One-eyed giants, six-headed monsters, a man-devouring whirlpool, and spell casting nymphs: these are some of the characters that summon my seven and
The Holy Spirit
How does one actually feel the presence of the Holy Spirit? This is something I’ve grappled with since I was a young child regularly attending
Dear Aaron Neville
Dear Aaron, many years ago, 15 to be exact, I was the opening act on a Christmas tour you did with the Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Chrissie
Opera
“Daddy, can we watch Falstaff again tonight?” There’s something about the large man’s folly that makes my 7 and 8 year old laugh and ask for this
Harlem
Sunday mornings in Harlem. Saturday night trash lines the sidewalks and streets. People wait in line outside the churches. A car speeds by playing
The Mobile Museum: Black History 101
“We have 45 minutes of free time in Philadelphia. Should we try to fit in the Art Museum before Soundcheck?” These are the kind of conversations my
10 Great Symphonies
Joseph Haydn was a starving artist. He had been poor for most of his youth and was ill-fed and often humiliated by his dirty clothes. He was a choir
Soundscapes: Chris Hondros
Can music explain a place or a situation? We all know the experience of looking for the right music at a point in time and inadvertently setting the
Songs That Changed America #1: We Shall Overcome
I drove up to Beacon, NY to chat with legendary songwriter/social activist Pete Seeger at his house in the foothills overlooking the beautiful Hudson
