Don Cornelius: Tragedy and Opportunity

Today we lost Don Cornelius. Creator of Soul Train, Cornelius was a trailblazer and a trendsetter. I remember watching the show as a child in the '70's. The music, dancing and styles defined a decade. Cornelius was the epitome of cool, with his baritone voice and laid back style. I once tweeted that I want to be Don Cornelius when I grow up.

The tragedy is that his death was an apparent suicide. The opportunity is that the Internet is humming with tributes, and discussions about depression. As one who has waged my own battle with depression I know what a destructive condition it can be. And I have long believed that there is an epidemic of unacknowledged, undiagnosed, untreated depression in African American men. The probable causes range from current economic conditions to the psychic echoes of slavery.

Whatever the case, this condition has been shrouded in a veil of silence and shame, amplifying its destructive influence. Perhaps the silver lining in the cloud of Cornelius' passing is that we will take the opportunity to get real about conditions like depression, and lift the veil of denial. I realize that my ministry is about more than playing music. Everywhere I have told my story I get brothers who say to me, usually in private, that they have suffered with depression themselves, and it was good to know that they weren't alone. The silence and shame is a form of spiritual bondage. It is a little scary to talk about a condition that is still so misunderstood, but shining the light of truth on my history of depression is part of my healing journey. And hopefully someone else will get a little healing in the process.

Thoughts on the Stellar Awards

Well, Stellar Weekend 2K12 has come and gone. We had a great time. It was interesting to make this trip at this time, because at one point I was ready to call the whole thing off because funds were that tight. We drove the 670 miles instead of flying, cut back our wardrobe budget and ate on the cheap as much as possible. As far as my thoughts on the weekend:

• You don't have to spend a fortune to look good. (Unless you need to)
• The right vehicle makes a 10 hour drive so much more bearable
• Toilet paper in a swag bag? Really...?
• It's a long stretch of wilderness between Manassas VA and Knoxville TN
• I love Marriott's consistency. They'd make a great tour sponsor (Anyone at Marriott listening?)
• I'm so glad fast food turkey burgers are getting easier to find. Hardee's has some of the best out, and the price is right
• Shirley Murdock is a hoot
• For all the talk of artistic diversity in this year's broadcast, instrumental and spoken word were left out (again). An oversight I hope will be corrected in the future
• The Chicago gospel community is like the mafia
• OK. I'm actually starting to look like a PREACHA. I gotta loose some weight.

Thanks to True Way Church for hosting us on Sunday with an outpouring of love and spirit. Even though I didn't win this time out, I'm thankful for all I've been allowed to see and do. Hopefully this won't be my last trip to the Stellars, but as interesting as it all was, it's still the work that matters.

2012- The Year of Purpose

The new year always brings in a rush of optimism and enthusiasm. Nothing like a fresh start. A new leaf. 2012 is no exception for me. I have high hopes and big goals for the year.

The year starts out with a bang. This weekend I will be my first Stellar Award Weekend. I'd be lying if I said the nomination wasn't exciting, but the real exciting part is the opportunity to bless more people with this music. So win or loose, I claim victory.

This year I also plan to release a new project. A lot of pieces have to fall into place for this to happen, but I'm moving forward faithfully. The music we've developed so far is... I'm looking for an appropriate adjective. Anyway, I think you're really going to like, it and I can't wait to share it with you.

The year has its share of challenges. Business as usual. But I'm hopeful that things are coming together in divine order.

I'm using the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young this year. It's excellent, and it's already deepening my relationship.

Unsung

"The main thing is to seek as much education as you can get"
-Donny Hathaway

I'm watching a marathon of the series, 'Unsung' on TV One. A series about the lives of under recognized Black recording artists like Phyllis Hyman, Stacy Lattisaw, Billy Preston and one of my favorites, Donny Hathaway. Two things struck me about the stories: First, the old recording industry ate artists alive. So many had their finances wrecked by corrupt labels, managers and promoters. The rigors and pressures of the industry drove many of them to self destructive lifestyles, including drug and alcohol abuse.

The second thing that jumps out at me is how many of the artists suffered with mental illness. Depression was a common theme in so many of the artists' stories. Some even suffered from psychosis. Too many died too early from substance abuse and suicide. Hits close to home. I used to feel bad about the fact that my music career has taken so long to develop. I realize now that I was, to borrow a verse from Psalms 91, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. While I have had my own struggles with depression, I see that my blessings were held back for a time such as this.

We live in a time where the stranglehold that record labels have held over the music industry for a century is loosening. Today's recording artists have much more say over the direction of their careers. No longer is a record deal the holy grail for an artist. Many like me are happy doing what we do as independent artists, even if we have to 'keep the day job'. It may be harder to become a star, but making at least a partial living at music is more doable than ever. We're living life, and experiencing our art on our own terms. I think that makes for a richer experience for the listener. This will certainly not be the end of tragic stories of talented artists making an early exit from the stage of life, but the game has definitely changed, in favor of the ones who make the music.

