Houston – Tuesday, April 13 marked the launch of the historic “Songwriters: Producers Series” gospel music workshop, a precursor to Verizon Wireless’ popular How Sweet the Sound gospel tour and competition. The “Songwriters: Producers Series” provides profoundly useful information for prospective gospel artists regarding the production of gospel music. Hit makers, Kathy Taylor, V. Michael McKay and Leon Lewis participated in an in-depth panel discussion to direct participants in the making of a great gospel song.
“When I produce a particular record, I’m really focused on the ministry of that artist. So I want to [create] a production that fits the artist. … There are several artists who are producers and a lot of times the sound never changes. I want to make sure when [I] produce a record that [it’s] relevant and makes the artist edgy and gets them radio play. But that’s not the end goal, what I really go back to is what the artist wants and what the song is supposed to convey,” explains Leon Lewis.
During the course of the “Songwriters: Producers Series” workshop, as divine providence would have it, audience members spontaneously broke out in song, demonstrating the spiritual nature of the moving music.
“It is important that gospel music allows the listener to hear about Jesus Christ,” says famed gospel singer Kathy Taylor. “I’ll make the [genre] changes from a reggae beat to what I think is a hip-hot beat,” she says laughingly as the crowd erupted in laughter. Taylor’s latest CD is a masterpiece of gospel music diversity covering several song styles to meet the needs of a wide cross section of listeners. “We had the guys who did Kirk Franklin’s horns play on the songs that we wanted to make pop … and then we did Lloyd Barron’s horns from the Thompson Community Choir for the saints who are a little more seasoned. I try to do the gamut because we have to feed the [spirits] of masses of people from [ages] 2 to 102.”
The “Songwriters: Producers Series” is intended to help prepare aspiring gospel musicians, songwriters and producers hone their musical skills and elevate their gifts to recording quality level.
Several of the workshop participants will also compete in the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound tour and competition, which traditionally has provided a stepping-stone, along with cash prizes for winning choirs to launch recording careers.
The “Songwriters: Producers Series” concluded in Houston with the panelists singing and leading 
participants in a song written and composed by V. Michael McKay. “Being a good steward means being a good steward. God gives us these gifts and we have to use them for his glory. … I really trust producers to capture the essence of the text and the intent of the writer. A lot of pain sometimes goes into writing these songs, and what I have experienced I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to go through just to come out with a song with that sound,” McKay offers poignantly. –roz edward
This event could be coming to an area near you. For more information on the rolling out “Songwriters: Producers Series” or Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound tour, please log on to rollingout.com
