God has blessed me with some pretty cool friends and I thought it would be a good way start my blog with a little story about a party I went to last week at my friend Rich William's house. Rich is a LT. Col in the Air Force, he also flies for Delta. I met Rich 15 years ago when a security guard backstage at my concert said to my wife and I "Uh, there's a guy out here who say's he's your pilot?" My quick witted wife replied "Yes, that's right, send him in." She's always right, Rich was an officer and a gentlemen. He told us that his co-pilot handed him a cassette tape of my album "Body and Soul" and how the music got them through some tough times in combat. Rich called me last week and invited me to his daughter's graduation party. Rich has three handsome kids; Randy (the oldest) Bryan (old enough to drive) and lovely and talented Kayla (the graduate). I've met some cool people through Rich and one of them is Mr. Mitch, the handsome 90 year old member of the original Tuskegee Airman who flew red tailed P-51 Mustangs in WWII. Mitch was one of the first African American pilots in the Air Force and he was coming to the party. Rich's son Bryan picked me and my three sons Jonathon (14), James (13) and young Jesse (5) up from my home and drove us to Rich's house. On the way, Bryan asked me "How's the thing going with Stevie?" Stevie Wonder and I have been friends now for more than two decades and have worked together on a few things. Bryan had heard from Rich about Steve (as I call him) called me last month to discuss working on a project together. I replied reluctantly "We'll, I haven't heard anything yet." After all, this is the "Eight Wonder of The World" we're talking about here. He doesn't just call folks without a purpose and I was willing to wait. Then I thought to myself I have Steve's cell number in my phone, why not just call him. So I say to Bryan "I should call him, in fact, I'll just call him right now." So, I dial the number and put it on speaker phone so that young Bryan can hear Steve's message as he's always singing a little tune but he answers. I don't know how to shut off the speaker on the phone so I chat with Steve for 15 minutes as we drive. My kids aren't even paying attention in their own world in the back of the mini van. Bryan just smiled as we drove. I asked Steve if I called him later that evening would he answer as I wanted to introduce him to Mr. Mitch and my friend Rich Williams. Steve said sure. At the party, Mr. Mitch strolls in and I seat him at my table, at least it became my table. I asked him if he had ever met Stevie Wonder and he said no, that he hadn't but that he had romanced a young lady once using one of his songs, one about Steve's daughter. I asked "Isn't She Lovely?" "That's the one!" he replied as he chuckled a bit. Then I said "Mr. Mitch, this phone is going to ring and when it does, Stevie Wonder is going to be on the other end and he wants to meet you." "Oh, alright then" Mr. Mitch replied so genteelly. Steve calls and speaks with Mr. Mitch and then to Rich Williams for 20 minutes or so. Then Rich hands me the phone without saying anything but giving me that look like "Man? Shoot!" I hang up the phone and ask Rich "What'd he say, what he say?" Rich smiled sympathetically "Well, he wanted to speak with you again." Ooops! Only I would accidently hang up on Stevie Wonder. Oh well, nonetheless, Rich told me that Steve wanted to take a picture with Mr. Mitch and that Rich would escort him to the photo shoot. I'll let you know how that goes as it happens. Thanks for reading and I hope you find this tale and those to follow, God willing, both interesting and entertaining. As for now, I bid you a good day or evening and may God bless you all.
Love, Jon Gibson
Wasn't the song you recorded with Stevie "Have A Little Talk With God?" Haven't listened to it in years, but I do love that song.
ReplyDeleteThat story reminds me of the time you actually called me back in January. You had just released your compilation CD ROM and was having problems with PayPal. Me and my son Chris (22) were sitting in a restaurant about to order and my phone rings. There you were on the other end. Chris and I just sat there in shock. You have been a favorite of ours for years. To think that you would call like that attests to your humility and the love of God in your heart. Can't wait for the rest of your new project. Wilton
ReplyDeleteHey Jon, I played "On A Mission" for Shawna and Ariana while we were sitting at the table a couple of nights ago. At your first line Ariana instantly declared "Oh yeah! That's another great Jon Gibson song, I love it!"
ReplyDeleteWe pray for your continued success the way you've always measured it.....by the people who are reached for Jesus Christ through the message in the music.
We gotta get you back up to Seattle...soon!
Sometimes I wonder how it is that you are not more acclaimed, more recognized. And sometimes I'm just grateful. That you are not part of that CCM machine that tries to emulate the world. That you have never compromised the message (except that time when you were a kid, a young pop star being inappropriate with his teacher but she told you so). Looking forward to the album. I'm hoping it's a mixture of Body and Soul and Jesus Love Ya - unmistakenly two of the greatest albums in the history of Christian music (please check out my review of Body and Soul on the site that sells your CDs). But then here I am telling you what to do -- the very thing you don't do with Jon Gibson.
ReplyDeleteFriends are a gift from God. New friends are more gifts. Only the Lord knows what we need and when. Jon, keep your faith, stay humble and even if the going gets rough, know that HE is taking you there.
ReplyDeleteLove covers a multitude of sins, sometimes even the worldly recognize that. May your voice reach the lost, soothe the hurting and cheer on the running. We are in a race, sometimes it seems a turtle race, that is only the rest, before the next step is reached.
May the Lord bless you and guide you, may He fill you with the Holy Spirit and may you be protected by Him.
Always give all that you have to Him, stay humble and walk the walk.
'My sheep hear my voice' may you hear His voice.
Your sister in Christ Jesus....
Rich obviously wasn't 'thee' best backstage gaurd back in the day cuz thats how my best friend, Christi Penir got backstage & ended up back @ Jon's room!! Being the man of much character looked up & told his friend Ahab Nafal,"get them outta here!" {OUCH} Jon will always reign supreme. Beyond Blessed
ReplyDelete