Description

I write my songs/hymns in three different formats...chorus and verse alternate from congregation to cantor... some with a chorus and then each verse is different... and finally the standard pop song format chorus verse twice and a middle eight subbing as "a verse three"...which is also fun cause you can pretend you're writing for the radio! Plus the length of the hymns is very serviceable...each song ranges from 2:30 to just over 4 minutes long.

Biography

30 years ago I had some of my hymns published by Folk Mass and Modern Liturgy Magazine, an outfit in California, which still exists albeit not in the same form or committment. Since then I have wanted to create songs for "church", to be sung in "church" and for them to be one of the reasons people came to church outside of the more obvious ones! I have finally decided after going the conventional route ("your work does not meet our publishing needs at this time"!) to just DIY. So my humble attempt to create some sort of harmony and peace of mind and heart and song will be published in the next month...an 11 song CD with many more to follow I hope. These are well crafted songs if not perfect then intended to demonstrate the way these hymns should complement and amplify your liturgies. But mostly they should make your congrgations WANT TO SING! If they don't I have failed...the discs and sheet music and accompaniment parts will be available through my e-mail address in the "Contact" section. I have been at this for 40 years. Music should be fun and memorable most of all. So it follows that "church" music should also. If you can't sing your heart out during a liturgy it's not really worth the time. So all of my music is built around that one simple theme. The memories of the soul and the voices of marketplace. After all, we were meant to bring everything that we are to the meeting place and share it with everyone there in the Lord's presence. These songs span the years 1974-2005. Some Measure of Success! How Long O Lord May 07, 2006 May 2, 2006 The people at Abbey Road Music in Nashville (http://abbeyroadmusic.net/ called me today....They want to send 40 of my 5 song demo CDs) (People of God, Have Mercy on Me, Forever I Will Sing, How Long O Lord and Take His Life) to publishers...if you'll notice on the website they are no longer accepting for the time, songs for publication...the woman told me I was the cut off guy....I made it just under the wire....whew! This is not a big deal...but it is to me...this is a foot in the door with a really nice group of people...and it's in Nashville...when I send my CDs it has my name on it...but this will have my name and THEIRS on it....a little clout...I hope! Anyway I am excited for the opportunity...at least I will send them my whole catalogue eventually to peruse...I just finished the fifth CD recording today! I am excited...relieved...I mean nothing may come of this but just to have someone say they like your stuff enough to do this is great and quite a relief...I was going through the "gee, my music must really suck" phase again this week...so the phone call came at a very welcome moment! More as the drama unfolds... Jim You can hear all my stuff at http://www.audiri.com/music/Pop/Spiritual_Pop/Christian_Pop