Birthday:
November 1
"excellent writing, Steve. yep, I remember going to witness one time in a bar w/ (I forgot his name) the gentleman who had the travel agency...and you and maybe Jan and maybe Karen...and others. That was LONG before I saw the addiction steal kill and…"
"You make me proud John. You make all of us proud. This is more than a montage of friends, it is a montage of brothers and sisters, of family near and far. We all gave so much time, effort and heart to moving God's Word. Such a tribute is fitting and…"
"A lot of composers do, Jim, for as many different reasons I'm sure and often because they need the money at the time. Historically though a lot of those people have been ripped off in the arrangements upfront and don't retain publishing rights for…"
"I think a lot of artists sell the rights to the songs.. I know that the group Alabama did, but I think they can re record it, and they have to pay a few cents for every copy sold.. maybe that's all negotiated when the song is sold.."
"Where do you get the ROA DVD?"
"I purchased Spark in the Dark. Awesome. Thanks guys for making that available.
I will be glad to post one of Billy's song here as a sample to inspire others to purchase but only with Steve's permission. I don't wanna get sued or anything. (Just…"
I will be glad to post one of Billy's song here as a sample to inspire others to purchase but only with Steve's permission. I don't wanna get sued or anything. (Just…"
"Tim Stiles! Another great artist IMO. Here is a sample from his album called "Fellowship" from 1995. When most of you were not around to hear it or obtain it. As I recall, at that time, he was one of the few talented artists left who produced…"
"Amen to some of the songwriting talent and how it affected my life personally. Growing up freakin' Catholic, I had never been exposed to even Gospel music much less Christian music until 1974 in TWI.
Yeah, for a young person who was used to Black…"
Yeah, for a young person who was used to Black…"
"Yes Jim the one that did the leads on trilogy was Barry McCoy"
"...I remember a Rock of Ages, 72 or 73 I think, It was in Sidney, It was the evening meeting, Claudette and what ever they were called then, Joyful Noise? preformed Trilogy , it gave me goose bumps. In my mind only Elvis did it as well.. We had some…"
"Yeah Johnny, Yeah.. My Life Changed because of youz guys....Thank you so very much..."
"That was a fun song Kevin. Skip and Dean opened it with the dialogue.
Someone once told me how they didn't like a lot of the JN tunes, or much of the ministry music in the 70's. Hey, preferences in music are personal, no problem with that from my…"
Someone once told me how they didn't like a lot of the JN tunes, or much of the ministry music in the 70's. Hey, preferences in music are personal, no problem with that from my…"
"Man, I am surely glad that the hot band from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska never allowed The Way to copy any of their songs! Yes, the fabulous "Silver Platters" had two songs still worthy of becoming smash hits in the realm of Gospel Music. Oh yeah,…"
"Thanks Ted. Your royalty check is being held at the Bema. So too, all you JN'ers. The heart was to give and serve for the Glory of God. He is good for it - He will repay. (You too, David for all the Agape stuff!)"
"p.s. thanks ted. you still be the man."
"that just about says it john!
nothing more to say."
nothing more to say."
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It's been so many years. Seeing your face brings back such warm memories and thanksgiving. I remember your movie on the sulkie/trotter, the car accident, praying for you. And your unending graciousness. I hope you are well.
Peter
Great to see you here, great site.
You look marvelous...love to Terry.
Hugs..hope
I received the DVDs that you sent, and I look forward to viewing them. Without a doubt, both are of profound interest to me. Indeed, they are right up my "alley" or "boulevard" or "street" for that matter. Thanks so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness.
I am sending you a copy of STONE UPON STONE: PSALMS OF REMEMBRANCE, a collection I published when I first started Ambassador Press. I am sending a copy of the book along with the CDs of my reading the works to musical accompaniment. I also hope to send you a CD of a radio show that I did which highlighted the blues and some of my blues poetry.
Let's definitely keep in touch.
Lonnell
I'm glad you liked the poem. I thought you would appreciate my reflective poetic commentary on the blues.
Here's my address:
238 Preswicke Mill
Blacklick, OH 43004
614/322-2181 (Home phone)
614/657-1785 (Cell phone)
Here's my business address:
Ambassador Press
P.O. Box 722
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Would love to talk sometime.
God bless,
Lonnell
Chuck and I live in Trumbull..just a few exits up the Merritt!