True spirituality: Held Hostage by the American Dream

My wife shared a story with me today that she heard at a presentation by psychologist and author Jeffrey Rubin. A certain zen master was robbed in his home. Since his possessions were few he removed all his clothes, and gave them to the robber. As the thief departed, the zen master noticed the beautiful full moon that was in the sky, and that the robber couldn't enjoy or even notice it, because he was consumed with his ill gotten game.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. -Luke 6:30 NIV

The greatest obstacle to a Believer's growth in Christ in America is America itself. This is an arrogant, self absorbed, materialistic culture. As if that weren't bad enough, we have created a bastardized, counterfeit ME-ology that celebrates rampant materialism and retched excess, in marked contrast to the teachings of the Gospel.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? -Mat. 6:26

I do not believe one must take a vow of poverty to be an authentic Believer. But how many of us in America who claim Christ would be able to detatch ourselves from posessions as the zen master in the story did? As Jesus taught us? We are faced with a choice in this country: do we at last put Jesus on the throne of headship of our lives, or do we continue to submit ourselves to the sweet siren song of the false gospel of materialism and excess, and pay the mental, emotional and spiritual price?

31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Mat. 6:31-33 NIV

As hard as these days are, it's an opportunity to turn away from the false gospel of 'prosperity' (read: materialism and retched excess) and back to the true spirituality of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. The church has so cluttered the message and meaning of Jesus with so much self-serving idolatry and sensationalism that it's driven many to look to other belief systems for spiritual fulfillment, when it's all right here in the Word! So many (myself included) have compromised themselves, shortchanged their callings, driven themselves into poor emotional and physical health, even death. All for that ellusive 'American Dream'.

"...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:25 NIV

Hi. My name is Todd. And I'm an American dreamer. And I'm trying to wake up.

Showing Up

I got in an interesting conversation on air with a radio host during an interview this week. I went off on one of my tangents about how 'Black' Gospel music is getting watered down, and while everyone coming together is great, American society hasn't come so far along that we can discard those elements of our culture which helped us survive unspeakable oppression. (look for a more in depth discussion of this topic in a future post) Anyway, she agreed and went on to observe that while fifty years ago people people were being gunned down in the streets like dogs just for the right to exercise their right to vote, today many of us don't even bother, because we believe our vote doesn't matter. Then we complain about what the almighty they are doing to us.

The point is, that if you don't at least make an attempt to show up and advocate for your interests, no matter how corrupt the mechanism, you shouldn't really be surprised when things don't go your way. This is true in politics, and it's true in the Gospel music industry. Last week I was the first recipient of the Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year.

I was the only nominee in the category.

In my acceptance speech, I voiced my hope that there are 5 or 6 solid nominees next year. Because if there aren't, we will eventually see the same scenario we've witnessed before: Another industry award will eliminate the instrumental category for a lack of 'qualified applicants'. The Dove awards eliminated its instrumental category in 2009. The Stellar Awards chose not to give out an instrumental award this year.

The irony is, that instrumental praise music is on the upswing, largely spurred on by airplay from a host of Internet broadcasters. Now Gospel Jazz programs are popping up on terrestrial radio across the country. I'm getting more calls from churches that want to incorporate instrumental praise into programs and events. I was in my local FYE last week, and the number one selling Jazz title in the store was the latest project from Christian saxophonist Jeff Sparks.

Yet and still, the 'industry' continues to act like we don't exist. And we aid and abet this neglect by refusing to even submit our projects for recognition by the awards. If they even have a category for us in the first place. There's a growing award in Atlanta that has no instrumental category. I reached out to them to find out why. No response to date.

Paraphrasing from my acceptance speech again: NO; statues, plaques and recognition aren't why we do what we do. And YES; i recognize that there are serious misgivings with the way some of the awards are run. Despite all that, if the exposure of our individual and collective effort exposes our ministries to someone who would not have heard us otherwise, it's worth it. There are people all around the globe who will not, cannot receive 'Gospel' music in its more familiar vocal form. But they may receive instrumental music. 

There's tremendous potential for healing and deliverance in this music. I often tell people that showing up is 90% of my job, and by the power of the Holy Spirit something happens through the music that far exceeds whatever skill, knowledge talent or ability I bring to the table. Despite frustrations, financial hardships, snubs, 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune', I keep showing up. I hope my brother and sister instrumental psalmists will adopt that same mindset. And regardless of what the industry does, I pray the listeners who enjoy the music will continue to support us, because we can't do it without you.

The Grammys

I'm still feelin good about Kirk Whalum's Grammy nod last Sunday. I'm in a question asking mood, so do you think Kirk's Grammy will lead to greater exposure for Gospel Jazz, or will the attention be wiped out by the question falling off the lips of seemingly everyone in Gospel: "Who is Patty Griffin?" Not to mention all the Bieber heads hating on Esperanza Spalding.

BTW- Kirk is also up for a Dove Award in the Contemporary Gospel Album category. Let's see if lightning strikes again for Kirk.

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