"The Jesus House" @ Deny Brigance Used by permission.
Jesus House Debut from Singing from Silence
. . . In November of 1974, Richard and I went to his debut at the Jesus House, a local coffeehouse that featured Christian musicians. One wall of a spacious room in the old farmhouse was an enormous picture window. When the lights in the room were dimmed, colored floodlights bathed a cross just outside.
This was far from Richard’s first public performance. Since junior high school, he had toured several states with a youth choir, “The New Creations.” This had led in turn to his high school participation as keyboardist, composer, arranger, and vocalist in a group called “The Children of Light”. He was an experienced performer and troubadour by the time he came to the Bible College.
That night at the Jesus House, he performed in jeans, work shirt, and a pair of scuffed red hightop Keds sneakers. His visual trademark was his unimpressive appearance, rapidly corrected by his ability once he sat down to play. Along with his performing and singing talents, he made use of his empathy in concert.
While sensitive people are often at a disadvantage in a large group due to the emotional chaos a crowd produces, someone with Richard’s phenomenal musical talents could use his empathic antennae to sense the mood of the audience. Then it was simple enough for him to deliver appropriate musical themes to re-set the emotional pitch and lead the audience where he wanted them to go.
In addition, his depth of sincerity as a speaker and his stark, unfailing honesty bonded his audience to him in a way that most preachers could only envy. His down-to-earth sense of humor permitted him to relieve the tension that built up in the audience whenever he felt the time was right. His Quaker orientation permitted him both the objectivity to study and bring to light his audience’s weaknesses and the compassion to affirm their strengths. He was a veteran the first time I saw him take the stage. . .
from Singing from Silence @ Pamela Richards, 2010
This was far from Richard’s first public performance. Since junior high school, he had toured several states with a youth choir, “The New Creations.” This had led in turn to his high school participation as keyboardist, composer, arranger, and vocalist in a group called “The Children of Light”. He was an experienced performer and troubadour by the time he came to the Bible College.
That night at the Jesus House, he performed in jeans, work shirt, and a pair of scuffed red hightop Keds sneakers. His visual trademark was his unimpressive appearance, rapidly corrected by his ability once he sat down to play. Along with his performing and singing talents, he made use of his empathy in concert.
While sensitive people are often at a disadvantage in a large group due to the emotional chaos a crowd produces, someone with Richard’s phenomenal musical talents could use his empathic antennae to sense the mood of the audience. Then it was simple enough for him to deliver appropriate musical themes to re-set the emotional pitch and lead the audience where he wanted them to go.
In addition, his depth of sincerity as a speaker and his stark, unfailing honesty bonded his audience to him in a way that most preachers could only envy. His down-to-earth sense of humor permitted him to relieve the tension that built up in the audience whenever he felt the time was right. His Quaker orientation permitted him both the objectivity to study and bring to light his audience’s weaknesses and the compassion to affirm their strengths. He was a veteran the first time I saw him take the stage. . .
from Singing from Silence @ Pamela Richards, 2010