Didn't realize you and Terry lived so close. I've done a few of the road races in your town...it's beautiful ! I, too, love the New England countryside and have enjoyed living in CT these last 14 years after leaving Manhattan.
Looks as if your kids are in between mine in terms of ages--(10,18,20,22) Any of your kids swimmers? What are their interests? I have my youngest who currently swims. Maybe we have seen you at swim meets around the state?
My husband Chuck says hi. Any advice for a guy with an incredible voice for getting into voice over work? He recently took a class and is interested in it.
I am fascinated with all the work you have been doing. Wow....you sound like a very busy guy with an equally busy life! Kudos to you for all you have accomplished.
Drop a line sometime!
Leslie (and Chuck) Pavel
lesliepav@sbcglobal.net
Dan Keyes
I just read in your biographical statement about the documentary you produced on Mississippi Delta Blues, and it brought to mind my appreciation for the blues. There are a number of blues allusions in my poetry and some straight-out blues pieces, such as blues sonnets and other works sculpted in shades of blue. I thought you might appreciate a reflective piece written as I recalled an experience with my parents when they visited me while I lived in DC, a couple of years after being exposed to the Word of God through The Way International. My comments regarding blind blues singers might be of particular interest to you. Enjoy!
“Quiet as it’s kept. . .”
Quiet as it’s kept, Daddy loved the blues.
I remember the time back in the day when Dad could still drive,
and drive he did most of the way, not the whole way,
but divided in half,
stopping to spend the night in a motel in Pennsylvania
somewhere about halfway between Gary, Indiana and DC
“Madear and Daddy” drove down to visit me one weekend over the 4th
and we went down to festivities off Constitution Avenue
in that “grassy as if it wanted wear” area near the Smithsonian.
Strolling like nomads in and out of blue and white striped tents,
seeking relief from the relentless blazing summer sun,
we sampled the chicken and rib tips and fresh squeezed lemonade
and finished off the feasting with a taste of the blues:
a folk festival of sorts, featuring local blues singers
and a quartet from Dad’s home state of Arkansas.
We followed the crowd into this one wide tan canvas expanse,
flaps raised and rolled up, wrapped all around the sides,
like a revival tent without the sawdust.
On the plywood stage covered with carpet remnants
in a rickety wooden folding chair sat old Flora.
She wasn’t blind but thick wire-rimmed glasses
magnified her dark orbs that closed like doll’s eyes
when she reared back her head and hollered.
Flora was good, but she wasn’t quite like Robert,
old Blind Robert that sang down in front of the Riggs Bank.
He was blind for sure(think he was born that way),
strumming and humming, and sliding that metal bar to up and down the guitar strings to lure folk into the tent to taste that thick authentic down home sound.
Blind Robert show could sing. . . .
Wonder why so many good blues singers be blind?
Brother Ray and Stevie. . . Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell,
Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake n’nem;
All the Blind Boys, from Mississippi and Alabama,
All yall, I know yall see what it takes to show nuff sing the blues.
Of course, my Daddy got the same name as a famous blues singer,
Lonnie Johnson. I wonder what all that means, if anything.
While the brothers from Arkansas was playing and singing,
I’d glance over and catch Daddy nodding his head in agreement or see him smiling or simply breathing a sigh,
like a tacit Amen or inner response that seemed to say,
“You got that right.”
We stood and watched and listened a good while
before we left and continued to stroll from tent to tent.
After a while, Daddy wanted to go back just one more time.
My Daddy show did love him some blues that time in DC.
Some say the blues is an acquired taste that you appreciate as you age.
As I have mellowed in the autumn of the years, I have come to enjoy the blues too.
I just wish I could have shared this newfound fondness for blueness with my father back in the day, in my younger boppin doowop days, but I just couldn’t get into them down in the alley sad songs back then.
I just didn’t know why the blues always be so sad.
What did I know? What did I know?
Now I know it takes a whole lot of living and
a lot more loving and losing to appreciate the blues.
Like the Lady say,
You don’t know what love is
Until you’ve learned the meaning of the blues
Until you’ve loved a love you’ve had to lose
You don’t know what love is
Now I know just what Daddy meant when he nodded his head
and sighed and wanted to go back just one more time.
Quiet as it’s kept, my Daddy loved him some blues.
Lonnell E. Johnson 4-22-05
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