As a child I attended a little white Baptist church in  what was then the sleepy suburb of North York, in Toronto.   The picturesqe building was an example of the modest architecture of small churches, in small towns, throughout Ontario, Canada and the U.S.A.   Even as a child I had a deep sense of the universality of peoples' spiritual longing.   Today, I hope this multifaith sensibility is reflected in these original Old Time Gospel songs.    

These songs are inspired by the Spirituals that came out of the camp meetings and services of the enslaved African Americans in the Southern United States.   It is a commonly held observation this community identified with the Old Testament stories of Moses and ancient Hebrews fleeing from enslavement in Egypt, and this is reflected in the lyrics of many old spirituals.   It is my belief, also, and I hope to write a book about this, is that, among the many Africans brought over on the slave ships, there were already Christians, Muslims and Jews, as well as many indigenous spiritual beliefs.    Perhaps  the only way to maintain hope and cohesion among this community was to focus on the Biblical stories that were common to all three of these Abrahamic faiths.   The first line in my song Old Time Gospel Way, is "I dreamed I saw Abraham sitting in a tree, and I saw Ismael and Isaac sat beside him."  I hope these songs touch the hearts of people from many faith backgrounds, and also those who just like the warm community feeling of singing along.   I have played these songs in many folk houses, festivals and churches on Vancouver Island and was honoured to be invited to perform these Old Time Gospel songs at Temple Emmanuel Synagogue, in Victoria.   

My travels have taken me many places, and on one special occasion I spent time on the campus of Fisk University, in Nashville Tennessee.   It is a wonderful story, but the  Fisk Jubilee Singers, whom I also had the privilege of hearing, are noted to be the conduit through which these Spirituals  were preserved for posterity and  humanity.   I am so happy to share these songs and stories with people from all backgrounds.