Category: Fettig, Art

  • Art Fettig: Hymn Sing

    Hymn SingHymn sing. Yes, at our little church on a recent Sunday Morning we celebrated a good old fashioned Hymn Sing. No sermon. No preachin’. It was truly a blessed event because music is a powerful way to convey the Lord’s word. I was truly moved by this blessing. Barbara Younger, the organizer and leader of our Hymn Sing is a gifted author who does wonderful Conversations With The Children. For this Hymn Sing she enlisted the support of many talented members to lead the various segments of this service, with the addition of a marvelous organist and choir director Scott Schlesinger, a fantastic choir, and an active singing congregation. Our inspired children’s choir singing “Moses Saw The Burning Bush” directed and accompanied on the guitar by the composer of this number, Christine Jackle provided an energetic start. For me one of the most inspiring times was when Carolyn Norris invited us to close our eyes and listen to the reading of Psalm 145:8-14 by men of our congregation.  Seated at different locations throughout our church about five different voices read short segments of the Psalm. It was well organized and it flowed and I felt truly a part of this powerful rendition. In the call for praise the leader read: “For the poets and composers throughout the ages who wrote the hymns we sing today.” And the people responded, “Thanks be to God!” And as I add this event to my Wonderful Memories list I too add “For all of those who made this such a memorable spiritual blessing for me and I add, Thanks be to God.

    May God bless America in these challenging times and bring us world peace.

    References:

    1. ArtFettig.com




  • Art Fettig: Remembering Greg

    Greg Brayton
    Greg Brayton

    Synergism

    When I perform monthly at our local Senior Day Care Center I share the songs I’ve written that Greg Brayton and I recorded from 1997- 2001. There were 57 songs in all and it was one of the happiest, most creative experiences of my lifetime. I would take my sows ear set of lyrics and a tune in my head over to the studio arriving at 9 a.m. and just about three hours later Greg and I would shake hands, I’d get into my Red Explorer and drive home with the tape player blasting what seemed like a silver purse of a song from the cassette we’d just completed.

    Talk about synergism! – the act of taking two elements and creating something else-, it was like my teaming up with Greg in a joint effort and doing magic math. To me it was like 1+1= 47 or 153 or 7,692. In Greg’s studio my mind would spin. Some mornings I would sit out in Greg’s parking area trying to build up the courage to take my sorry offering inside. It was as if Greg’s genius, together with his magical synthesizers, offered just about any concept of music my wild imagination might conjure up. Once it was a Salvation Army Band on the corner. Another time an old blues piano man in a smokey bar. A karaoke singer in a sleazy club. A bunch of rockers with a couple of motorcycles roaring around the studio. Church bells. A church choir. Strings, violins -lots of violins – and then full string sections for background. Male and female duets with all voices coming from Greg. He was a screeching Edith Bunker or the sweet voice in a tender love song.

    Art Fettig and Greg Brayton
    Art Fettig and Greg Brayton laughing ( not whining)

    Greg cranked out unique arrangements on the spot. When we recorded my patriotic song America is So Beautiful, Greg brought tears to my eyes. Recording my song “If I Loved You Any More You’d Be My Dog,” made us work overtime that day because we were actually rolling around on the studio floor with uncontrolled laughter.

    One day I brought in what I think is one of my best songs titled “I Just Love Wakin’ Up With You.” I asked Greg to just sing it without a background and then vamp in a guitar background. Greg insisted that that was not the way he recorded songs. He explained that he first he had to lay in a background, some rhythm, and some actual music line he could follow while singing. We discussed this for some time and I finally yelled out a challenge, “Greg, you are chicken. You can do anything if you just try it!”

    I Love That Song

    Greg walked over to the area where he recorded the vocals and sang right through that entire song without musical background. He then went back with just his guitar and played the most beautiful musical vamping behind the lyrics one could imagine. He did both of these without a single error. Everything was on key and he did it in one take. I love that song and the way Greg did it. It gives me goose bumps.

    Every time I pick up a CD now I think about Greg. He was a loving, caring man and his greatest joy in addition to family was performing in the Coldwater United Methodist Church in Coldwater, Michigan where he served as Director of the Praise Band and continued to be involved with the music program for the 12 long years after he was diagnosed with cancer. At his funeral the church was packed with his fans who loved him and many more stood outside. At a couple of stores in town the signs on their windows read, “Gone to Greg’s Funeral.”

    I wish that everyone might experience a Greg Brayton in their lifetime.




  • Art Fettig: Storms and Sentiments

    Hurricanes
    Previous hurricanes

    But remember, Irma has the right to change her mind.

    Sitting here in our peaceful home located in Hillsborough, North Carolina half way between the Blue Ridge mountains and the Atlantic Ocean watching weather reports recently as I have gone through varying degrees of interest.  Although I possess some love and concern for all Americans I am especially concerned with the safety and good health of my family.  Especially me.

    When Hurricane Irma was classified as a Cat 5 headed for Miami and predicted to hit Georgia and South Carolina and North Caroline my ears pricked up.  I turned to the 24 hour weather news and followed Irma’s progress.  Hour by hour I checked in for the latest news.  It was late when I finally went to sleep Thursday night and on Friday when I awoke around 10:30 a.m. my wife, Jean said, “The predictions have changed. Irma is expected to march through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and on to an extended path toward Missouri as she weakens.  If she does we will just get a lot of rain, maybe. But remember, Irma has the right to change her mind.”

    My interest waned. I thought of that quote that goes something like, “It all depends on whose ox is being gored.” I turned and thought, “It all depends on whose state is being battered.” and then on to “Whose home is being flooded or blown away.”  To, “What’s the matter with you Art, can’t you feel pain and concern and compassion for all of God’s creatures?”  So I shut off my computer and went upstairs to ride my stationary bicycle and pray for all humankind.

  • Lost in the Crowd – by Art Fettig

    Say Something Good

    Orange County PlayersOrange Community Players/Annie We just attended the final performance of Annie and I can vouch for the fact that not one person on that stage today left anything behind.  Everyone in the cast performed like a dedicated performer and it was such a joy to be in that audience.  During a musical number titled N.Y.C., featuring a stage full of people, one stood out for me. You’ve heard the expression “Lost in a crowd.” Well in this wonderful number one could say that Chantel Bryant might well be “found in a crowd” onstage because of her magnificent voice.  For me that was the highlight of the show, musically, and that says a lot because of the level of superior talent that shared the stage. Hillsborough, NC was truly blessed with this showcase of fine local talent and this production of Annie.  May God bless America and keep our troops from harm.

  • Stringless Banjo? By Art Fettig

    My double-headed stringless banjo adventure

    Drums - BanjoI saw it listed in a senior’s programs booklet. “Share Your Songs”. I drove over to Chapel Hill to their Senior Center and met two young (by my standards but old by most’s,) gentlemen with guitars.  The notice said to bring our acoustic instruments.

    Are finger bongos an “acoustic instrument”? As opposed to electronic drums I guess they are but some folkish music followers sway towards the early Grand Old Opry tradition of banning drums from their stage.  I just said “This is my double-headed stringless-banjo” and they smiled friendly smiles, probably in deference to my obvious aging. What a joy it was watching these two gents having so much fun and producing such wonderful music individually and then together. Stringlessly,  I stumbled through the lyrics of a couple of my songs and they were most patient and kind.

    What a laid back relaxing way to spend a joy filled hour and a half. I was hummin’ all the way home.