Stars to Share

For many years I have awakened in the morning and asked myself– what the purpose of life was. I especially wondered what my mission on earth was. I never came close to what I thought was an answer to those questions until recently when I had a chance to return to Africa where I visited and performed simple songs for refugees in countries like Liberia, Ivory coast, Rwanda and Uganda. These are countries where people have gone through some of the worst human suffering because of bad political climates and some of the most corrupt governments Africans have seen.

Some of these countries have gone through war for years. When a country is going through a war, the first thing that is lost is music and culture. This is usually replaced by gunshots and other ugly sounding explosions. The impact this has on children and the general population is painful to see.

I found out by accident that whenever I played my flute or sang a song for the refugees I was rewarded by a big smile and a hug from these sad refugees. It did not matter whether these were children or old people, they all reacted the same. Their faces would lighten up and soon they would ask me if they could sing for me some of their own songs. We would end up singing for hours. Some of them would pull out instruments they had not played for years.

This is when I realized that finally my question for why I came to this earth was answered. I came back to the United States a different man. I came back realizing the power of music in all our lives–that music is as important as food, shelter, or security.

One needs not be in a war-torn area to need their spirits uplifted and edified. The knowledge that music is universal and bridges cultures continues to inspire my music and certainly has shaped this new work–Stars to Share. For the first time I have co-written songs with other musicians and I took seriously suggestions made by these great American artists. The result is a rich blend of cultures, sounds, and moods that can only be achieved by sharing.
Samite