On Becoming A Great Songwriter

Who do you believe?

2012-01-16T20:40:00.001-08:00

If you believed that your success was guaranteed what would you do? Would you work on a dream that you've been putting off? Would you overcome the urge to quit when obstacles get in your way?

I choose to believe what God says about me. I'm more than a conqueror. I'm receiving because I believe enough to ask and seek. I know the plans He has for me. Plans to prosper me and give me a hope and a future.

So despite extreme financial set backs I'm stepping out in faith to follow the dream He's set in my heart. And I will succeed.

Great Engineer

2011-08-24T15:28:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Debut of David Griffiths, 6 year old from Silver Spring MD

2011-03-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

Invitation to sing

2010-10-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

World Orphans Concerts Starting October 30

2010-10-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

An Evening To Remember

2009-01-18T20:47:00.000-08:00

Pictured above are Monique, myself, and a lovely poet named Novella Smith at Metro SDA Church, Hyattsville, MD

I'm amazed how God blesses the little things. My wife agreed to sing on a concert that was being put on as a fundraiser for a youth group who wanted to attended a national convention(Pathfinder Camporee). She did it as a favor for a friend. When we got there there was hardly anyone there.

But as the music began each item was simple and unassuming yet good. There was some steel pan playing followed by a nice dance and then a wonderful violin solo--Thais' Meditation. Then my lovely wife proceeded to sing a simple familiar song--"To God Be The Glory" or otherwise called "My Tribute" by Andrae Crouch. The Holy Spirit used her mightily. The church asked for a second selection so she did a duet with me, "Peace In The Valley."

Then there was offering and preparation for the next group to come up...a choir from Atlanta-New Creation. A friend from college whose 1st Album I played for was the director. I hadn't seen him in 25 years. During offering he came over and expressed how blown away he was by my wife and my ministry. He said the program made him sense God's presence.

His choir was the most amazing choir I've heard this year. Their blend was flawless...really I don't hand out compliments like that lightly.

Following that we had a wonderful poem and an innovative arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" by Nervella.

Sometimes it's the event hardly anyone shows up to that God blesses the most.

My prayer is, "God, help me not to despise little things"

Amen

Little D on the drums

2009-01-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here's my 4 year old stretching out at rehearsal last night. He's pretty amazing for no lessons!

dcg

2008-12-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

It occured to me that many of you might want to know some of the projects that I have worked on. As an engineer, producer, writer, or artist here are some of the projects that I've been a part of.

2008-12-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

The 11th Hour

2008-09-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Why does it seem that just when you think you can't go any further help comes? Or why does it seem that prayers are answered at the last possible moment?

I was watching a piece on the 35 year history of the Trinity Broadcast Network. As they were in their beginnings they needed a $100,000 escrow deposit to keep going. The banks in Southern California closed at 3pm at that time. They had raised $65,000 but it was 2:30pm and it looked like on this last day that they could give the money that the station would be destroyed. A man of another faith then Paul and Jan Crouch the founders of TBN came and gave a check of exactly $35,000 and Paul ran over to the bank and got it deposited just in time.

Well, I don't know why it's that way but over and over I've seen this pattern. So I acknowledge I'm at the 11th hour waiting on my midnight breakthrough.

Anybody else there, too?

dg

My Redeemer

2008-09-09T17:48:00.001-07:00

I promised that you would have a chance to help me pick the songs for my next album so here's your chance. I am posting videos of me singing some of he songs I'm thinking of recording. After you watch and listen to the song please click the comments button and follow the instructions. How did the song make you feel? Is it a good choice for me to sing or would someone else be better suited to the style or flavor of the song?

Please let me know.

Many songs have been hits in the CCM(Contemporary Christian Music) community without the majority of those who listen to urban gospel ever hearing of them. There are several songs that fall into this category that I'll be bringing to the table of consideration. This one is by Steven Curtis Chapman. I added an insertion from Chris Willis' version of "Stand."

I await your thoughts.

Have a good night.

Love

dg

Do you write how you feel?

2008-09-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

I wonder if any other songwriters who write Gospel songs have this issue. You feel a certain way and you want to write about how you are feeling. On the other hand you have a belief set that says that your faith is suppose to overcome the emotions that you are feeling and then your change or blessing will occur. But haven't you just wanted to write a song about how you feel?

