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SOUL MAN
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Ron Kenoly, who performed last weekend, is the ambassador of praise and worship music
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PRAISE AND worship have evolved into a genre of music by itself. It has caught on in such a big way that exclusive praise and worship (p 'n' w) concerts are being organised even outside the church. Driving rhythms, pithy phrases and high amplification mark the music by contemporary Christian praise bands. The lyrics, simple and short, are designed to be inclusive, and the praise team involves the entire assembly.
Ron Kenoly, who performed in the city last week, is considered a pioneer of the genre. Dr. Kenoly, 59, based in Orlando, Florida, has been performing all over the world. He began as a rhythm and blues artiste, moved on to become a Sunday morning congregational hymn leader before he joined Jubilee Christian Centre, San Jose, California in 1985, where he was named Ambassador of Music. Shortly after, Don Moen of Integrity Music heard about him. In 1991, Integrity released his first album, Jesus is Alive. Since then he has released nine albums, including one in Spanish, Solo Para Ti. After eight CDs of live music came Dwell in the House, a studio album. The Perfect Gift is a Christmas musical, or a `praisiacal' as Kenoly refers to it. After graduating from High School in Coffeeville, Kansas, Dr. Kenoly ventured into Hollywood. When plans to make it big there fell through, he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1965. He joined the Mellows Fellows, a top 40 cover band that toured military bases. In 1968, he quit the air force, shipped out to LA to pursue his passion: music.
"As a child I remember seeing Sammy Davis Jr. and Nat King Cole for the first time. I was so impressed to watch the two black men gracing the national stage. I knew right then that was what I wanted to do."
Referring to his favourite songs, he says: "I like `Welcome Home' because it is associated with the most intense time of prayer and intercession I've ever experienced. It was when my child ran away from home. The song was inspired by his return. I wrote it when my son came home."
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