October 24, 2024 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, October 24. I’m sending this devotion out in a new way, through my personal email account - cindertex50@yahoo.com. Contact me at that address if there’s any problem. Thanks.
What makes a great voice? Well, the answer depends on the context. If we’re talking about a great choir voice, it’s the ability to blend in, to not “stick out”. But if we’re talking about a soloist - especially in popular music - it’s the ability to “stand out”, to be distinctive, to be one-of-a-kind.
If I dropped the needle on a Frank Sinatra record, no one would have to tell you who was singing, because no one has ever sounded like Frank Sinatra. The same could be said for Johnny Mathis or Billie Holiday or Bing Crosby. As you can tell, I am really keeping up with the latest sounds in popular music!
When it comes to gospel music, there was no more distinctive voice than Ethel Waters. If you heard her sing for the Billy Graham Crusades you never forgot her sound. She was my mother’s favorite singer. And she was one-of-a-kind.
Ethel Waters was known for a simple, little song called “To Me, It’s So Wonderful”. It was written by a church musician from Chicago with the wonderful name of Ralph Good Pasteur. She sang his “heart song”, as she called it, many, many times for Billy Graham. Let the lyrics speak to you today. Or, better yet, look it up on the internet, and let her sing it for you.
When I should feel lonely or I should feel sad I’m so contented and my heart is glad Joy bells are ringing, in my heart I’m singing I’s wonderful to know He is mine To me it’s so wonderful. To me it’s so wonderful. To me it’s so wonderful, to know that Jesus is mine.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com