My childhood memories jumped in the passenger seat of this Florida Road Trip production like a long lost companion. Black church? Gospel music? On-Camera? Compass, point me in the right direction.
PRE-PRODUCTION
Growing up in the South, we all knew what Sunday was for…that was the Lord’s Day. We might have might skip a Sunday or two but never doubt, Mother’s gonna wake my butt up early to vaseline polish my patent leather shoes, pick out a dress and my sisters’ dresses, and get ready for church. Once a month, the youth choir sang. My sisters and I belted out songs one Sunday a month. Maybe we were off key here and there but that’s okay, “Praise the Lord”!
Church today, for me is very different. Gone is that single floor Baptist sanctuary with the red benches.. now we have stadium size buildings with college-like campuses. I attend a mixed church the size of a double decker Home Depot. Every time I see a jib camera swing over my head at church I think, “Does he have an assist helping him?!” Can’t take the producer outta me. Choirs have been replaced with live bands singing gentler, Top 40-style Christian melodies. However sometimes I miss a good old fashioned gospel song that marches onto your soul like God is trying to tell you something (see what I did right there?).
ACTION
My love for storytelling and PBS converged when earlier this year I was invited to contribute for Florida Road Trip, an original series produced by WUCF-TV which takes views on a ride through history of the Sunshine State. The segments on gospel music would also serve as local tie-ins to the national four-part Gospel series produced by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. This time my producer hat was in the backseat; I dusted off my on camera skills for this role.
We uncovered amazing stories of community, heritage, and dedication that sing the praises of gospel’s Central Florida heritage. In a region where historical gems often hide under the giants of tourist destinations, I was impressed to learn that one of the founding fathers of gospel mass choirs, the Reverend Dr. Milton Biggham, has deep roots in Florida. With over 500 original gospel songs to his name, he deserves his own documentary!
Reverend Willie C Barnes continues the mass choir tradition at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, Florida. The church’s annual Christmas musical celebration is a must-see event. Macedonia is also where Broadway star, and singer Michael James Scott first sang “This Little Light of Mine”. Watching him walk through the doors of his home church – Aladdin’s “Genie” was transported back to that little boy who first sang “This Little Light of Mine” and brought the church to their feet. His recollections of gospel music as his source of joy, freedom, and connection gave my soul inspiration.
Forty-five minutes north of Orlando, Bethune Cookman University represents another beacon of gospel music, its importance to HBCU’s. Founded in 1969, The Inspirational Gospel Choir, led by their director, Mr. Vertellis Kendrick, has evolved with the genre just as the student’s musical tastes have changed. Dubbed “The Remix King”, he adds a a few tweaks here and there, you know… a little “seasoning” to the traditional songs. An example he shared with me is their performance of the hymn, “Count Your Blessings”.
Search that on Youtube. I dare you to remain seated.
WRAP
“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what the Lord has done.” Mr. Kendrick recalling that song transported me out of my professional “I’m the interviewer” mode and back to childhood. Back to patent leather shoes and my Sunday best, singing this song. These gospel change makers and legends was a reminder to why my parents put me and my sisters in the choir. It wasn’t just to sing. It was to recognize the power of faith in hopes it would carry us through life. I love living in the flow of full circle moments where my professional career presents experiences that remind me of my own history. Like little angel tap on the shoulder. Count your Blessings.
Watch these episodes and season 10 of Florida Road Trip by clicking here:
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