Making music with my friends

The Gaithers have penned a wonderful little chorus:

Loving God, loving each other,
Making music with my friends;
Loving God, loving each other,
And the story never ends.


Music has been a part of my life since I was an infant. As a musician, my life has been brightened by making music with my friends starting when I was a kid, and it has never stopped.

Most recently, my physician friend John Mulder---a professional musician in my opinion---has joined me in making music as a fund-raiser for HFP.

It all began a year ago at a funeral, when the two of us sang and played some requested old gospel songs for the memorial service of a friend and co-prison worker. A supporter of HFP suggested that we keep this going to raise support money. The rest is history.

John wholeheartedly agreed, and suggested that we include more musicians: our son-in-law Lee Ingersoll, singer and percussionist; Cal Olson, singer, whistle-blower and bassist, and David Mulder, cornetist. And so last summer we experimented with a fund-raiser called Pickin' & Grinnin' in a local church coffee house. The moment was magical, people loved it, and dollars were raised.

That led to a recording. Thanks to donations of funds and talent, the album SWEET FREEDOM was put together in record time last year, featuring many favorite gospel tunes. More dollars were raised. If you don't have a copy, you'll want one. You won't stop listening to it.

And now these wonderful people are going to gather around the piano with me again this year. The date is July 30, 6-8 PM, and again we'll be in the Coffee House of Covenant Life Church in downtown Grand Haven.

There's no cover charge, but it's no secret that we hope to raise desperately needed funds to continue our work with prisoners.

Making music with my friends. I promise you won't be disappointed.

And the story never ends.


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