Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by Fireheart Pictures and viewers like you.

Thank you.

Music can be medicine for our soul.

It can make us feel strong emotions and literally lift our spirits.

Tonight we meet two people who use music to bring us together.

And they'll be singing live in our studio.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

From Los Angeles, this is KLCS PBS.

Welcome to Everybody with Angela Williamson, an innovation, arts, education and public affairs program.

Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

And now your host, doctor Angela Williamson.

Guy Nelson is our first guest.

Guy, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for having me.

It's a pleasure.

Haven't seen each other in a little bit, but you've been doing so many wonderful things.

Thank you so much for singing in our studio.

But before we get to that, tell us a little bit why you chose this path as your music path.

I don't really feel that I like I chose it.

I started out, when I got a guitar.

I really just wanted to be on, you know, MTV.

So to speak.

but, you know, through life in a bunch of circumstances, I came to know Jesus.

And that really set the rest of the course for where where I am.

I found worship music, and I found a place in that.

And then I ended up, as a music minister where I've been for 30 years, True Vine Christian fellowship.

And, you know, I was going to ask you where, where, where your churches and True Vine Christian fellowship, where is that?

It's in orange.

It's in orange.

Okay.

So you stay close to home.

Just so our audience knows, we graduated from the same high school together.

So you stay close.

You stay close to home.

So do you think that when you started in music ministry at your church, when you started really young, did you see that you would be there for three decades?

You know, it.

It felt like home, which is something that, you know, really, really.

I wanted in my life, you know, and, and the people that are there, when you find your home, so to speak, that just that you don't see life changing.

There are certain things that happen.

And I know that there are some great people that, have moved on.

Some are in Idaho, some in Texas that that we started out with.

But, I, I stayed here.

And.

And, this is where God has me.

I feel that that's really what leads it.

Well, and I talked in our teaser about it being music is medicine, and there's so many genres that fulfill that.

And definitely Christian music does.

Yeah.

So so my question to you, because Christian music is a humongous industry and there's so many songs out there that you as a worship leader can choose from.

At one point in your life, though, you just start, you decided to start writing your own songs.

So tell me, how does that happen for God?

Well, I've always been creative musically.

I don't really consider myself much of a lyric writer, but, the expression to God is is really what worship is about.

And it brings it does bring people together to a you're actually, like, ushering in a time where their focus is just on him alone.

And I can just and I don't I don't see myself is any other person but just facilitating, you know, it's the they call you a worship leader.

But, it's not about me in that position, but, yeah.

When a song comes to you, it's usually for for me, it's very, inspirational.

It's very.

In a moment, if I, if you put a piece of paper and a pen in front of me or and give me a guitar, I could probably sit here for hours and hours before I put it down and walk away.

Go.

I just there's nothing, you know, but sometimes it just hits me, you know, at a moment when maybe Scripture usually will be something scriptural that will that will, minister to me.

And then I turn around and it all comes out and, you know, it's been 30 years to get to this point.

I never thought I would record or do anything.

Now I've got two separate little compilations, ten song compilations that I did and, I, I actually didn't think that was going to happen, but it, the recording of it.

Well, but somewhere in your journey you had those lyrics, those songs, and it just took a certain time for you to just get them all out.

Am I correct because I love hearing stories about songwriters and there's a lot of creativity behind it, but there's a lot of your life experiences that you use in your lyrics to bring comfort to others or to bring praise to God.

So tell us a little bit about that.

Well, to get to get to that point, that where it was, it wasn't something that I was like, oh, look, I wrote a song and I kind of had it was to get my feet wet a little bit too, because it's it's kind of scary to say, look, this is a song I wrote and you like it, you know?

And so at the time, you know, the worship, there was a drummer, bass and some we had some people in the church that would volunteer and play, you know, it's all and I said, hey, you know, this is a new song, but I didn't I didn't necessarily be like, I wrote this song, you know, to everybody in there snuck it in there because everybody was listening at the time.

Maranatha!

Music was really, really big.

And, vineyard songs were also big on my list, and those were most of the songs that I grew up in the church listening to.

And, and so, you know, you kind of sneak one in and you see how it sits for a bit and, you know, I had my pastor's mom came up to me one day after after service and she, which was kind of emotional something.

