Talented guy - Corey Vidal - John Williams Tribute

I really don't know how Corey did this....but it is a beautiful, hilarious, amazing thing to behold
I'm not sure how long this will last due to copyrights...but enjoy it while you can

If Corporations Took Over Our Churches

OKAY.....I've never heard of this guy....
Tim Hawkins...

but we need more people like him.
FRESH...FUNNY....RELATABLE



Thanks Nathan for sharing this with me.....I love it

For the Worship Band

Okay............... this is great stuff about how to play in a worship band and what to look for, how to listen, what to listen for, click tracks, etc.....

All of you guys and gals that are in a worship band.......please take some time and watch these clips


http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2008/06/church-band-seminar-round-up.html


You get a whole seminar session with this blog...........excellent!!

Peek into Nashville Recording Studio

I found this on YOU TUBE...... its a peek into what happens in a recording studio for your singers. These singers are the very best. Lisa Cochran is the soprano (hair up) ..... she's one of my all-time favs........ this recording is for Travis Cottrell's upcoming Christmas CD. Brown Bannister is Producing.

Major Week of Sadness

I took the fam away the last two days for some wonderful time together. Away from computer, blogs, and even phone (although the latter was not by choice....it just so happens I jumped into the swimming pool with my cell phone in my pocket...yes it died)......

So many things happened the last few days:

• Little David Archuleta lost......to my surprise and, honestly, joy. I thought the little teeny boppers were gonna rule the phone and text lines voting for the tyke........but D.C. won out.
  

• John McCain rejected both John Hagee and Rod Parsley's endorsements.......... the scary thing about this for me is not only how politicians are so fickle when it comes to "who" is supporting them and what those endorsers can bring (as far as votes); but I am seeing how the church is hiding behind the political correctness that is destroying the whole belief system......I mean all Christians (or those who live by the Word of God) should believe what Hagee and Parsley are preaching but where are the Joel Osteens and Rick Warrens..........they are hiding folks.....or just trying to stay out of the fray.... but isn't that the same thing?

• Dottie Rambo's funeral services were this week. It sounds like it was an incredible service. You can go to this website for pictures and an Order of Service. http://www.gospelmusicupdate.com/news2007/dottietn.shtm

• And, finally, Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old adoptive child, Maria's funeral services were held today. In case you hadn't heard, Maria was accidentally struck by an SUV one of her brothers were driving this week. She died at the hospital later.
  

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/TUNEIN/805230396/1838/TUNEIN03

I can't imagine this happening.....yet it does everyday.
Life is so precious and so fleeting.

How will we live it the fullest and most promising?

Battle of the Davids

David is my favorite name.

Maybe its because:

• my dad's name is David;
• my middle name is David;
  
• if God blesses Angie and I with a boy - his name will be David Tyler

or:

• Except for Jesus, King David is my favorite figure in the Bible
  
• My college piano teacher's name was David
• Michaelangelo's DAVID is the greatest human figure sculpture ever made

or maybe its because:

• the name conjures up "underdog" and "king" all at the same time
• the name means "beloved"
• it simply looks symmetric with its two "d's" next to a vowel, with a spread "v" in the middle

Whatever it is, I love the name.

Tonight marks the first "Battle of the Davids" that I know of......and its on American Idol.

I believe David Archuleta will win due to his unbelievable(and extremely young) fan base. David Cook is more well-seasoned and is far more original; however, I feel if Cook were to win, it would hinder him in sales and acclaim.

David Cook is labeled a "rocker", but if he wins Idol, he will not be taken as serious in the Rock world. The lesson learned by DAUGHTREY (former Idol contestant who placed 4th in 2006) is you don't have to win ( and, in fact maybe better you don't win) to be a major success. Daughtry is the highest selling rock act today...with over 4 million CD's sold to date.

No matter what, both David's will be a major success and I will enjoy seeing what they do next.

Dottie is "Beholding" Right Now

One of the all-time great songwriters was killed on her tour bus this past Saturday. DOTTIE RAMBO and 7 others on her ministry team were traveling from Missouri to Texas in the middle of the night, when violent storms and wind knocked the bus into an embankment.

She will be greatly missed. Dottie is one of the ones I wish I could've met and worked with. She had written over 2500 songs many of which have been recorded by singers such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, and Porter Wagoner, as well as nearly every gospel singer. Her music crossed all genres of music. From southern gospel through contemporary by artists from dc Talk to Lulu Roman.

Songs she will be remembered for are:

• He Looked Beyond My Fault (and Saw My Need)
• I Go to the Rock
• Behold the Lamb
• I Will Glory in the Cross
• His Name is a Strong Tower
• If That Isn't Love

AND HER MOST HONORED...........We Shall Behold Him.

