It's true...
Edward Bulwer-Lytton said “the pen is mightier than the sword” and how true that is!! Looking over my the last few years, I’ve been blessed to meet and speak with many of the mightiest men with pens. What I could guess about my future is that I would become an internationally known artist and musician writing songs for the world to sing. I’ve done ok in that regard since I’ve written the jingles for my shows and podcasts, which have reached international listeners in numerous countries and territories.
Besides that, our closing number from 2006-2008 with the Glory Gospel Singers was #ohhappyday written by #EdwinHawkins. You can imagine the sheer joy pulsing through my veins when I met him in 2016! Yes, I told him we sang it in Europe and how (as if he didn’t know) the song and movie “Sister Act” helped usher in a movement of gospel music and singing for Christians, atheists, and Buddhists, alike. I wrote about it in a feature while on tour and published the article in my column on examiner.com (now defunct). I re-visited the story when I wrote about his passing as a contributor on the Huffington Post and the Christian Post.
In 2015, I accepted an assignment on AXS.com entitled: Five Things We Love About @kirkfranklin.” There are numerous reasons people love Kirk Franklin, but to better develop an outstanding piece, I called upon my friends from around the world to complete the article. With input from Japan, Germany, Durban, Great Britain and here at home in Fort Worth, I had five differing perspectives on the impact and reach of Kirk Franklin…hence the reason he is so beloved around the world!
So, while I wasn’t the one writing the songs, I was alright as the guy writing about the men and women writing the songs making the world sing! If I were to personify purpose, I’d have to concede it’s a funny character! While I wasn’t internationally known for my music as I’d hoped, I was recognized by and for celebrating internationally known artists. Much of what I aspired to do as a musician manifested for me on what I like to call the other side of the velvet rope as a journalist!
col at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC
5 年wonderful article, very articulate, short and to the point; read it through. when you are young, you never know the impact of someone's gift. the Hawkins were the hit when I was young. never dreamed my son would share the same.?
ECD Professional/ Author Spiritual Guidance Through Alzheimer's Dis-Ease/Team Member RNow Media/Team Writer & Co-Editor for Godlock Magazine/Team Writer the Church of God in Christ Whole Truth Magazine
5 年?Insightful article? Fred Willis! Edwin Hawkins is one of my favorites as a writer and musician...a music genius indeed!