And, and and she said, I cry every time you play that song.

And it was one of the songs that that I, that I wrote and I didn't say, oh, I wrote that song.

I was just, I was just like immediately like, okay, God, that was, that's that's the purpose for these songs is they do something, they have a meaning.

It's it's above you know what?

I'm what I'm here.

Whatever.

You know, and but I just kept being that person for a long time, not thinking that having any kind of like goal to to become big or famous, you know, that was my that was my high school dream, you know, that's what I was doing.

Want to be with those high on the.

Stage, I know.

Well, you know, I just I just love how meaningful music is at finding out that it's not just about making money or or anything.

It's about integrity and have a message in the songs and yeah, I mean, it's kind of a given a little bit with worship music because it's, you know, it, it kind of lends itself to be meaningful from the start.

But when when you write a song and then somebody comes up and says, that's, you know, without knowing who it is, that's a really nice song.

I just keep playing that song, you know?

And, that's what kind of kept me going with it, like to keep introducing new songs here and there and, and then here I am, you know.

Here you are.

So my question is, is what is next for Guy?

Well, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing.

I have a friend who encourages me in church and he, he always ends are are Sundays with thanks for being faithful.

And I just think that as human beings, if we're doing something, you know, we should be faithful in it.

And, and I have a my only whatever God has for me from this point on, I'm, I'm great with, you know, if it all, you know were to end tomorrow, so to speak, or whatever.

I like this.

Nobody likes to hear that.

But then that would be, worth it.

And you've left that legacy of worship music.

So my question is, because your worship music is out there so people can find it and probably incorporate that into their music as well in church, correct?

Yeah.

I mean, there's kids that, will ask to learn how to play the guitar or they'll beat asking for the chords.

You know, they want to play the songs.

and that's all available from me.

I have no problem.

You know what?

That's what you said that because we'll make sure our audience knows how to find you guys.

Thank you so much.

You've done so many wonderful things since the last time we saw each other.

And what you're doing to leave in this world is so important.

So thank you for providing that medicine.

But audience, come back to hear Marie treat Garrett as she brings her music into our studio.

But before we do, let's listen to Guy as he performs one of his original songs, The Cross in the Empty Tomb.

You are holy.

You are Majesty.

Praise Almighty God.

You are wonderful.

You are grace.

You are mercy.

Praise Almighty God.

You are wonderful.

The crossing empty.

And.

You are wonderful.

You are.

Choose.

You all I choose this praise.

Almighty God.

You are wonderful.

You are the way you are.

Salvation.

You praise Almighty.

God.

You are wonderful.

The cross Sunday and day to.

You are one.

The cross for me.

Empty to you.

You are.

Wonderful.

You.

Know two days are alike.

So every day you prepare.

For yourself.

For those you love.

For whatever the day may bring.

Being prepared is a part of who you are.

But in the case of a disaster, preparation isn't always front of mind.

In an emergency, when help and resources may not be available for days, make a plan that covers when you go in an emergency, and how a personal support network can assist you.

Build a kit that contains the specific things you need to survive for several days.

Food and water.

Medication and supplies.

And as well as any important documents you may need.

Being prepared is a part of who you are and disaster preparation is no different.

There's no one more capable of planning for your situation than you.

Be informed.

Make a plan.

Build a kit.

Get involved.

Ready.gov mi plan.

Thank you for watching.

You'll see us.

Authentic.

Welcome back.

Wasn't that fabulous?

Well, we have more.

We retreat.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

It's my pleasure.

Well, you are also going to sing one of your original songs.

Yes.

Or you do?

Yes.

I want our audience to get to know you.

I mean, at what point in your life did you know that you wanted to make music a career?

Or were you just born singing?

I started playing when I was two and a half.

I started playing piano, so I have always, always played.

And then when I was in high school, I sort of decided that I had something to say because I didn't really have the big black girl voice.

I was like, well, but I want to.

I do want to sing something so I started writing and then singing, and then I was a Jubilee singer.

I went to Fisk and traveled the world, and then, just evolved from there.

Okay, so let's not gloss over anything.

Oh, no, this is wonderful.

