Hubb had the vision and through this effort, they will be presenting a music scholarship to a couple of children who have shown exemplary gifts and talents in the area of music!
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
A night filled with joy and praises came forth at the Body of Christ Assembly 20900 Miles Parkway, Warrensville, Ohio.
Rodney (Hubb) Hubbard’s Night of Christmas Caroling was awesome.
Guests included Conya Doss, Lem Adams, and Calvin Stokes, and Myron Davis who has been featured with R. Kelly in his early years.
Hubbard brought together some of Cleveland’s best talent to do something he had envisioned, mixing all types of music with a church flavor.
A version of “Hark the Angel” that Hubbard arranged took you to the islands and beyond featuring Michael Austin on the sax that rocked the church and cause the spirit to move around the building.
While bridging the gap, Hubb honored Professor James W. Wade II who has over 60 years playing in church with over 43 years at the Temple Baptist Church. “I am honored that you would recognize me in the midst of all this talent,” said Wade II.
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature such as a hymn.
But, when you add “Joy to the World” and other great Christmas songs with Adams on the vibes, it brings a whole new meaning the holiday spirit.
It has been claimed that there is no precise distinction between music expressing feelings of a sacred or religious nature and music expressing feelings that are not sacred or religious. Bach’s sacred works are musically the same as his secular ones.
Mozart used parts of his religious compositions in secular cantatas and extracts from his operas for church purposes. A mass has also been compiled from some of Haydn’s secular compositions. So, clearly, the anointing God has placed on Minister Hubbard is nothing beyond him having favor on his life.
Each song brought forth a message in some form or other but Bishop Eric Clark placed it all in perspective by making everyone remember the reason for the season. Clark, who just celebrated his birthday, acknowledged that he was looking for gifts for his special day and said, while buying gifts for everyone else… are you buying a gift for the birthday of our Lord and Savior?
Hubb expressed his love for his wife Stacey and his kids. “I want to put in the time now. I do not want to miss them growing up and 15 years later feel sad because I missed those years in their life,” said Hubb.
Rodney, the second child of four, gave his life to Christ at age six. Being around parents who were musically talented, Hubb was blessed with the gift of music. Although he has talents for many instruments, he is well known for the organ and keyboards.
Adding to the array of who’s who musicians were Phil Jones, Steve Johnson, Louis Styx Newsom to name a few.
There are a number of markers of the holiday season but the return of songs about reindeer, roasting chestnuts, and singing angels might be the hardest to miss. And, when you add church to the foundation, it will always be a joyous time!
If you missed this great event, you can still see a number of Gospel Music Leaders from around the Cleveland area who have joined together and have committed to support and uplift each other as they uplift our Lord and Savior!
Hubb had the vision and through this effort, they will be presenting a music scholarship to a couple of children who have shown exemplary gifts and talents in the area of music!
The service will be this Friday, December 23, 2011, 7 p.m., at The Mt. Zion Fellowship Church, Dr. Ron Williams, senior pastor.
