I'm a Nominee for The 2014 RFT Music Awards!

Last week, my wife and I were looking at a few homes with our realtor when I checked my phone and saw that our good friend, Theresa Payne, tagged me in this Facebook post:

"My fourth year in a row being nominated for The RFT Music Awards and my bro Kenneth is too!!!

What an honor! Showcase is gonna be amazing this year!!"

In my mind, I didn't have a lot of shows last year so I was shocked to receive such an honor. Nevertheless, I was excited and grateful to be included once again in the R&B category with some of my fellow St. Louis artists including: Teresa Jenee, Coultrain, SZA and Theresa Payne. 

Two years ago, I was a nominee in the same category and actually performed "That's When You Love" for the first time at Lola for The RFT Music Showcase. Now, here I am, two years later and preparing to release the single and music video!

(Pic of me before The 2012 RFT Music Showcase)

A lot has happened in the past two years, some of which I've discussed in previous blogs.

I decided to stop being so "all over the place" and really focus on finishing the album, develop my team, refine my sound and only do performances that make sense. While I missed be out and about so much, I learned that I really needed (and need) that time away.

Being an artist involves a lot of mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and financial effort. And to do it at this level and intensity requires a lot of dying to oneself, perseverance, tenacity, drive, ambition, steadfastness and so on. 

Kyle Kelley, incredible musician, brother and co-leader of Chris & Kyle with True Spirit, said this powerful statement years ago at a musicians' clinic: "When you're ready, they'll come to you." Those words have stayed with me over the years. Another quote I live by is "Success is when preparation meets opportunity," (Henry Hartman).

I'm ready for what lies ahead of me. The years of preparation have brought me to this moment and I'm ready to seize it. 

The link to The RFT Music Awards article can be found here. 

I'll keep you guys posted over the next few weeks as we get closer to the voting process and showcase details. As Theresa stated, the showcase is gonna be awesome! Help us support the St. Louis local music scene by voting and attending the showcase. 

The Morning After the Show

It's 6:30 am and I'm up getting dressed for church. 

Today is Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday. 

I've only been sleep for a few hours but I'm still flying high off of last night's show and gathering of friends. It was a great night of music, love, laughs and precious memories that I'll cherish forever.

It's amazing what takes place in an environment where love lives and thrives. I've always said that I want my shows to be a place where people can think, be inspired, and hopefully love more than ever before. I believe this happened last night.

I didn't do this alone. I want to thank my amazingly supportive wife, Christia, my band members for the night, Andrew Gibson and Isaiah Cox, my Hope Church family, my coworkers from Vantage Credit Union, and all my friends who came near and far to support us. 

It was so cool to hear people singing songs you wrote that were once just ideas! It was cool to have conversations before and after the show that ask intriguing questions like "What inspired Kenny to write that song?" It was amazing to see families rekindled. And it was beautiful to witness the power of love through music.

I love each and every one of you for believing in me. I don't take it for granted.

May this be a day full of love, laughs and precious moments of reflection for you and your family on this Resurrection Sunday. 

Kenny.

How I Prepare for Shows

A LOT goes into the making of a great performance. A lot of time, thought, energy, prayer, discussion, rehearsal, and more. Every artist is unique and has his or her own method or routine. I have a show this weekend, so I thought it would be cool to share my pre-game process.

1. Quiet Time

I talk a lot...just ask my wife or read my blog. I always have something to say.  LOL! So there are times when I have to force myself to be quiet and get still. And it's in those moments that I'm able to really think and listen for the voice of the Lord. Honestly, this is something I should do a lot more of. It's amazing the clarity I get in quiet time. 

2. I "See" Myself at the Show (Before the Show)

I'm a very visual person with a vivid imagination. I often times will go through an entire show in my head, from start to finish and imagine what I will look like, how I want to feel, how I think people will respond, etc. 

3. Review My Set List

I used to really struggle with set lists. At one time, I was super spontaneous, almost to a fault, but I learned (and am learning) how proper preparation actually gives room for true spontaneity, allowing the Holy Spirit to move as He sees it. 

4. Solo Practice

Lately, I've been able to get some really good practice in before work in the morning. I remember reading an author's interview where she stated that she would get up a few hours earlier or stay up a few hours before going to bed in order to write her book. Spending time alone going through the songs not only smooths out the rough spots, technically, but clears the headspace for the show. It also helps me give clearer directions for the band and team. 

5. Band Rehearsal

I love band rehearsal! I've always been a fan of collaboration and team work. Sometimes in band rehearsal, I discover that some of those "cool" ideas I had in my mind might not translate so well in person. lol! It's good though to get that stuff worked out before hand though. I often try not to have heavy rehearsal the night before a show so I can save my voice and rest. I don't mind light run-throughs but I've learned over the years how to rehearse without over doing it. 

6. SHOWTIME!

This is the time when all the hard work, preparation, rehearsals go into effect. I try to leave my heart on the stage every time I step on it. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I have what I like to call "learning opportunities" aka "ummm….how bout we don't do that again? lol! When it's all said it done, I want to give my all, have a good time and hopefully inspire and entertain the audience. 

