At that time, they were not wearing robes. They had their butterfly collars with the chest hair showing with jewelry, straight-up perms, platforms – things that were just considered taboo for a pastor, let alone a Gospel artist. I think that's where I got a lot of my courage, just by looking back on the things that they pulled off on television. I just couldn't believe they got away with it. It wasn't that we were trying to make a big deal; we weren't just confined to the restraints of the bubbled mentality of fundamentalists.
Obviously, people like it because "Love Alive" stayed on the charts 54 weeks at #1. So it changed the sonic choices and chord structures for me. I had never heard anything like that before. Before there were some basic triads or 1-3-5 type chords, you know 3 basic movements in Gospel that happen. They opened it up to a whole new perspective – we didn't know we can think that way. At least, when I was listening to it as a kid, it was brand-new to me.
"I Won't Be Satisfied" was a song that changed me forever – "Wait a minute! 'La la?' You're not saying Jesus? You're not saying the blood of Jesus? You're not saying hallelujah? You're saying 'la?' Who says you can say la at the beginning of a Gospel song?" At that time, if every word or every other word wasn't about Jesus or God or Noah, that would get you in trouble. For them to just say this sounds good and this melody is so poignant that I'm training the listener's ear for the hook ahead of time and then to end it the same way they started it, for a young kid that just blew my mind.
I could just tell that they listen to more than just Gospel. There were a lot of just Burt Bacharach and Barbra Streisand — whoever produced her record, you could tell that they've listened to way more than just James Cleveland or something. That's just what gave me the courage to start fusing elements of music and yet, stay true to my message about Christ or urban Christian living. I think Mr. Hawkins was a very inclusive artist. He doesn't assume anything about anyone. He just accepts people for what they are and not try to make them what he wants them to be. That's why I appreciate Mr. Hawkins.
Interesting. So how would you complete this sentence: Gospel music is...?
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