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I am in Nashville (Smyrna) @ The Playroom recording studio with producers Johnny Minick and Michael Sykes …and engineer JT…cutting vocals for The Prophets “comeback” CD. Yesterday I recorded my “part” on a unique gospel song that features our tenor, Mr Bill Baize . The song is a beautiful “prayer ballad” written especially for Bill by his daughter. I think SG fans will love this cut, done with remarkable “feel” with Bill’s signature “irish/gospel tenor” sound. Gospel fans that have been around a while will remember Bill’s special tone from his giant “Hit” with The Stamps Quartet: Andre Crouch’s incomparable “I Find No Fault In Him”…that was a song ahead of it’s time and Bill nailed it. Something tells me that TPQ will cover it in the not to distant future.

…well anyway, as I was saying, I recorded my part on Bill’s feature (with a lot of expert coaching)…THEN I laid down the “lead” on one of my own “original” BIG orchestrated ballads!
I wrote and arranged the basic layout of the tune. The full rythym and orch charts are arranged by the “musicians musician”, Mr Camp Kirkland. Our engineer JT, described Camp’s work perfectly when he matter of factly blurted out “sounds like a Movie score!”…to which I said “Amen”…Camp may be a little new to some SG fans, but he is one of the most prolific orchestrators in the Christian Music Industry. He has done tons of work for all the “big boys” in church music including PRISM, WORD and GAITHER Music.
…back to the song…the best thing about it is the subject: HEAVEN!
It’s a big, bold, beautiful description of Heaven from a little different perspective…it starts with soft and beautiful tones, moves to big sweeping expressions and ends as boldly as any SG tune on record…that’s right. I said it. Just consider that my biased opinion. I like the tune a lot. Our record company won’t let me give out the Title just yet.

Sometime ago I was awakened at 2am..with these lyrics running through my mind. I finally realized that I was receiving “inspiration” for a song. I got out of bed, grabbed a writing pad, sat down in the living room, and in silence penned the words in less than ten minutes…3 verses and the chorus…A GIFT…Then I went back to bed. Later that morning (at a more reasonable hour) I sat at my piano and set the lyric to music…What a priviledge now to record it with Ed Hill, Bill Baize and Mike Allen for The Prophets Quartet and River Bend Media…and with the symphonic sounds of Nashville’s world class players under the direction of Mr Camp Kirkland and the vocal coaching of Minick & Sykes! Amazing! To God Be the Glory!

No let up today, as I will record the “lead” on my personal favorite (of my tunes) this afternoon. This song I will name for you because it has already been recorded by one of the legends of our business, Mrs Vestal Goodman. Also Bill Gaither and Lari Goss used it in a project they produced for IMPACT Records and The Stone Brothers. It was also included in one of the greatest Choral compilations in history: PRISM Music’s phenomenal “Celebrate HIS Greatness”, produced, arranged and orchestrated by the genius, Mr Lari Goss with Executive Producer, Mr Jack Price…The song? “MERCY”
Vestal had planned to stage the song but never had the opportunity due to her abrupt passing. However, “Mercy” was still included on her “BEST EVER” CD. Thank you New Haven Records and Mr Rick Goodman. Vestal often told me how much she loved the song and how challenging it was to sing. My good friend Johnny Minick, presented “Mercy” to Vestal. She chose to do it. Johnny cut the track then brought in Goss to orchestrate Vestal’s version…

This afternoon, I will put my voice on a track arranged and orhestrated by Mr Goss himself. As I do, I will be thankful that God has brought my songs and me to this place…thankful to Jack Price of PRISM Music for all of his encouragement…thankful to Vestal and The Happy Goodmans…thankful to Johnny Minick and Ed Hill for the opportunity to sing with The Prophets…and MOST of all, thankful to a Holy and Gracious God that has given us MERCY!

I pray that I never lose the “gee whiz” of singing gospel music for our dear Savior!
MERCY MERCY!