But, you actually have a way to to actually not only just entertain us.

I was going to say educate us right now, but you said you were a Jubilee singer at Fisk University.

That's.

Yes.

Long time institution.

Yes.

Tell us a little bit about that, because that you're part of that tells us about your voice.

So the tradition started in 1866 when the school was founded, and the singers were touring the world to make money to save the school.

So they built Jubilee Hall, because in the beginning there were just there were smaller buildings, but they needed a place that could house the full student body.

And so we built Jubilee Hall.

There's a portrait that hangs there that was commissioned by the Queen of the original Jubilee Singers that were out on the road.

And so it still hangs in the building, but as a Jubilee singer.

So you come in as a freshman, you become an apprentice, and then you hopefully succeed and move on to being a full jubilee singer.

So I was a biology major.

Most of the Jubilee singers are music majors, so I was in the lab all week and then on tour on the weekends.

So that was my life.

Well, I could not have you gloss over that just for the take you.

It's one of those things I hardly ever talk about anymore.

But it was it was such an amazing experience and I think when I got there, I didn't realize the relevance of being in the school and the history and all of that.

But I do now.

It's kind of like my is thinking about going to an HBCU now as well.

And so I'm like, you have to understand how important this is for all of us, even though you don't quite grasp all of it right now.

You'll you'll get it later and it'll be important to you.

Well, especially the historical impact of historically black colleges and universities.

Sure.

But even I mean, the Jubilee singers, I mean, to know that you're coming in as a biology major.

Major, you are an apprentice for the Jubilee Singers.

You become part of it.

I mean, that lets us know the power of your voice.

Oh, did you start to realize the power of it?

It's so interesting.

I, I didn't have an operatic voice, so I never really saying solo, but I could always sing background, which is so nice because that's really what it's about.

It's about the blend.

And when I was there, McCoy Ransom was our director.

And for the first time in a long time, he would start us off, and then he would go sit down, and we would do the entire concert without him.

Just, you know, just the pitches were given, and then we would just come right in.

So it's all acapella now.

They do a little bit more of the accompaniment with piano, but it's so it's it's a really it was really an amazing and amazing experience for me.

So I letting our audience follow your life.

Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

So in high school you, you already have started to write lyrics.

You you know that you love music.

You're thinking you don't have that big voice, but obviously you must have.

You ended up at Fisk University majoring in biology.

Did you?

Yes.

Oh, I got my my first degrees in biology and then I my second I was going to Howard in pharmacy school.

That was my compromise with my mother because she wanted me to be a doctor, go to Meharry, marry a doctor, have 2.5 kids and.

Okay.

But that didn't quite it didn't quite go that way.

And when I got to Howard, I was like, listen, I will I will do a pharmacy major because then I can I don't have to do a residency.

I can just become a pharmacist and then go do music.

Yes, but it's almost as soon as I got there.

I did one semester in pharmacy, and then I transferred to music because I was over at the music school practicing and playing, and they said, well, if you if you want to do this, you can do this.

So I switched over.

Well, which is interesting that you would say that because even in the teaser I talk about how music is a medicine for the soul.

And in this case, I mean, you were studying medicine, but you really felt your medicine was coming from the music.

Yes.

And so my father's family there, there are a lot of doctors in his family, a lot of female doctors as well.

And so that was just sort of the the expectation that he was a musician and he he was perfectly happy when I switched over.

I never got any pressure from him at all.

In fact, when I made the call home to tell my mother, she was like, I'm not speaking to you, talk to your father.

And she handed him the phone and he said, well, I wondered how long it was going to take you to figure out.

And she was like, don't say that to her.

That's not what you're supposed to say.

But I mean, I knew, I think I knew, I always knew, and I never felt like I wanted to do anything else.

But I feel like the music is very healing, too.

So it it it is definitely.

And so you get your masters in music.

Yeah.

So I got I had to get a second bachelor's in music and then get a master's in jazz studies.

Yeah.

And and so then at that point is that before.

I mean that's definitely before you end up in New York is this when you started to really move into the industry, the music industry as we know you today?

Yes.

So there were a lot of things that happened.

We did a lot of embassy work, a lot of the embassies needed music.

There was a I mean, we were in DC, so there's all of this.

