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ARKANSAS STORIES
| An Inside View - New Anointing |
02/02/2009 - Music |
Name(s): Steven Brown, Lance Taylor, Rich Watson, Anna Maria, Jeremiah Sharp, Seth Urban and Adam Johnston
Band: New Anointing
Instruments you play: Steve - Rhythm Guitar; Lance - Keyboard/Piano; Jeremiah - Drums/Percussion; Seth - Bass Guitar; Adam - Lead/Electric Guitar
Hometown: Steve - Jonesboro, AR; Lance - Pine Bluff, AR; Rich - Charleston, SC; Anna - Fayetteville, AR; Jeremiah - Burbank, CA; Seth - Tulsa, OK; Columbus, KS
What kind of music do you play and what type do you like to listen to: We play a varitey of energetic Praise & Worship music with a light rock/R&B feel. Our tastes in music range from classical, to contemporary, to rock/rap/pop styles and everything in-between.
When and why did music become important to you: For me (Steve) music has been an important part of who I am since a young age. I have always had a connection to music as long as I can remember, but especially since I was saved in 1976 and began listening to the pioneers of contemporary Christian music such as Larry Norman, Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, etc.
Do you come from a musical family and if so what do they do: Yes, both sides of my family had musicians and singers. My Dad used to have a country band that played in the Craighead County area of Arkansas (they were called "Wilbur Brown and the Castaways"). Dad played rhythm guitar and sang lead. My Mom's side of the family played more bluegrass & Gospel. My Mom played piano and sang; my Maternal Grandma also played piano and guitar; My Maternal Gandpa played mandolin and fiddle; one uncle played acoustic guitar, bass and steel guitar; then there is the uncle who plays every stringed instrument you can name (guitar, banjo, mandolin, etc).
Tell us about your school experience, particularly middle and High School: Not much to tell, I was quite the introvert growing up and was hardly noticed in school. It was only in the youth choir at church that I began singing at the age of 13 when I was selected to sing my first solo that the gift and talent of music began to manifest itself.
Tell us about your first time performing for a live audience: I may have answered this partly in the last answer, but it was the summer of 1976, just after I accepted the Lord as my savior, when my older sister asked me to come sing in the youth choir at the North Main Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Of course this was before my voice had changed and I was able to sing into the first tenor range (and partially into the soprano range) so I was asked to sing a solo for church (I don't remember what song it was) but I remember being very nervous, until I began singing and something took over (possibly the Holy Spirit or the assurance of knowing I knew the song well from practicing so much). Then when it was over and I heard the applause, I was elated with excitement and pleasure knowing I had a part in ministering and inspiring the audience.
Who is most influential in your music (other bands): I already mentioned Keith Green, Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy, but there have been many others that have inspired and influenced me to sing, play and write music. A few soloists that come to mind are Dallas Holm, Barry McGuire, David Meece, Russ Taff, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Annie Herring, Honeytree, Chuck Girard, Andrae Crouch, Jeremy Camp, Bebe & Cece Winans, Chris Rice, Kirk Franklin, etc... Some groups that I have listened to in the past and present that I enjoy are 2nd Chapter of Acts, Daniel Amos, Love Song, The Pat Terry Group, The Imperials, Petra, DC Talk, Third Day, Audio Adrenaline, Casting Crowns, Point of Grace, and the list is almost endless...
Where does the inspiration for your music come from: I want to say the Holy Spirit, but that runs the risk of people thinking I mean direct inspiration from God, on par with the Bible's holy scripture, so I will say this: I believe God allows certain experiences and circumstances to shape us, teach us and help us grow closer to Him. He also gives some people the abilty and talent to glean poetry, lyrics and music from everyday events, things we hear and see from friends, family, the news, sermons and the Bible.
Have you been a member of other bands and if so tell us about those experiences: The first group I sang with was an 8-person Chorale called "Salt" from 1977-1979 and we sang popular Christian music from that time, using taped background tracks and 2 slide projectors displaying appropriate images on the screens while we sang. It was the first multimedia-style performance of its kind in the area.
For many years after that, I only performed as a soloist, or duet with friends and family. Then in 1998 I formed a band called "True Witness" that was moderately successful in the SW Missouri area.
Later I sang with a Southern Gospel quartet called "The Kings Travelers" from 2004 - 2007, before being cast in the broadway-style musical drama "The Promise" in Branson in 2007.
I was in The Promise for two seasons and played roles such as Pontius Pilate, Jairus, Simon the Zealot, a moneychanger and a townsperson. It was in this production that 5 of us met. Rich played John the Baptist, Bartholomew and a townsperson, Lance played the Narrator and Jeremiah was a tech (stage crew) and also made appearances on occasion as a moneychanger, a Roman soldier and an unnamed Disciple. Anna is Rich's wife, so that is how we met at the theater, but she was also in the original production of The Promise in Branson.
