@45RPM What Good Is Music? (with Pastor Chris )
What good is music, anyway? Is there something happening in the arrangement of certain melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics that might actually have a meaningful impact on hearts and minds in these dark, divided, and confusing days? We decided to talk to someone who would know; a man who is a pastor, an artist, an advocate for social change, and a fan of great music.
Chris Williamson is the Pastor of Strong Tower Bible Church in Nashville, TN – a community that has been passionately committed to diversity and integrity for decades. Before founding the church, however, Pastor Chris was a founding member of the pioneering Gospel Hip Hop group Transformation Crusade back in the 80s. We gave you a sneak peek of our conversation with Pastor Chris on the Royce Lovett show (where we dove into the roots of Gospel Hip Hop with Soup The Chemist,) and we’re excited to offer more from that inspiring conversation.
From Sam Cooke and the roots of Soul Music to Gospel and Worship Music, to Public Enemy, Lecrae, Chance The Rapper, and Kendrick Lamar, Pastor Chris is clear-eyed and big-eared about music’s potential to unite or divide – to challenge or to mollify. It all comes down, it seems, to our intentions and our willingness to allow the music to work on us.
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Pastor Chris 45RPM Song List
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (Unplugged) (Chris Taylor remix)
Transformation Crusade – Give You Love
Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come
Matt Redman – 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
The Woody Herman Orchestra – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
Mahalia Jackson – How I Got Over
Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Public Enemy – Fight the Power
Pigeon John – Falling
Lecrae – AlI I Need Is You
Ramsey Lewis/Earth Wind & Fire – Tequila Mockingbird
The Branchettes – Lay Down My Life
Natalie Grant and the TSC Choir – Worthy of It All
Kirk Whalum – I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
Kirk Whalum – Kirk’s Improv
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (Unplugged) (Chris Taylor remix)
YouTube sources:
Kevin Nicholson (organ) – Praise Shouting Songs
Dr. Charles G. Hayes – Old Landmark
(All other tracks licensed production music)
IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE, don’t miss:
Royce Lovett + The Roots of Gospel Rap w Soup The Chemist on the Jukebox
Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper) + Sacred Psychedelia on the Jukebox (w David Bunker)
Terry Scott Taylor’s Beautiful Mystery
Natalie Bergman’s Jesus Music for a New Generation
Myron Butler and the Legacy of Andrae Crouch!
Andy Zipf Solo Acoustic Performance on True Tunes @45RPM
45RPM: Phil Madeira and Love Songs
Bruce Cockburn: Kicking at the Darkness for Fifty Years (and counting!)
From The Vault: Michael Been of The Call
Marc Byrd (Hammock, God of Wonders, etc)
Phil Madeira on Expanding Horizons
Kevin Max Considers Boundaries
See the full list of previous episodes HERE
