Music

Music is such an amazingly large part of my life; which is probably why I'm a singer/songwriter! Music has always been a part of my life: my Mother was a member of a trio in High School; Dad was a honky tonk guitar player and Mama was a piano player, vocalist and choir member. Our house was always filled with music. As a youngster I remember Becky Varnado, Sister Varnado with David and Barbara in our living room gathered around the piano. Then there were the Gilbert girls with their Dad and mine on guitar with both Mama and Cynde on the piano.When there weren't people from church at the house, there were Dad's honky tonk musicians there.

And there was always music coming from the radio, record player or tape deck. I grew up on The Rambo's, The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Happy Goodman Family, Hank Williams, Lanny Wolfe Trio, Bill Gaither Trio and many more. Is it any wonder I began piano lessons at age 5?

I wrote my first song at age 4. I "borrowed" the music from "The Old Rugged Cross" and wrote new lyrics for it. I made Mama play it while I sang it. Then my brother and I began singing at church and I appeared with Dad on the stage of The Louisiana Hayride, all at the tender age of 5.

Music is more to me than just entertainment: a song is a 3 minute message. I've loved Rock and Roll, Pop, Disco, Country, Gospel and Contemporary Christian genres. Several years ago I made the decision to listen, pretty much exclusively, to only Gospel/Christian music. The message of music that enters your ears also enters your soul. And I want to concentrate on that which is uplifting and edifying. I don't judge others who listen to something else, but for me, I know that because I take music so intimately, it's better to limit my listening to Christian music.

Music is an emotion. It reflects the mood we're in or it can influence our mood. I can be feeling down and listening to uplifting praise music will pull me up to where my mood changes to one of joy, praise and excitement. Very few things in this life can influence how we feel, what we express and how we project the way music can. The Bible tells us that whenever King Saul was troubled, David would play his harp and soothe Saul, altering his mood.

When I write a song, I try to write what will be edifying or instructive to whomever may listen. I have just 3 minutes or so to deliver a message to the listener that will bring about a change in their mood, cause them to rethink a position or give them hope. It's an awesome responsibility!

I am anxious to get my debut CD recorded. We have some great songs for this project. Most have been written by myself and my producer, but there's a couple I wrote with others. Then there's the songs written by others. Every song has a special meaning to me, and I hope they will mean as much to those who buy the album. That this project will change lives and hearts.

Keep the music flowing!