The Lady, the Melody, and the Word by Shirley Caesar

Author:Shirley Caesar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

First Lady

THE MELODY

You are everything that we need; through winter, summer, spring, or fall.

All of the countless times we’ve failed; yet Your grace still prevails.

Lord, You’re everything; let the praises ring; Lord, You’re everything we need.

—“Everything We Need”

AND THE WORD

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave each one?

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

—1 Corinthians 3:5–7

———IN 1971, five years after leaving the Caravans, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, composed of my peers and executives of the music industry, conferred upon me the highest honor that any musician can receive. They voted me the winner of a Grammy Award, the Oscar of the music world. My recording “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man from Galilee” had won in the category of Best Soul Gospel Performance. To say the least, I was ecstatic. I could not believe that I had actually won a Grammy! Weeks earlier when word of my nomination had come, I never considered the possibility that there was the slightest chance of my receiving that coveted award. After all, the category was extremely competitive, and the other artists were, by far, better known nationally than I was. In fact, I was so certain that I would not win that I, for the most part, dismissed the nomination out of my mind and never entertained the thought of attending the award ceremonies. But I must admit, at the time I was humbled and surprised to learn that I had actually been recognized by the industry. Winning that Grammy took me completely by surprise.

On the night of the ceremony I was in concert in a little city called Houma, Louisiana, outside of New Orleans. We had been on tour most of that week, singing nightly in different cities. Enthused by the move of God that we were experiencing, I was completely engrossed in those services and oblivious to the Grammy Awards taking place far away in Los Angeles, California. To be honest, I had not thought about that event since the news of my nomination. In addition to not believing I could win, part of my indifference toward the Grammys was based upon the fact that I just didn’t know how prestigious the awards were. Remember that this was over twenty-five years ago, and my knowledge of the business side of the music industry was somewhat limited.

At any rate, I went to bed that night without giving the Grammy Awards a second thought. I was exhausted and completely worn out from traveling and singing several consecutive nights, so after the concert, I caught a quick bite to eat, slipped into my pajamas, and climbed into bed. Within minutes I fell fast asleep. I doubt if a riot outside my hotel room could have awakened me that night.

Early the next morning, a hard knocking at the door disturbed my sleep.

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