Here are some great pics from Jim Denham Photography of our first recording session with Robbie Seagraves on drums! I had such a bad cold that day (fortunately we weren’t recording vocals!) but we had SO much fun! Check out Jim’s website for more of his amazing talent!
I have been amazed at the outpouring of talent and support for this project in the past few weeks! THANK YOU to everyone who has taken time to be a part of it!
We currently have 10 artists on board (see original post below) and we just recorded drum tracks for 8 songs this past weekend (whew!). Kendall has been a great help, putting together a make-shift studio at church; and Robbie dusted off those drum sticks like nobody’s business! (did I mention how awesome you guyz are?!?)
In another week or so, we’ll be ready to start fundraising and begin recording instrumentalists. I am looking at a couple other song options, but the window is fast closing on what we can include. Plus, I was disappointed to not get licensing approval for some of the re-writes I did of those classic Motown hits in Gospel format (but, perhaps it will open some new windows of creativity). So… here are the songs we have to date:
“27” by the band: We all have Hooks for Hands
“In My Heart” by Sam Butler, recording with Dan Neale.
“Dawn Again” by Kendall Johnson and his band, Submission.
“The Grass Withers” by Craig T. Olsen, performed by Lauren Redpath Auge.
“A Love Never Known” by Leahy, performed by Pat Rygg & Anna Fehring.
“One Spirit” by Rev. Glenn Berg-Moberg, performed by the band, featuring Glenn on guitar & vocals.
“Picture This” by Jonathan Rundman, performed by the band
“I Believe In You” by Rev. Jon Anderson, performed by the band
“What I Really Want To Say” by John Stiles, performed by the band
“Holy Spirit” by John Stiles, performed by the band
“Psalm 23” arrangement by John Stiles, performed by the band
“When I Sing” by John Stiles, performed by the band
“We Are The Children” by John Stiles, performed by the band, with Pat Rygg & Anna Fehring
“Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” by Sandy Denny, performed by the band
“You are so beautiful” by Billy Preston performed by the band, with Sam Butler and Dan Neale.
“We Are The World” Lyrics & Tune by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson performed by the band, featuring youth from our church, Washington Co. Head Start kids, David Scherer (Agape) and the Progressive Baptist Church Choir.
“Lovely Day” by Kirk Franklin performed by the band, featuring David Scherer and the Progressive Baptist Church Choir in St. Paul
As this whole adventure has been from the start, I have no idea what it will look like on the other side, but I have every confidence that together we will make a huge difference for families in need in our community! Bless you and yours in this season of “LOVE” (Happy Valentine’s Day!)
John
I’m John Stiles. I hope you’ll give me just a few minutes of your time to let me tell you about an important project I’m working on called We Are The Children.
In the fall of 2011 twin tragedies struck the town of Oakdale, Minnesota where I live and work as a Lutheran pastor. Two murder-suicides, involving children from the same school occurred just two weeks apart.
It’s going to take some time and some real commitment to families to bring healing to this community. That work has already begun through the efforts of teachers, parents, school administrators, counselors and local businesses who have held benefits for the families.
And, it’s been on my heart to do something to show the children of this community that there’s a reason to hope. There really are people who care and are there for them.
So, I put together a handful of songs that I’ve written over the years, made up a laundry list of my favorite artists, found Kendall Johnson, a member of my church who has a recording studio, and set off to follow this dream – to produce an album of uplifting music and dedicate the proceeds to families in need.
When I was kid, back in the 80’s (yes, complete with the white jeans and the blow-dried hair!) there was a song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson: We Are The World. It was a benefit for famine relief in Africa. But the line that stayed with me all those years, and was the inspiration for this project is “There comes a time when you heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one…”
Over the past 20 years I’ve met a lot of a great musicians and this album is one way to introduce them to you. So far, we have a dynamite group of artists on board, including Kendall Johnson, Sam Butler, Dan Neale, Taylor Hamilton, Robbie Seagraves, Glenn Berg-Moberg, Jorie Mallinger, Peyton Sorensen, David (Agape) Scherer, Lauren Redpath, Pat Rygg, Anna Fehring, Rod Stiles, Dale Stiles, the Head Start preschool kids, Progressive Baptist Church choir, Pippi Ardennia, Anne Cernohous-Borchardt, and the indie band, We All Have Hooks For Hands. I’m inviting them to donate a song, or even record with us to help support the spirit of this project. Some I’ve met and know personally. Others, I’ve admired from a distance. I’ve even written a handful of songs myself, which we’ll feature on the album. The point is to create some uplifting music. This album is steeped in the Gospel, but not too preachy.
I believe there is so much worth living for and these songs are just the beginning. I hope this project moves you to give of yourself, to inspire others to hope, and to create a more peace-filled world. These kids are more than just “our children.” We are the children.
All proceeds from album sales (after production costs) will go to support victims of domestic violence and to support Building Bridges, a local after school initiative that provides tutoring and activities for children in need.
Thank you for listening and remember: It’s true, we make a brighter day, just you and me!
We Are The Children 