What goals do you as an individual and a band have: Our goals are simple: to worship the Lord, lift up His name, and glorify Him with the music we play and sing. In the process, we pray that the Holy Spirit work through our music to touch people and get them saved, delivered and healed (and to have fun doing it). So far, at least 5 people have been saved, or have rededicated their lives to Christ at our concerts and others have come forward for prayer.
Tell us about a teacher who made a big difference in your life: Mr. Mosley was my Vo-Tech Electronics teacher in the 11th and 12th grades. I so enjoyed his class, that it was the only class in high school that I maintained an A for both years. He piqued my interest in electronics, which led to me enlisting in the Navy as an Electronic Warfare Technician, which led to my present work in Computer/Information Technology.
Did you play sports in school, if so what were they and what is your best memory from them: I played little-league baseball one year in elementary school, and ran track one year in high school until I had to decide between track and work (work won, because I needed the money more than I wanted to run). I believe Rich played football in school, and Adam was a wrestler.
What's going on with the band now: We are trying to coordinate a small tour for this spring and summer in the regional area and beyond.
New CD: So far, we only have a 3-song demo CD, but I think it turned out fairly well considering it was done in less than 24 hours.
Tour: No set tour scheduled, but we are talking with people in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio and Indiana.
Concerts: Our biggest upcoming concerts are in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (Lance's hometown), where we're hoping to do at least 4 concerts from February 19-22. Then on February 27, we are doing a televised benefit concert for the Freedom Seekers ministry in SW Missouri. The concert will be held at Morningside Village, where the Jim Bakker Show is also produced.
Studio: We are planning to get our full 10-12 song CD done by the end of this year.
Do you have CD's out now and if so what are they and where can people get them: Just our demo CD and we make those available at our concerts, or people can contact us through our website, myspace page or shoutlife page.
Where can people go on-line to find out more about the band, your music, and how to book you for a show: newanointingmusic.com, myspace.com/newanointingband, or shoutlife.com/newanointing
What are some of your interests outside of music: Computers, computer games, Science Fiction (Lance and I both are big fans of Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis). Some of us are also fans of the TV show LOST.
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| Read Complete Story Here |
| Where Are They Now - Maria Long |
09/19/2008 - Music |
Music has always been a huge influence in Maria's life. During her childhood years her parents were in a traveling singing group and toured all over the US. At age 2 Maria wrote her first song. She has performed on countless stages for many church events and programs. Her passion for making music that speaks to the heart came early in her life when she accepted Christ as her personal Savior at age 12. In high school Maria traveled around Texas as a singing recruiter. Then when she attended Southwestern Adventist University in Texas she traveled to youth conferences, retreats, high schools, camps, campmeetings, and churches all over the U.S. sharing God and music with many teens her age. In 1998, her Junior year in college, she decided to become a student missionary on a tiny island called Yap. She taught 6th and 7th grades that year and found a new passion for her life in addition to music. It was there that she made the decision to become a teacher.
After getting her degree in Elementary Education, Maria became a teacher and found her career very fulfilling. During her time as a teacher, in addition to teaching a full load, she also taught guitar and choir for grades K-10, and still found time to write and perform Christian music throughout Arkansas and Texas. After three years in Arkansas, God led her into a public high school ministry position for a Christian university in Michigan. Maria spent her time traveling and performing throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. She also established "The Basement", a weekly public high school ministry in Berrien Springs and then began to train and mentor teens in starting their own ministries. After being told by teens over and over that she needed to make a CD and that her music meant so much to them, she realized that God was telling her to move forward with her music ministry.
Maria recorded her debut album Here With Me in the summer of 2006 and released it October 14, 2006 at the Attic Christian Rock Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas. For this album, she found her songwriting inspiration in various places. Some of her songs originated with time that she spent with God in His Word. Others were written through personal struggles she was dealing with. "In Love" was a song that came when Maria was just overwhelmed by God and His Amazing presence. "Here With Me" and "Inside" were written because of experiences that she has had ministering to teens from "The Basement" who are struggling.
It is this kind of personal touch that is the trademark of Maria's music and ministry. Through Myspace.com, she ministers to hundreds of teens and answers questions of those who are having difficult times or are simply seeking someone who cares to give spiritual advice. Maria Long has a bright future ahead of her. She says often, "God is blessing me faster than I can give Him credit." God is opening many doors for Maria's music, her life, and ministry and as long as He continues to open them she will step through?.
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| Read Complete Story Here |
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ARKANSAS NEWS
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