We Shall Behold Him launched the career of our most treasured Christian Female singer, Sandi Patty. Sandi wrote in her blog about Dottie's passing this past week. I will leave this blog with Sandi's thoughts, as well as a wonderful performance of that once-in-a-lifetime song. Sandi singing with Dottie looking on......powerful

HEART FELT THOUGHTS ABOUT DOTTIE RAMBO

May 14, 2008

I was stunned with the news a couple of days ago that Dottie Rambo had passed away. She was on a tour bus and there was a crash and well…she didn't survive. What tragic news—you never know what a day can bring. I get on those tour busses all the time and you just never think about them crashing. But, alas, they do.

I was also thinking about being sad because Dottie had died, and then the most humorous image came to my mind of Dottie standing next to the Lord and saying to me, "Sandi, are you kidding me? This is what I have waited for all my life. I am beholding Him right now. Don't be sad for me—rejoice with me." I could just picture Dottie and Vestel Goodman teaching God how to write and sing a really good song. And then teaching God how to sing in the Bill Gaither homecoming choir.

I got the biggest smile on my face as I pictured Dottie saying to the Lord, "you are the one about whom I wrote all my songs".

When I recorded "We Shall Behold Him", I will never forget meeting Dottie for the first time and her kind words to me. She thanked me for "taking her baby and dressing her up so pretty." An artist can never have a better compliment than for the writer to be pleased.

Her "home-going " service will be this coming Monday, May 18 in Nashville, TN. It will be quite a celebration and I have the honor of singing one of her songs for it.

I will miss Dottie, the world will miss Dottie, but Dottie is truly in Heaven and she is Beholding, face to face, our Savior and Lord.

Star Wars Trumpet Solo - Beauty Pageant

I have no words for this....you just have to watch!!!

How You Live (Point of Grace) - video

Here is the song that POG won a dove for this past week.
You can hear the country influence.
I love to see the family members of the group in this video.
Enjoy

2008 Dove Award winners

For those that couldn't see the Dove's last night......here are the winners:

http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/news/insider/39th-annual-gma-dove-awards-recap


A big shout out to my "girls" Point of Grace. They won for Country Song of the Year, How You Live. It's exciting to see God's hand moving them into a whole new market after so many years in the business. Kudos to you ladies!!!!!!

Kelly Clarkson sings Ave Maria

YOU'LL LOVE THIS....IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT.

One of this generations greatest voices.....I've never heard this song sound this good (excusing the first 30 seconds and the ending {ppeeeeeuuuu}

My Friend, Tiffany

One of my greatest musical inspirations is
Tiffany Coburn.
She is my muse. I love to write for her and her God-Given voice.
Here is a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, I arranged for her.








Voices of Liberty singing SIMPLE GIFTS






This is a wonderful version of SUMMERTIME.
Tiff shows her high range....so wonderful; Especially the recapitulation







Voices of Liberty (full set)
If you've never had the chance to hear the Voices of Liberty in the Rotunda of EPCOT in Orlando....here's your chance.......... you can see how they are considered one of the best vocal groups of the world.
ENJOY!!!!





Thank you Tiffany for continuing to inspire....
and may this year bring you much harvest.

Tiffany Coburn with Marie Osmond

Joy in the Journey

So tonight is my weekly choir rehearsal and I gotta tell you, I love the rehearsal process. No matter what I am working on, the rehearsals show you what is inside of you and (if you are in charge of a group) your people........... How far do you want to go?......... How good do you really want to be?........... All of it, you find in the rehearsal process.

The performance is the reward.....but the rehearsal builds you,
molds you, creates you.

Never dismiss the times you gotta practice....I mean, greatness is not gonna come by osmosis. God is not gonna feel sorry for you and just let you be a success without the sowing. Its against His nature. Sure, He gives special blessings on some.....but those people still MUST work for it.

At the same time, enjoy YOUR JOURNEY.........don't compare yourself or your walk with anyone else's. You are finding out things about yourself which will create the person/ performer/teacher you will become.

No matter your age, accomplishments, experience, there is Joy in the Journey to be found ...........embrace it

SHOUT IT OUT!!!!!!

First with Dolly singing Jesus and Gravity last week....and now this. I do believe someone at the idol has recently accepted Jesus as their personal savior.

Idols Give a SHOUT TO THE LORD

Can our land be healed?

If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

This passage of scripture has always inspired, uplifted, encouraged and strengthened me; but, in a way, it has confounded, confused, befuddled & bemused me.

I guess because, yes, it is SO obvious....God says, "...If you do this; then I will do this..." [par.]. There should be no confusion...its there in black and white..... right? But, why has it not come to pass? I mean, this was spoken to Solomon backed in whatever-thousandth BC; HAS ANYONE LISTENED?? And if they have listened and obeyed, has God healed the land?

Some people use it for REVIVAL messages; some use it for MISSION sermons; Some use it to condemn while others use it to fortify their surroundings. Does it mean all of those things?

