2024: Happy New Year: A Look Ahead
Exciting things are brewing for the New Year. Find out what's coming!
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone’s holiday celebrations were, at the very least, safe and, at the most, joyful.
I took the last two weeks of December off (for the most part) from being online. I spent the time taking care of ‘life’ business, trying to wrap up assignments, but, most importantly, visioning and imagining 2024 in between celebrating the holidays with my family.
I call 2023 the best of times and the strangest of times.
On December 30, 2022, I took a leap of faith. I left a full-time job that I’d been at for almost four years and returned to the land of independent contracting. My goal was to finally get the New York Community Choir book written. The GoFundMe gave me a jumping off place to do that and I’m proud to say that I was able to complete all but one chapter! So, I must say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed, shared or simply said “You can do this.” The first draft is almost finished.
I did, however, enter 2023 with a series of ‘almost sure things’ in the air…and none of them panned out. I navigated a lot of disappointment and frustration. BUT! True to form, unexpected, great things happened that I did not anticipate. You saw many of those things in real time through this newsletter in 2023 and some will be revealed in this new year. As we speak, I’m in the final stages of producing four reissue packages for SoulMusic Records of classic recordings from the 1970s that will be released this summer (more on that soon!) and I have two other liner notes assignments that I’m working on….so I’m grateful for all that this year did manifest.
What is ahead in 2024 for God’s Music Is My Life?
Monthly features will return this month. This year, I will write 11 comprehensive essays on albums by gospel, CCM, and soul artists that are celebrating anniversaries—the oldest album turns 60, the youngest 30.
Monthly deep-dives on songs/artists featured via the Church of the Good Groove playlist that I curate for SoulandJazz.com and the gospel show that I host on DAF Gospel Radio
Reviews of book, films and programming that connect to the thesis of God’s Music Is My Life
Introducing exclusive content for paid subscribers which will include a companion podcast for each monthly feature.
As you know, I’ve resisted putting any of the content here behind a paywall. However, after evaluating the amount of time that goes into research, writing, and scanning as well as the resources that go into purchasing items that are featured here, it is a necessity.
I am grateful to ALL of the subscribers at God’s Music Is My Life, free or paid and hope that your support will continue in the ways that you deem appropriate in this new year.
I’d love to hear what kinds of content you’d be interested in as a paid subscriber, so please feel free to comment or message me directly with your thoughts.
I’ll leave you with the five most read features from 2023, all of which I’m incredibly proud of! Thank you again for reading and for loving the music!
So much to look back on and to look forward too! Hurrah!