I have a show this weekend at Foam so I'll be putting these steps into effect. It's gonna be an awesome show with St. Louis native, Fitzgerald and Chicago based Soul Singer, Aryk Crowder. I'd love to see you guys there! Let's make it an epic night!

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. In my quiet time, I've been feeling this overwhelming impression to help people, specifically other guys.

A few years ago, I was working as a teller at the credit union. During my lunch break, God dropped this idea on me to get a group of guys together and hang out. He was like "Text a few guys, invite them to meet you at Chick-fil-A and just have guy talk." I was like "What?! It's 1 o'clock. That's last minute. No one's gonna be able to make it on that short notice." And….He just kept quiet. That meant "Kenny, do what I told you to do." lol.

To be honest, I didn't feel qualified to lead a men's group. Now that I think about it, this was the second time within a few years that I tried to run away from this kind of opportunity. This was a new challenge for me, and it would take me out of my comfort zone.

You see I believed the lies for years that I wasn't a "guys' guy." In my mind, I wouldn't be able to really relate to a group of men on and on. But I was tired of living that way. I knew God had blessed me with some great brothers who I could learn and grow with and vice versa. So, I let those fears go and started the group.

And surprisingly, a handful of guys should've up for the first one!

The name for the group was The Men's Chat & Chew. We would meet for an hour or so right after work, grab some food and just talk about what's going on in our lives.

I loved it because it wasn't limited to just guys from our church. It was more of a community thing with guys from across the St. Louis Metro (and even sometimes via conference call), all from different backgrounds and age groups, discussing the real stuff that men go through.

Some great relationships were formed and the monthly gatherings lasted for a year.

Then…I let the group slip away. Life got really busy.  I got married, I was trying to juggle work, church and other responsibilities and had some personal things that I needed to work through.

Fast forward to this week. My wife and I just got back from an amazing vacation in San Diego and we hit the ground running. I was on my way out the door to work and God dropped that impression on my heart again to help guys but this time specifically in the area of purity.

God has really given me a passion to teach on the beauty and importance of purity. I feel like this is something we aren't really taught as guys and that HAS to change. Most men are very visual people and the enemy knows that. So he blatantly and deceitfully throws these lustful and seductive images in our face, and if left unchecked those images become seeds of destruction. I know firsthand how destructive those seeds are and I don't want anyone to go through what I've been through because of them.

Every man needs a strong support system. If you're married, the support of your wife is vital. If you're single, having at least one guy, who's stronger than you in the area you struggle with, is also vital.

As men, we're also created to bond with other men. So having a few guys that you can be totally open and honest with wins major wars of the mind. God has blessed me with some amazing guys who are stronger than me, can pour into me and those who are a few years younger that I can pour into. Both
are needed.

Me and Greg Hand

(My producer/brother who has shown me what true accountability looks like)

Ryan Williams, Me, Mark Goins

(We've played music together and have been amazing sources of brotherhood for one another)

Me and Donnie Howard

(Fellow co-worker, brother and walking miracle. We're kinda crazy! Lol)

These pictures represent a few of the examples of brotherhood on many levels. Greg's a few years older than me, has tons of wisdom and God has used him to challenge me big time to let go of the past, walk in dominion and power and chase after my dreams. Ryan is a few years younger than me, but He's got some wisdom beyond his years. Mark and I are close in age and even more so recently have strengthened our bond through transparency and accountability. Donnie is one of my bros at work that has been a living example for me that miracles still exist. He's watched my journey into marriage and now I get to watch his. 

Everyone needs somebody. I'm tired of seeing brothers locked up (mentally and physically), marriages falling and communities crumbling. There's a quote I posted on social media that says "If you win the MEN of the community, you win the COMMUNITY." I wholeheartedly believe that. We all know there's a problem but too many of us (myself included) have been quiet for too long. It's time to BE the solution.

You might've heard the familiar phrase "Am I my brother's keeper?" Well, it's actually a verse found in Genesis 4:9b. Cain killed his brother, Abel, and God asks Cain "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain responds "Am I my brother's keeper?" knowing that he killed his brother. I pose the same question to us "Where are our brothers?"

While many of us aren't physically killing our brothers, we are allowing them to kill themselves. And we do this by withholding the truth from them. The word says in John 8:32 "And you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free." We know right from wrong. We all know brothers that are headed down the wrong path and many of us (once again..myself included) aren't saying anything due to fear. But what's worse? Having them not like us momentarily or knowing that our words could possibly save their life?

Here's a solution guys that we can use a starting point: Let's start by connecting with at least one brother in our lives TODAY. It can be a natural brother, a coworker, a gym buddy or a guy in the community. And It doesn't have to be anything deep. Just start a conversation with him, build a relationship and look for that open window. We win the war one heart at a time.

I wanna hear from my brothers. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on this topic.

OH!! By the way...stay tuned for The Men's Chat & Chew, Round 2! :)