.

I was the only nominee in the category.

In my acceptance speech, I voiced my hope that there are 5 or 6 solid nominees next year. Because if there aren't, we will eventually see the same scenario we've witnessed before: Another industry award will eliminate the instrumental category for a lack of 'qualified applicants'. The Dove awards eliminated its instrumental category in 2009. The Stellar Awards chose not to give out an instrumental award this year.

The irony is, that instrumental praise music is on the upswing, largely spurred on by airplay from a host of Internet broadcasters. Now Gospel Jazz programs are popping up on terrestrial radio across the country. I'm getting more calls from churches that want to incorporate instrumental praise into programs and events. I was in my local FYE last week, and the number one selling Jazz title in the store was the latest project from Christian saxophonist Jeff Sparks.

Yet and still, the 'industry' continues to act like we don't exist. And we aid and abet this neglect by refusing to even submit our projects for recognition by the awards. If they even have a category for us in the first place. There's a growing award in Atlanta that has no instrumental category. I reached out to them to find out why. No response to date.

Paraphrasing from my acceptance speech again: NO; statues, plaques and recognition aren't why we do what we do. And YES; i recognize that there are serious misgivings with the way some of the awards are run. Despite all that, if the exposure of our individual and collective effort exposes our ministries to someone who would not have heard us otherwise, it's worth it. There are people all around the globe who will not, cannot receive 'Gospel' music in its more familiar vocal form. But they may receive instrumental music. 

There's tremendous potential for healing and deliverance in this music. I often tell people that showing up is 90% of my job, and by the power of the Holy Spirit something happens through the music that far exceeds whatever skill, knowledge talent or ability I bring to the table. Despite frustrations, financial hardships, snubs, 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune', I keep showing up. I hope my brother and sister instrumental psalmists will adopt that same mindset. And regardless of what the industry does, I pray the listeners who enjoy the music will continue to support us, because we can't do it without you.

The Grammys

I'm still feelin good about Kirk Whalum's Grammy nod last Sunday. I'm in a question asking mood, so do you think Kirk's Grammy will lead to greater exposure for Gospel Jazz, or will the attention be wiped out by the question falling off the lips of seemingly everyone in Gospel: "Who is Patty Griffin?" Not to mention all the Bieber heads hating on Esperanza Spalding.

BTW- Kirk is also up for a Dove Award in the Contemporary Gospel Album category. Let's see if lightning strikes again for Kirk.

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The More things Change...

I've been doing a lot of research online about 'The New Music Business'. That's a popular term for the shift in the recording industry from major labels to independent labels and artists, spurred on by the Internet, and low-cost digital recording technology. Blogs, websites, podcasts and e-letters assure independent artists that we can be successful with a do-it-yourself approach, and the labels are little more than irrelevant anachronisms collapsing under the weight of their own excess.



I share that view, and I'm excited that the playing field is leveling, with the balance of control tipping toward the artist, after a century of exploitation by the Industry. This especially benefits 'niche' artists like me. But as I read, I'm finding that as good as some of the information is, most of it is geared to one type of artist. Case in point: I've read several places that advise musicians not to manufacture CD's because they're not necessary. That may be true if your audience consists of 19 year old college students. My average supporter is African-American, female, 35-44, church going, college educated. And they're still buying CD's, ya'll! Many of them have collections going back to Anita Baker that they still cherish.



Makes me wonder how much of this stuff really applies to me? Will the new music industry treat my people any better than the old one did? I like Facebook, Twitter (and blogging) as much as anyone, but I also know that my listeners need relationship. (exchanging streams of consciousness in 140 characters or less is not a relationship.) Music is still about an artist connecting with an audience through the music. And when your music is all about honoring God, and service, that takes it to another level. Unfortunately gospel music got a little beside itself, and started holding concerts in arenas (with arena type ticket prices to match), and turned away from the intimacy of the church.



The "Father of Gospel" Thomas A. Dorsey got it right 80 years ago. He had a business model and a blueprint for music ministry that I want to learn more about. He went from church to church, around the country, holding concerts of his music sung by artists like Mahalia Jackson and Sallie Martin. He charged a nominal admission (if any) and sold sheet music for the choirs to learn. As a result, his music, once rejected by mainline churches became popular, and Dorsey's enterprise grew to a very successful music publishing concern.



The economy has created a tremendous opportunity to replicate that model, 21st century style. What if we went from church to church, city to city, up close and personal, low admission (or even free!). Now that's what's up! I'm glad you're reading my blog. I enjoy tweeting with you. But I hope the ultimate outcome of all of that is...we'll see each other face to face.