GOD said, "Let there be Light !!" and there was light.
Words are so powerful, especially when put to music. A simple song can move your soul in less than 5 minutes. What a great responsibility we have entrusted to us with the power of music. What a great freedom we have to tell stories from the heart, mind, and spirit into all the world. What an incredible gift we have in music, that can only be truly appreciated when it is given from a foundation of truth. Our words are not meaningless, especially when riding on sound waves of melodies. My heart is full of music, my mind is full of words, my soul is full of gratitude, and yet mostly I am silent. Already, in my 20's, I have had the priviledge of working with many great masters, teachers, musicians, ministers and legends. For these things I am grateful, to know where I came from, to see where I am, and to hope in where I am going.
This is my story:
I began learning from an early age to sing from my mother Kathy Bee. Through her music was infused into daily life. Always singing, harmonizing, and memorizing with song. Always creating games and such to pass the time. Even musicals that my incredibly gifted mother wrote and had us perform in. But I was shy and insecure, so I did not have the courage to freely give away my gift of music. Growing up I was a girl with "potential talent" for almost everything. My mind however was not a focused one. I learned to rely on talent and manipulation to get me through most situations. I felt the anxiety of having too many choices, and the rebellion of not becoming my mother. So throughout my school years I would dabble in a music /dance class here, a sport/or craft class there. All the while singing to small groups of friends, at school, on the bus or alone. Maybe a solo here and there, which always terrified me. No formal vocal training or technique classes, except for, watching my mom, MTV, or listening to top artists on the radio. Only my younger brother, would suffer the most, having to hear me sing while our parents were at work. I didn't grow up religious, but my mom and dad made a point to have us go to church every once in a while. I never joined a youth choir, or group- except to go to summer camp or do fun-activity stuff on the weekdays. I was a free spirit, open to becoming anything. A life set up to be a jack of all trades but master of none. After graduation from high school however, I began having nightmares about good and evil. I began to seek out the meaning of life and God. Who was I? Was Jesus real? Was GOD real? What should my life be about? Where will I go when I die? Because I didn't really believe in heaven, I didn't think I was going to go there. I was mad that I didn't see miracles, or see Angels... let alone have the clouds part in the sky and hear the mighty voice of God. Nothing. Yet I was haunted in my dreams, and terrified about life due to my lack of character. I opened the bible to read... and after a few chapters was really frustrated. I attended churches to find answers. Finally, I prayed. A gut honest prayer full of questions and frustrations towards GOD... and I basically ended it with, "Hey God, if these words in this Bible are true and if heaven and hell are real, then save me, I want to go to heaven. You said that I should ask you and so I'm asking...and if at the end of everything I end up in hell it's your fault... because I did ask!" After this I prayed specifically for help in many areas, and in understanding the Bible if it was true. Much to my surprise many answers came, along with many heartbreaks, trials, risks, and incredible victories of faith. God and Jesus became very real to me, and I was baptized into the lifestyle of a disciple of Christ. Only because of this relationship with God and His word do I have the freedom to be confident and secure with my gift. Only because of this relationship do I see a true purpose and presence for the music in my life to be shared.
And what, you might say, does this have to do with music? EVERYTHING!! Over the next 10 years through my teens into my 20's God, through the hands and hearts of many people, would change a wild free-spirited girl into a woman of conviction and vision. All the makings of great song material !!! Through His mysterious ways I have be fortunate enough to learn from: great teachers/coaches-Dorian Holley, Clark Harris, and Steve Brown- to sing for the vast congregations within the international churches of christ- participate in movies and television-travel the world "on tour" with Motown Legend Smokey Robinson-work on the best stages and in the best studios- Maveric, Parrot, Drop Soul, Centerstaging, etc... writing and producing with- Rob Gi Hana, Gary Gold, The Oregon Bros, Embassy Studios. Recently joining up with friends to create a new company Godspedia, and working in groups such as- Sol Conviction, Kinfolk, Friends in Life, Bad Dog No Biscuit. I'm ending the list here because work will only be proven by what it does... a lot has been accomplished so far and I believe there is much more to come! I am grateful for the many relationships mentioned above as well as the many that are unmentioned for now. I feel so full of life and blessed even though I may not have the fame or fortune of life so many desire. I am inspired to dream big and make goals for the "all" that is possible, and the funny thing is I see these things actually happening! I have found a faith that is overflowing with possibilities, and music as one of the vehicles that will take me even further than I can imagine.
... Never the End
Karrie