Let me start off by saying, this is a post about the importance of my faith in my life.
It's common knowledge that most singers get their start in the church. There's something about gospel music that touches the innermost part of the soul. I've heard people who don't practice religion or believe in a higher power say that gospel music does something to them. :)
Last night I saw "Get on Up", the James Brown story. It was truly amazing. Not to discredit anyone's rise to fame, but nowadays it's so easy to get discovered on Youtube, to win on American Idol or to get your start on The Voice. When you look at the stories of people like Ray Charles, James Brown, even Keisha Cole, their upbringing was definitely humble and filled with circumstances that are less than desirable.
I can't say that my parents were huge fans of Mr. Brown, but I can say that I was exposed to his music on a regular basis in my home. Come on, who doesn't know his hits?
James Brown? Grew up in Augusta, Georgia. He witnessed violence and marital dysfunction in his home by his parents. His mom left to become a prostitute and his father left him to be raised by a madam while he joined the army. Regardless of the accuracy of this scene, as a young child he walked into a church which was clearly Pentecostal and what he witnessed changed his life forever. People were singing, dancing, and falling out as the Pastor led the song. My takeaway was that from watching the Pastor be free, he was exposed to dancing, charisma, performance and what it means to have music touch the soul. The Pastor was screaming the way James Brown was famous for, he also spun around dancing and then jumped down on the floor in a kneeling position...classic James Brown moves.
I've heard many artists, Nelly, Usher, Katy Perry, Adrienne Bailon, Lauryn Hill say that the church is their roots. On a mixtape I purchased, Lauryn Hill spoke on the importance of the live sound on her records. She said, "I bring the organ straight out the church, you can't fake that."
It's no surprise that I grew up in church. My upbringing might be a little different in the sense that my grandparents were extremely religious. If I wasn't watching Disney movies at their house, TBN was always on the TV screen. Every time I was in their car, "Standing on Holy Ground" would always play on the cassette tape.
I attend CWC at Mount Pleasant High School and the worship leader's name is Troy Lepisi. Today, he sang "Standing on Holy Ground". I don't think you understand, Troy sounds like Fred Hammond, almost identically, and Troy would sing with the same passion if there were 10 people in the congregation or 1,000. It touched me, not only because Troy did the song justice, but it brought me back to being in my grandparent's car when I was a little girl. It made me really, really miss my grandparents. I haven't really grieved over my grandmother and today I feel like I did a little. I miss her, I miss them, I'd do anything to take a nap with her or just talk to her. The lyrics say, "We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around." When Troy sang the part about the angels, I felt peace knowing that my grandparents are with the angels, and more importantly with their Savior. There's no greater feeling than knowing that your loved ones are in heaven and that there is hope that I will see them again. It's such a weird feeling to be grieving but to simultaneously have peace at the exact same time.I felt as if we touched each other in that moment.
James Brown and my grandparents have nothing in common but this weekend I was reminded of my roots: church. I was reminded in two ways: the movie and a song. The powerful thing about music is that a song can spark an instant emotion or memory.
I feel blessed knowing that I was exposed to my faith at such a young age, like many of the artists mentioned. Jesus is my anchor, and he always helps me "Get on Up."