Joan Osborne's recording of a song that asks many questions about God in a totally undefined and open way gives me a bit of envy. That song says:

heyyyy ayyyy ayyyy
If god had a name?
what would it be?
and would you call it to his face?
if you were faced with him and all his glory
what would you ask if you had just one question?

an yeah yeah god is great
yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
what if god was one of us
just a slob like one of us
just a stranger on a bus
tryin to make his way home

if god had a face
what would it look like?
and would you wanna see?
if seeing ment you would have to belive
in things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

an yeah yeah god is great
yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
what if god was one of us
just a slob like one of us
just a stranger on a bus
tryin to make his way home
trying to make his way home
back up to heaven all alone
no body calling on the phone

except maybe the pope maybe in rome

yeah ohhh ohhh ohhh

an yeah yeah god is great
yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
what if god was one of us
just a slob like one of us
just a stranger on a bus
tryin to make his way home
just tryin to make his way home
like a hole in rollin stones
back up to heaven all alone
just trying to make his way home
no body calling on the phone
except for the pope maybe in rome

Many preachers have loved to preach using this song as an introduction. It's familiar to most people and it usually grabs the attention of the listener. But the preacher will bring us back to orthodoxy by the end of the sermon. Does being a Christian and a songwriter mean we always have to do like the preacher does?

What do you think?

Stepping out...

2008-08-23T01:54:00.001-07:00

It's been really hard to get to sleep recently. My production partner has moved back home and so it's just my wife, son and I in our house.I have less then 10 days left at my current job as minister of music and then I'll be out on my own. While I'll be teaching some private students the bills will be paid by God. I'm stepping out in faith and doing the ministry ideas He's put in my heart for a long time. I'm starting a community choir. I'm starting a children's choir. I'm starting a non-denominational praise and worship service. I'm also starting a small group fellowship group. I thought that the perfect time would come...it did. The time when I realized that He was waiting on me to give up trying to be perfect before attempting anything great for Him. Please pray for me.

Thanks

Wonderful Street Children Of Uganda

2008-08-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

At times I complain too much! These beautiful children in Uganda humble me. When I am complaining cause I feel too fat or because my mortgage seems too big and my bills seem endless, I have no idea how bad things could really be. I could be homeless without a dime. That's what these children are. On top of that their government is embarrassed by the number of street children so they sweep them up into trucks and take them to detention centers like this one.

The next time you get depressed cause the guy you like didn't call you or the girl you wanted went out with your worst enemy, think deeper. Some people are made to feel like the trash of the ground. Maybe if we'd try to lift someone else up it would make us feel better about ourselves too? Artists can become so self involved that they forget about the experience and feelings of others.

Let's keep open to feeling the pain of others so we can express it in our music and make the world take notice of them and ....perhaps love them, again.

How Big Is Your Heart?

2008-08-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

Please let me introduce you to our would be Kenyan daughter, Lillian. She stays at the Maximum Miracle Center Home for Street Children. A few years ago God lead the bishop of that ministry, Bishop Pius Muiru, to invite the street children at one of his crusades to throw away their drugs and their knives and accept Jesus. Although he had no where to put them he then said that he would take care of them. I hear that there are over 120 who stay at the Children's home now. By the way if you'd like to help this good cause there is a button on the website this link will take you too that will allow you to donate through paypal:

http://www.lightindarkness.org/CHILDRENS%20HOME.html

My wife Monique and I wanted to take Lillian home but as we found out it is a very complicated process and one we don't currently qualify to do. This made us very sad. The funny thing is that we don't have a lot of money...but God has given us hearts that really want to reach out and help the hurting. I think that's why people are often touched by the songs I write. My heart is big enough to feel deeply the emotions of life's stories. And I love to sing those stories for you. They make me feel alive and useful.

Maybe if I become more well known like Madonna or Angelina Jolie we'll be able to bring Lillian home with us. How big is your heart?

A song is only as good as......

2008-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

I was greatly honored to have the opportunity to have 2 of my songs performed by the Midori and Friends Children's Festival Choir. This was the third annual festival and the colors and diversity of culture and music were phenomenal. I was only disappointed our 4 year old son David Jr. couldn't have been there to enjoy it. But my heart was saddened by one event.

Apparently some of the children got into a fight. Here it was we were at an event where we were celebrating unity(that was the theme I wrote on for the event which was called Harmony's Happening) but not able to grasp it in practical experience. The lyrics they were singing said:

In our hearts
we're all the same
We cherish love
and our good name

But if we loose sight
of what we share
We'll always fight
and never care

U and me make harmony
if we work with each other we'll be happy
U and me make harmony
If we love one another we'll be happy

Well, after a pep talk from several of the teachers and leaders the children performed and did an outstanding job!

My hope and prayer is that they'll remember these words when conflict arises again and choose to live in harmony^