I went to Howard as well.

So there's all of this in in embassy, things that happened, industry things that happened.

Howard was happening.

They were shooting TV shows.

They're one of my first gigs was on a man called Hawk with Avery Brooks, which was amazing.

And just so all kinds of really interesting things happen.

And then I had a band.

We sort of hit a ceiling and decided to move to New York and see if we could succeed there.

And so that's how the New York move happened.

And then I lived in New York for 20 years.

So as a musician.

Well.

And I mean, I know because you've moved around and you also at the same time you were getting your degrees as well, but it's different to follow what your true passion is.

And at any point did you you said you hit a ceiling in Washington DC in New York at any point, do you feel that even though you still want to do your passion, you want to change it up a little bit slightly?

It has morphed into different things.

The biggest trajectory change I had to pick up Bill Downing from the train station.

Nobody else had a car.

I just happened to have a car that day, so I went to pick him up and he was asking me what I was doing with my music, and I said, well, I'm shopping a deal.

And he's like, are you?

Is that what you want to do?

Because if you want to make the same record over and over again and get a deal, then go ahead.

But if you want to grow as an artist and do other things, then maybe you should think about being a self-promoting artist.

And I thought, really?

Well, Downing is saying this.

And he just he seemed a little bit disillusioned at the time, making the same record over and over again and not being able to grow.

And so I took that into consideration and just sort of changed the path a little bit and decided to be an independent artist and self-promote and do all of those things, which is a lot harder.

But it allowed me to play guitar.

It allowed me to learn how to play bass and cello and sing different songs and write different songs and live some life in between and have things to say.

So that's how we got here.

Well, I mean, our time has gone by so quickly.

Always.

It's always quick.

Every time we talk I'm like, how quick is it?

I know, I.

Know, but I could not end our conversation without you telling us how we can continue to listen to your music.

So I'm on Facebook, under Marie Traeger, under my name.

I five days a week, 5 to 6 on the West coast, 8 to 9 on the East coast.

I play live, I'm on Instagram.

It's Marie true music pretty much across the board.

Marie chew.com for everything else.

So I'm out there, I'm on YouTube, I'm on Spotify, I'm on, all of the major streaming platforms under my name, Marie Richie Garrett or the Soul Folk Experience, which is my current band.

Yes.

Which our show is now following.

I didn't know you had.

I love it.

So yes.

We'll make sure our audience knows, because now you are going to sing for us in the studio, and our audience will want to know how to find you perfect.

I love the advice that you're giving to independent artists out there, because you really have learned to get your name out there, share your voice, and also to share your message in your own music.

So that is so wonderful.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for having me.

What a pleasure.

Oh.

And you're not going away.

You will be.

I'll be right back.

Yes, yes.

Yes, yes.

And thank you for joining us on everybody with Angelo Williamson.

Viewers like you make this show possible.

Join us on social media to continue this conversation.

But before we say good night, let's hear Marissa Garrett saying, all in all.

Good.

Sorry I didn't read it word for word that.

Man is a lonesome road.

And I work alone.

But I'm not afraid.

Your voice is everywhere in the eyes of a newborn child.

The river that runs.

What is crazy on my.

You are my everything.

Every song I sing.

Every word I write.

My all alone.

I know you're by my side.

You're in front of me.

You are my God.

And you hear me.

When I am feeling small.

Say walk away I would say stay.

I learned my lessons and only time to.

You're my everything.

Every song I sing, every word I write.

All and all.

If I could find the words to say that I love you.

If I could find the words to say that I can.

I can hear your voice all around me.

I can feel your presence.

You are everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

If I could find the words to say that I love you.

If I could find the words to say that I can.

I can hear your voice all around I can feel your presence.

You're everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

On the signs.

Road that I'm walking all alone to you.

Say to me.

He's the one love.

And I love him.

Till my days are difficult.

And often through the laughter in all of my.

You are my everything.

Every song I sing, every word I race on.

Every dark and sleepless night.

The fullness of the morning.

Making love at noon, driving up the coast and listening to the music that I love amongst the sacred morning rain.

The joy after the pain.

Knowing you, my everything.

My all.

You are my oil, my all alone.