I guess I look at it as our "land" is pretty messed up - obviously heading for the ultimate doom and gloom apocalyptic disaster in the very near future......so our land isn't healed, is it?

But I KNOW, there have been people to pray, turn from their wicked ways, and sought God... does that mean that THEIR lands are healed....or does there need to be a majority?

I know that a great musical from the 70's was inspirely written about it, IF MY PEOPLE;

and more recently, a song from New Life Church, HEAR US FROM
HEAVEN, it has been sung in churches from coast to coast; giving the church a new dose of this powerful prophetical passage.

Does it matter?

Maybe our (geographical) land is too far gone; but our (personal) land can still be saved.
This passage provokes me to continually humble myself and seek God in all things.....maybe the "healed" land is the heavenly land......I don't know

Maybe it was just for Solomon?..........nah.....it's for me too

"I got Jesus...you got Simon"

Ok..... so has someone in the upper power echelon of American Idol recently received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior?

This week was so much Jesus-themed without the usual backlash from the judges. (Remember Mandisa being called "overly indulgent" for singing Shackles back in 2006?)

I mean, don't get me wrong..... I LOVE IT. This week was awesome. Thanks all to Dolly Parton. Her songs are making an impact in the popular culture of music....what a thing to see.

From Jason Castro's "Travelin' Thru" -

Questions I have many, answers but a few
But we're here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
We've all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
And when I'm born again, you're gonna see a change in me

God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
Oh sweet Jesus if you're listening, keep me ever close to you
As I'm stumblin', tumblin', wonderin', as I'm travelin' thru

To "little" David Archuleta's endearing version of "Smoky Mountain Memories" -

Oh and these northern nights they're dreary
And my southern eyes are teary
As I wonder how the old folks are back home
But I'll keep leanin' on my Jesus
He'll love and guide and lead us
The Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong

To Dolly's own performance of "Jesus & Gravity" on last night's results show ( if anybody needed any proof of her faith; they should've been satisfied by her musical testimony last night)

Somethin' lifting me up
Somethin' holding me down
Somethin' to give me wings and
Somethin' to keep my feet on the ground
I've got all i need, Jesus and gravity

He's my friend
He's my light
He's my wings
Jesus, I've got Jesus, I've got Jesus
He's my everything
He lifts me up
He gives me wings
He gives me hope
and He gives me strength
and that's all I'll ever need

As long as He keeps lifting me up
He is my life
He is my God
He is my wings
He is my flight
Lift me, I've got Jesus, I've got Jesus
and that's all I need

Top it all off with the Clark Brother's rendition of "This Little Light of Mine/ Jesus on the Mainline" (including the verses "Won't let Satan blow it out" and "if you need a healing") - and we've got a little Holy Ghost Revival on the Idol.

Of course, it all was topped off by the great line of Dolly Parton's when Ryan Seacrest was asking if Simon Cowell could still have his free pass to Dollywood ( even though he exposed some contrasting opinions with Dolly on the subject of song choice with some contestants). Being gracious, Dolly said that Simon could still have the pass anytime..... and that he was a special man...... so when Ryan asked if she was mad or upset with Simon, Dolly gave the line of the night, " Oh that's okay. I've got Jesus....you've got Simon". To which Ryan replied, "Well, we got the raw end of that stick"

Movies that sing

"Listen….can you hear it?........The music…. I can hear it everywhere: in the wind; in the air; in the light. It’s all around us All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do is… listen."

"Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you; but I believe in music, the way that some people believe in fairy tales."

- August Rush
_________________________________________________________________________________

Ok..... so YES..... you can predict where this movie is headed from the the first 5 minutes of this film; the premise is hard-fetched; the sentiment is mighty; however, this movie beats the snot out of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ( the critically acclaimed movie of the year - and Best Picture for 2008 Academy Awards)

For the musician or just the lover of music, you can not pass the opportunity to watch August Rush (now available on DVD). The songs are good; the arrangements are stellar mixing rock & classical together. It's the emotion of music....the sappy stuff......the stuff most people who are not musicians are too afraid of. It was, my opinion, the best movie of 2007.....next to Ratatouille.

Every once and awhile, a movie will come along and challenge your own dreams and beliefs. August Rush is the latest among other music-oriented offerings to make one forget about the failures and concentrate on the dreams again. The last movie to have this kind of impact was 1995's Mr. Hollands Opus.

Now, certainly, there have been many movies about music or musicians; biographies and historical dramas that have entertained and even inspired. Check these out (notice: not all are family oriented)

La Vie en Rose (2007) -
the story of Edith Piaf , French singing sensation

Ray (2004) - the story of Ray Charles

Walk the Line (2005) -
the story of Johnny and June Cash

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)-
the story of Loretta Lynn

Bird (1988)- the story of Charlie (Bird) Parker
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)- the story of Billie Holiday
Shine (1996) - the story of pianist David Helfgott

and last, but not least........


Amadeus (1983) -
the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart