Living In My Dreams

I was just counting my blessings this morning while listening to my recording of Desert Rain.  Yes, I do listen to my own recordings, and I hope that doesn't sound like vanity.  When I listen, it's usually in part a critical exercise.  I'm not trying to over analyze my work, but rather trying to measure how closely I've come to achieving my vision for the song.  I try to find those areas that I need to isolate and improve in my performance, and sometimes I just sit back and enjoy the product not unlike when I drink a tall glass of ice water while looking at a freshly mowed lawn.

Keith, Nathan and Phil Keaggy

This morning was one such time. I listened to Desert Rain, and heard Phil Keaggy's tapping at the
end of one measure, and I thought with joy, "my song inspired that in Phil Keaggy."  You see, I've listened to Phil Keaggy for over half my life, and I've heard that technique on many of his originals.  He is to me a guitar hero.  I knew him long before he knew me.  I've spent hours listening to his recordings over the years so much that I can play entire pieces from his albums  in my head.  In that way, he is no different than Paul McCartney or James Taylor to me.  So to hear his strings playing along with mine, elevating my art to a place that I had only dreamed of before, I'm flooded with such gratitude.

Keith & Nathan with Doyle Dykes

Track number 1 and number 4 on our compilation CD, Where Words Fail, Music Speaks, are other such moments. Though I don't play along, I hear the first few notes of Bob's Guitar Lesson by Doyle Dykes, and I can't help but think about how God gave me this gift to work with someone I admire so much.  To me, Doyle Dykes is one of the finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world. Chet Atkins once said something to the effect that he would pay to see Doyle play, and that is a huge compliment from someone whose praise rarely exceeded, "he's a fine picker."  But there he is, on our little project.  Track 4 features his daughter Haley, who has the voice of an angel, singing a song I wrote to the Lord 17 years ago inspired by my son, Marcus. She just moved into a new house in Nashville, and recorded with Michael W. Smith on his number 1 Hymns CD, and she could've so justifiably declined my invitation to sing for the project, but she said, "yes."  Her recording of my song, My Prayers, is a song thanking the Holy Spirit for His prayers on our behalf, and it moves me so.

Nathan & John Knowles

Track number 9 and 12 features yet another guitar legend, John Knowles.  He gave us a beautiful rendition of Vincent, and he went above and beyond recording with Nathan...something that we will always treasure. 

Then there are my friends, Kirby Easler, Greg Neff, Dustin Ashenfelder, Steve McKoy, Greg Rowles and painter, Steven Givler. Each one of these gave beautiful gifts from the heart.

Keith & Nathan with Greg Rowles

All of this, and it's the time of my life shared with my son, and it is with such gratitude to the Lord that I write this blog entry. When we started this project, I could barely imagine such blessings, but here I am living in my dreams.