The Gospel According to B.B. King

The Gospel According to B.B. King

Rogelio V Solis—AP In this file photo taken Aug. 22, 2012, B.B. King performs at the 32nd annual B.B. King Homecoming, a concert on the grounds of an old cotton gin where he worked as a teenager in Indianola, Miss.

"I’m awed by his handiwork, the forests and oceans and sky that surrounds us"

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King’s influence on American music can’t be overstated. Through his dirt-road voice and exuberant guitar work (often on his famed favorite Gibson guitar Lucille), King brought the blues to mainstream audiences. You can read The New York Times‘ obituary of King here, but for my money, King might’ve been one of the greatest American musicians ever, ranking alongside the likes of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Billie Holiday.

The blues themselves are, of course, quintessentially American—the yin to gospel music’s yang that, together, undergird jazz and rock. And I think there’s a little gospel in the blues themselves. Few blues songs reference God or Jesus directly, of course: They’re laments of a life or a love gone wrong, a beautiful, primal sigh. But that’s what many Psalms did back in their day, too: They were anguished, pit-of-the-soul cries set to music about heartbreak and angst and despair. The Psalms were painfully honest, just like the blues. And under each, I think, you find an underlying sliver of hope—hope in a brighter, better day. For many blues artists, including King, that hope was pinned on Jesus.

King was a Christian who, as a boy, sang in a gospel choir and was inspired by his own pastor to pick up the guitar. “I believe all musical talent comes from God as a way to express beauty and human emotion,” he once said according to Christian Today. He had a lot to say about God and faith, according to the story. And I loved what he said about God’s creation.

“I believe God created everything. I’m awed by his handiwork, the forests and oceans and sky that surrounds us. I believe God made us. But our nature isn’t always godlike.”

When I heard about King’s death this morning, my mind didn’t float back to any of King’s classic songs—”Don’t Answer the Door” or “The Thrill is Gone” or “Why I Sing the Blues.” I remembered “When Love Comes to Town,” King’s duet with Bono and U2. Bono wrote the song specifically for King, and musically, it’s a meeting at the corner of the blues and gospel music. A shout of joy when the chains of sin have fallen away. On the version I have on my iPhone, King growls out these lyrics:

I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side
But I’ve seen love conquer the great divide
What follows isn’t the version I’m most familiar with. But it’s still pretty cool.

Known for passionately ushering in the very presence of God through his music, Byron Cage is Gospel music's preeminent praise and worship leader and his gift for songwriting and performing has earned him multiple Stellar Awards, a Grammy-nomination and top chart positions in Billboard Magazine.  His new CD, LIVE AT THE APOLLO:  THE PROCLAMATION, will be in stores September 18, and its accompanying DVD is scheduled for release October 23.  - See more at: http://www.soultracks.com/story-byron_cage#sthash.v7X15W5e.dpuf

The Gospel According to B.B. King

Known for passionately ushering in the very presence of God through his music, Byron Cage is Gospel music's preeminent praise and worship leader and his gift for songwriting and performing has earned him multiple Stellar Awards, a Grammy-nomination and top chart positions in Billboard Magazine.  His new CD, LIVE AT THE APOLLO:  THE PROCLAMATION, will be in stores September 18, and its accompanying DVD is scheduled for release October 23. 

Recorded live at New York's Apollo Theatre in Harlem, Byron Cage made history by becoming the first gospel artist to record a live CD at the famous theatre.  The 10 -song project features energetic praise songs as well as emotive, impassioned God-focused worship songs.  The PAJAM-produced project also introduces Cage as principal songwriter. The first single, "With All Of My Might," is an exciting, praise-inspired number urging listeners to praise God with their all and all.  The song is enjoying radio airplay around the country. 
Other highlights include the rousing title track; the smooth and melodious "If You Never" with special guests Kim Burrell and J Moss; and the moving "Anyhow" featuring Dave Hollister.   While "I Will Bless the Lord" off of his GRAMMY-nominated CD "An Invitation to Worship" was named by Billboard Magazine as the number one Gospel song of 2006, and he has won the Stellar Award for "Song of the Year" (amongst many others) for two consecutive years - the accolades are sure to continue pouring in by droves after the release of his new project, which Cage says is an outpouring of his passion to bring the name of Jesus back to the forefront, especially in Gospel music. "Although we have large ministries and speak about ‘going to the next dimension', the name Jesus isn't spoken as much as it used to be," says Cage.  My passion is to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.  There  is no name higher than the name of Jesus." 
The idea for this CD was born at a Gospel  music convention, where he heard artists talking about moving in a more ‘inspirational' direction and omitting the name Jesus in their songs.   "I remember sitting there and starting to cry.  I thought, ‘Lord why do we feel that in order to reach the masses we have to leave your name out?'"  That was the beginning of the concept for LIVE AT THE APOLLO:  THE PROCLAMATION.   
The night of the recording was a special evening for Cage.  Music greats including Donald Lawrence, Rodney Jerkins and Dr. Bobby Jones came out to show their support and Cage was moved by the incredible, energetic response he received from the audience throughout the night.  "I'm so thrilled that the night of the recording came off as well as it did," says the artist.  "I had the best singers (directed by DeWayne Woods); the best set, the best everything.  I wanted people that came out that night to feel such an overwhelming presence of the Lord, even though we weren't in a church environment.  But ultimately, during the night of recording The Proclamation, I wanted people to cross their legs and say, ‘Now that's how you do gospel music!'" 

- See more at: http://www.soultracks.com/story-byron_cage#sthash.v7X15W5e.dpuf