I Love Music

At the close of 2008, my family and I went to Palm Springs, Ca for the Western Baptist State Convention’s Congress of Christian Education. My original plans were to relax but that didn’t happen. Tracy and I attended a class for pastor and wives on the ins/outs of managing ministry and family. This class was a blessing to both of us to hear the challenges of other pastors and their wives explain battles with teenage children, un-realistic expectations of church members for the pastor and his family, and so on.

I remember one pastor expressed his frustration with his wife (who wasn’t there) about music. He loves all kinds of music while she believes Christians should only listen to gospel music. The differences at that time created tension in their marriage and among the children. His position is he didn’t see anything wrong with listening to all kinds of music. So he asked our instructor for help in dealing with the issue. The instructor quickly pronounced his love for music, all kinds, because of his musical background. He possesses a Masters in Music and Arts. As well as, the church he pastors offers a Music and Arts educational ministry.

As I was driving home yesterday, for some reason the experience in Palm Springs, Ca began to re-play itself in my head. I’ll state my position upfront, I LOVE MUSIC OF ALL KINDS! I’m not sure if it’s because of genetics or what, I just know I love music.

Growing up, my uncle and his friends would hang out in his back house listening to music and playing dominoes. LPs were everywhere. I would be sitting right there with them as a little boy listening to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind, and Fire, The Jackson 5, Brothers Johnson, War, Stylistics, Chi-Lites, Four Tops, Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, Curtis Blow, Bobby Caldwell, Rufus and Chaka Khan, The Dramatics, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Teddy Pendergrass, Hall and Oats, Pieces of a Dream, The Supremes, Melba Moore, and so many others. I enjoyed those days and still to this day when I hear some of those songs it takes me back to my childhood. I LOVE MUSIC OF ALL KINDS!

I love Jazz music. My choice of music is jazz. Smooth, fusion, Latin, Big Band, and classical jazz. As often as I can, Tracy and I will go to a jazz concert. We’ve attended the Playboy Jazz Festival for the past 5 years. It’s a time for her and I to share quality time together as well as the outdoor atmosphere of the Hollywood Bowl is relaxing to us from the stress and strain of everyday life. I listen to 94.7 The Wave and 88.1 KJAZZ on a regular basis. At work 94.7 The Wave is played and on my drive home 88.1 KJAZZ because of the Latin Jazz segment. I enjoy Latin Jazz because of percussions, awesome. My favorite artists are Gerald Albright, Najee, Eric Darius, George Duke, Joe Sample, Fourplay, Hidden Beach All Stars, Chick Corea, Wayman Tisdale, Phyllis Hyman, Kenny G, Norman Brown, Paul Jackson Jr, Boney James, Chris Botti, and the list goes on and on and one.

I love Gospel music. I love the message in gospel music. I get a little concerned with some of the taglines in gospel music because it mis-interprets the clear teaching and principles of Scripture. Nevertheless, I love gospel music. I miss the choir sound in gospel music. The sounds of Milton Brunson and Thompson Community Singers, Mississippi Mass Choir, DFW, Edwin Hawkins – Music and Arts Seminar, Keith Pringle, James Cleveland and GMWA, LACC – Los Angeles Cathedral Choir, LA Mass Choir, Riverside Mass Choir and so many others. My favorite choirs currently are GLACC – Greater Los Angeles Cathedral Choir, GMWA Youth Choir, Voices of Fulfillment of San Diego, and LA Inner City Mass Choir. I love quartet groups. They have church with one song that can last for 30 minutes but who’s watching the lock. I know times have changed so praise teams, ensembles, and worship leaders are in now. But give me the choir sound. I love the many voices in harmonious structure, choir robes, hand clapping, rocking from side to side, and directors. I love gospel music.

I love R&B music. I’m not too crazy about much of the stuff that is played today because most of it is about sex, the mistreatment of women (and now men), and all other garbage that has no meaning at all in my opinion. What happened to good clean music that families could enjoy together at a picnic, family reunion or just sitting at the house? Nowadays, you have to watch what you play for fear of what words will be spoken in the song. I’m stuck in 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. I’m really stuck in the New Jack Swing era with Guy, Johnny Gill, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Teddy Riley, Club Nouveau, Keith Sweat, Wreckx-N-Effect, Janet Jackson, Babyface, TLC, BBD, Ralph Tresvant, Whitney Houston, Color Me Bad, Boys to Men, Brandy, etc. These were the days for dancing the centerpede, running man, pop-locking, gigolo, and of course, the electric slide. A party or family gathering wasn’t right without the electric slide. Now, it’s the cupid shuffle but you can’t get a way from the electric slide for it is the originator of dancing without a partner. OMG, the Cha-Cha, get back! If you haven’t noticed I love to dance too.

I’m not and have never been a fan of rap. If I hear it cool, if I don’t cool. I listen to some Country and Western. Rock-N-Roll no way. I like Latin music, Salsa and Kumbias.

I love music. What about you?