Harold Payne’s music is so powerful.  When he picks up his guitar and starts his groove, you cannot sit still!  Many of his songs are songs of spiritual social action and are easily accessible to all listeners.  Several of his songs have been charted out in the music books produced by the Music Ministry Team for the Association of Unity Churches.  Plus, Harold is part of our Sound Connections staff this Sept.  A long time writer with Bobby Womack, who was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Harold is a top notch songwriter, performer, and songwriting coach.  

One of my absolute favorites on this CD is “Standing on the Shoulders”.   The song proclaims that we all stand on the shoulders of those who walked before us. This song was nominated for a Posi award in 2007.

“Whose Life” invites us to decide to take personal ownership for our beliefs and dreams.  Harold asks us to decide if we want to sample life’s sumptuous buffet or a fast food restaurant.  (that’s an easy choice for me).  The song invites us to put our energy into creating the life of our dreams instead of leaving your decisions to other people.  Harold sings “Life is a gift to you, why would you give it away.  You are the master of your future, not left to fate.” – Powerful words.  

There are two songs on the CD about those everyday angels in our lives.  “Pass it On” is a song about random acts of kindness.  I know that I have had people in my life who supported my dreams, unconditionally.  This song invites the listener to think about the places they can make a difference in someone’s life with simple acts of kindness.  The sweet song “Angels Don’t Always Wear Wings” starts with a child’s question about whether angels really fly.  The mother answers that angels “live inside our hopes and prayers and echo from the silence of quiet acts of kindness.”  – Beautiful imagery.  

The beautiful anthem “Music Speaks Louder than Words” is the inspiration for our annual Sound Connections Music Conference this year.  As musicians, we are aware that a song can often carry the message right to the heart.  As Harold sings “Love gets lost between your heart and mind, and your words won’t say what you want them to, but a song can speak what you were trying to say all along”

This is a live album, complete with all of the personality that a live recording brings to the table.  Harold tells me he is in the process of creating a new studio album.  I can’t wait!

PS…You should see Harold do one of his impromptu songs. They are truly amazing!