Dear Music Family, 

HOPE is an action word! 

One of the blessings of my life and career is that I have the opportunity to fill many different roles through any given year. My role as a musician can take on multiple personas: performer, song leader, educator, arranger, healer, advocate for inspiration… the list evolves endlessly. One special role that I occasionally fill is minister of Music and Message. I get to preach!  

 In my memoir, Searching for Solid Ground, I revealed that from an early age I was tagged by my church and community to become a minister. Some of my early inspiration came from leaders like Rev. Leon Sullivan, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and ministers who combined spiritual leadership with political activism. Uniting people in community protests while helping to provide grounding was a hallmark of their leadership. They got people out and they made things happen. 

 That skill has never been more important than in our current climate. I’m sure you have noticed the rise in individual and global despair. The onslaught of harmful policy and hostile governmental actions has us all on edge, and even worse, has put many innocent lives in danger. But with recent protests engaging millions of people across the nation, there has been a palpable energy shift from coast to coast and everywhere in between. It’s clear that the level of hope, fueled by connection and community, is rising as well! 

 The imminent danger that surrounds us is real, but Americans seem to be waking up. Hope is catching on! 

 Once again, we are beginning to hear music doing what it does best: calming fears, increasing creativity, and inspiring action. My message for the last few months has been “Finding Hope in a Troubled Time” and leans into the glorious lessons that weave a thread through our nation’s complicated but persistent history. As dark and scary as the actions of our government currently are, we know from our history that HOPE is an action word that comes into being when we center ourselves in community and commit ourselves to the daily effort to raise our voices as one toward a common goal.

We are not alone. We can change this madness by working together. As I said in my song “Ready to Go,” “Well I know I can’t do this all by myself/ It’s a long hard journey gonna need some help.” 

 We are the hope we’ve been waiting for. Here’s a song to keep you (to keep us all!) inspired on the journey: 

https://youtu.be/8o7gFfbvMe8?si=VOb5TRF6yYN50GQH

 In community, action, and song, 

Reggie