The man that you are preparing to learn an aspect about goes by the name of Danny Eason. At thirty-something, Danny has been and probably will always be a great addition to the gospel music scene in Brooklyn, New York. I came to find out about Danny's choir "Abundant Life Youth Crusade Choir" (formerly known as "Brooklyn Youth") while attending Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. Always the fraidy cat back then, gimme a break I was all of 16 years old, I asked a girl that I ended up taking to the prom(Paulette Passade--now married..and shout out to her and Alex and Wendy(fellow Loughlinites)...to go with me to my very first try out rehearsal. It was supposedly being held at "Heaven Bound".
A widely known C.O.G.I.C. church, it was extremely small inside the edifice, and for that reason..the enormous choir membership were in every nook and cranny of that church...the band behind the tenors which stood flat-footed mid-center of the altar and the altos and sopranos (respectively) lined the walls of the outer aisles of the church. Danny stood in the center aisle in an effort to try and be visible enough for all to see him.
The thing that used to always tickle me, especially after joining the young collective of brooklyn, queens and bronx membership, was the attendance at our rehearsals. You would really think that Danny was a bonafide star, people would be driving in from everywhere. Either just to sit and ogle Danny directing(real energetic cat), or ogle the drummer(s)-which included(at one time or another): Brother Lonnie, Jeff Lesley, Jason Hendrickson, and even Danny himself (for praise and worship prior to rehearsals). I knew then, walking into Heaven Bound that I was supposed to be a part of this man's ministry, if for nothing else than learning and soaking up the knowledge that he made readily available through encouraging songwriting like: (The Sinner's Prayer) "Don't take Your Joy". The verse went something like this: "I know I messed up/Doing the things I should not do/I know I've said things, that I should'nt have said/ But Lord you came in/You gave me one more chance(gave me one more chance-smile)/Please don't leave me/Take me by the hand(oh yeah)/Please don't leave me take me by the hand!/Whatever I sa-a-ay Lord/ Don't take your joy from me/Whatever I do-oo-ooh Lord/Don't Take your Joy From me/ Wherever I go-oh-oh Lord/ Don't take your joy from me....
Songs like these stay with me even today..and I might venture to even say that I wouldn't have been able to come into contact with my now Pastor..if it wasn't for Danny. He was always encouraging, and always tried to make you feel a part...if you wanted to be a part. For whatever reason his album never popped off like it should of..Lord knows that Danny was the real pre-cursor to the whole crazy God's Property style of performing songs to the highest extent. People like Ty Tribbet & Greater Anointing, J.J. Hairston, Schon Crawford, Demetrius Griffin, and many others came to visit our rehearsals...no doubt picking up gems in ministry along the way.
I was so enamored with this man's ministry and positive effect on my young life, that I counted it a privilege to act as an usher at his wedding to his current wife Kim Eason. I ain't no many of the people there..but I hopped on that 2 train and made my way to that Bronx to support this cat who allowed for me to travel and sings zions' songs up and down the road.
It would not at all be a stretch to say that alot of people "bit" off of Danny and the energetic praise he injected into the Brooklyn community choir scene of the early nineties. It is now cool to go crazy live if you got a youth choir that can sing and dance and project at the same time....at the time that I sang with Danny...I felt like a part of a upwardly mobile thing that was gonna change lives and make money at the same time. He is having a reunion next year. I got my invite the other day, and I definitely looking forward to sounds of songs like:
"Holy Lord"(feat. Anaysha Figeuroa), "He Will Take Care of You"(feat. Craig Wiggins/Charles Perry), "Wait on the Lord" (written by a young Leon Lacey),
"Be Encouraged"(feat. Anaysha Figeuroa), "Somebody Prayed For Me",
"Call on His Name"(feat. Craig Wiggins/Anaysha Figeuroa), "Don't take Your Joy", "Praise"(feat. Keisha Richardson/Anaysha Figeuroa), "He That Dwelleth", "That Same Jesus"(written by Thomas Hammond), "Dance All Night"(written by Jules Bartholomew), and countless other unrecorded gems.
Alot of great and gifted people came out of this choir, not excluding, but rather including: Ami Harris(co-writer of "Love Don't Cost A Thing" by Jenifer Lopez), Ronald Cummings(co-director of the Stellar-award winning Love Fellowship Tabernacle Choir), Tuborah Bryant (social worker currently and fashionista model on the up rise!), Joeworn Martin (songwriter/minister-of-music at Love Fellowship Tabernacle), Jeff Lesley(well-respected drummer/audio technician), Anaysha Figeuroa (the younger counterpart of her sister Timiney who gained considerable fame from singing "Calling My Name" w/ Love Fellowship)-No chic sings like Anaysha..you don't know sopranos like I sopranos nigga!(smile)......
Nah seriously though, I used to come just to hear Naysha to be real with you..on the days I was caught up in home stuff or school...I could look forward to Anaysha singing the mess out of some song that Danny would have her ad-lib on. Her, Charlie and Craig were all amazing to me back then!
I never heard young people around my age, except Craig(lol), that appraoched singing in such a seriously offensive way. These kids SAAAAANG! We had like 8 lines at least, and I started out on 7 or 8 myself.
I didn't care, I was in a small piece of heaven coming out of the Baptist church(I went to First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, Rev. Clarence Norman Sr....since birth...where if somebody screams in church..you turn your head...here in Abundant Life..there was prayer service when you get there..you gotta get on your knees and let GOD know how good he is for at least 45 minutes before lacing up your nikes and timbos so you don't misstep when doing the bk two step or the side-to-side jumpoff during "Call on his name".
I would be drenched with sweat after every rehearsal...and the honest to serious way I would sleep after the rehearsal was over was craaazy....but I thank GOD for the experience and can say that I am better off for having participated.
Update (1/10/04):
Danny Eason is having a reunion/recording in May of this year. The first rehearsal took place in the first week of this month. Yours truly was present and it was just like the days when I was there...sans the dramatics. David Caton, Joeworn Martin, Jeff Lesley, and many other fine musicians returned to be a part of the festivities. There were many happy faces, dramatic weight-loss stories for the ladies, and new babies and grown kids from the homes of former Abundant Life (formerly Brooklyn Youth) choir members.
Thank you Danny Eason!
