Great Engineer

For those of you in the NY area I'd like to recommend a great audio engineer/producer who I met last week. One of my students, Jason Stoltz was recording some songs at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and chose to work with Mario McNulty. Mario, who has already won a Grammy, was a very personable engineer while at the same time focused on getting good results. Fluent not only in Protools HD, The SSL console in the room, and a boat load of plug ins on their system, Mario was well versed in various musical styles and the elements that create a certain vibe or sound. I can't wait to hear the final mixes!

Sunday's Best

How do you qualify the effectiveness of a Gospel singer? Can you determine if someone has more of God's presence oozing from them as they sing then someone else does? Or is it a matter of having the "right" stylistic vocal manerisms?

I think that's a hard call. I remember in college one Saturday afternoon hearing someone sing in a way I will never forget. His tone was course. His countenance unassuming. His vocal agility was non-existent. But I became perfectly still as he sang. I experienced chills up and down my spine. He shared from an intimate place with such vulnerability that I still feel his song today although I couldn't tell you the melody or the words.

He wouldn't have made even the first cut of Sunday's Best, I'm sure but I believe his singing was powerful and meaningful in ways seldom heard on the radio today. I hope that somewhere in between the coaching on stage presence and vocal posturing the lesson is not lost that great Gospel singing is singing from a heart that feels the experience of the "Good News" of salvation. God can use that to bring others to Him. And we each can give that "Best" to God everytime we sing or speak for Him.

Amber Bulluck is one of the 3 finalists for next week's episode. She has an amazing voice and I wish her great success in her singing career. Till next time.

Back In The Saddle

Well it's been a tremendous time of growth over the past year and a half. I experienced things I never thought I would ever go through. On the bright side I think I write best when I'm writing out of my pain.

But now I'm focused with most of the storm behind me and ready to go forward in faith believing that God must have a reason for my existence and that somehow He still will get the glory from my life.

Have you felt that way too, like you wonder if you are useful anymore or that dreams will come true for you in the future? Be encouraged to know that a lot of amazing people slept in cars, lost their homes, overcame tragedy and illness to bring for a flower of beauty to the world through their God given gifts. It's never to late for God to perform a miracle.

P.S. Congrats, Lloyd Mallory on your journey to musical triumph...and thanks for helping me along the way.