Friday, August 8, 2014

Singing with David


I have given some thought to "Singing With David." I remember years ago I asked Russ Taff what it was like singing with David, someone interrupted and I never got an answer. When Russ was with the GVB he often could not hide his emotions when David "did his thing." Russ was very animated, let his emotions out.

All this fine material out with David, Wes, Michael, Mark and Bill, in my opinion the finest gospel music, ever. There have been many fine groups, fine quartets. The Cathedrals, and many groups had individual personalities, Vestal, JD, and some of the others were ICONS and generated their own charisma, their own personalities, and that came across when they sang.

This GVB, I think, took it all to a new level. Personality, charisma, talent, harmony, and genuine respect for the talent that each possessed. David, a voice, second to none, a real gift, how was it to sing, with him.

I figured it out. Like a baseball team or most athletic teams, the main word here, team. When Babe Ruth stepped up to the  plate, all eyes were on him, the crowd, the opposing team, and his own team. Everyone wanted to see the Babe, hit a home run. No jealousy, just respect, and I think that is how they look upon David .... a home run hitter.

In At The Cross, when David heads out to those "heights" .... there is anticipation, Wes, Mark and Michael are poised, ready for what is coming, David is going to ............. hit a home run. When he does, Wes is applauding, Michael, shaking his fist, David, a broad grin ... Bill, proud, very proud.

They were, I say were, they are, no longer. I am sure they are still good, different, but good. Bill had a tough time replacing that group .... when you lose a Michael English and a Mark Lowery, each a star in his own right, you cannot replace them, you have to start over, new group, new energy ..... they will find their own identity, but ....... there will never be another group ..... like the last one .... of the GVB.

Watch the expressions as David gets ready to hit it out of the park ......

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