What A Friend We Have In Jesus 

Hymn No: 457 

The Lutheran Hymnal of 1941 

Hymns have been a part of my musical journey as long as I remember. One hymn that has always brought me deep personal comfort is “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” . I went to St. Paul, a small Lutheran grade school in Cincinnati OH.  We had chapel every Wednesday. Chapel exposed me to three musical elements that still bring me great joy: church bells, pipe organs, and hymns. The Hymn “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” spoke to me as a little child, and still does. 

I think it's the notion that you have a friend, that you can take your issues or problems to, without judgement or  reservation. That type of friendship is hard to find ,both as a child and adult!  

The Lutheran church sang this song 4/4 time. This song was also sung at our home church.  Our home church had a  predominately black congregation, in contrast to my Lutheran schooling. Our home church would sing this song 6/8 time, which means the melody would “swing” . This is common practice in the American black church.  

I have so much gratitude for both of these musical treatments. The differences of arrangements gave me musical freedom. It taught me that there isn't a ‘right or wrong” way to play or sing a song. It gave me courage to explore outside of the musical norms. It exposed me to the long table of beautiful musical styles. My life long musical journey has been heavily influenced by this liberation of musical interpretation .  

 Below is my solo piano improv arrangement of this beautiful hymn. 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to my first grade teacher at St. Paul Lutheran, Lana Kittenbrink, for giving me the hymnal info for this hymn . You and your family will always be cherished by my family and I.

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I took this photo at Fernbank Park, in CIncinnati OH, on 2/22/2021.

"Always and Forever" is a love song written by Rod Temperton  It was first recorded by the Heatwave in 1976. Heatwave was a band from Britain.  This song was released as a single on December 3, 1977,and included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle . 

This beautiful ballad has been covered by many vocal artists. 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to my solo piano arrangement.

I've recorded a solo piano version of gospel music classic "Thank You Lord".

This song was released in 1975 on Savoy Records as on of the tracks on the album :

Rev. James Cleveland And The Charles Fold Singers – Jesus Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

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Charles Fold organized a choir called the Charles Fold Singers, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The choir burst on the national scene when they teamed up with the Reverend James Cleveland on Jesus Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me. A gospel version of You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, written in 1971 by Jim Weatherly and immortalised in 1974 by Gladys Knight And The Pips, was the title track of a double album recorded live at Cincinnati’s Bible Way Church of God in Christ. Released in 1975 on Savoy Records, the album maintained a steady presence on Billboard’s Top Spiritual Albums chart and was named the top gospel album of the year on Billboard’s 1976 Talent in Action list. It was the first of several Savoy LPs featuring Cleveland and the Charles Fold Singers. 

Like the James Cleveland / Angelic Choir partnership of the 1960s, the James Cleveland / Charles Fold partnership provided music ministers with soulful performances and arrangements of songs that they could teach to their church choirs. Among their most memorable performances were Touch Me (1976), Tomorrow (1978), Never Will I Turn Back (1979) and Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument (1979). The latter song earned Cleveland and the Charles Fold Singers a Grammy Award in 1981 for Best Gospel Soul Performance, Traditional. 

For decades, Fold was an active member of James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America, serving as president of the Cincinnati chapter, board member of the national organization and co-chairman of the international chapters. The Charles Fold Singers were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

I took this photo at The Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park. I can see God in the picture.

Time Flies. Your babies become adult faster than you can ever imagine. It seems like yesterday that we were sitting around the dinner table laughing together, or watching Lion King for the one hundredth time. Now, all three of my girls are adults. They are all doing life on their own terms now, making big girl decisions, and most of all, they see generally happy. We would not  have it  any other way. It makes me so happy to see their wings wide open. I listen to their adventures with curiosity, and sometimes with the worry of a daddy.  I tried to keep my mouth shut mostly, because this is their time to fly, and they don't need me constantly grabbing the controls! I give my opinion when they ask, but for the most part, I listen.  but...

But I miss them. And today I miss my middle baby Myla a bunch. She took her adventures to Spain for the next 6 to 9 months. She's teaching in Madrid. She does check in, via facetime or whatsapp, but I miss hugging her. I miss seeing her with my own two eyes, in person. I miss being able to get to her in 15 minutes or less. She is doing EXACTLY what we told her to do: Live your life, your way, fearless, and write your own story. That sounds dandy on paper. But I'm a girl dad. I miss my baby.  She's having a blast! Lot's of fun! She calls home and talks about the different culture, food, and experiences like hiking with pure bliss!

....but know this, if she needs me, I'll go running..

Dear Myla,

This song is for you.

When you're down and troubled 
And you need some love and care 
And nothing, nothing is going right 
Close your eyes and think of me 
And soon I will be there 
To brighten up even your darkest night 

You just call out my name 
And you know wherever I am 
I'll come running, to see you again 
Winter, spring, summer or fall 
All you have to do is call 
And I'll be there 
You've got a friend

Carole King

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This photo is from our family photo album. Myla is the big girl in the photo. Malea is the baby in the highchair.

This composition is the sound track to a poem I wrote. Both are called:

The Fire Will Keep Us Warm

The cold of winter and the pastel gray clouds, 

The bright deep white snow and super slick ice, 

When it's like this outside, everything seems eerily silent. 

Gray days used to make me sad and physically drunk. 

Not anymore. 

Now,  

I'm faithfully present with you. 

And the fire will keep us warm.

Daven Roberson

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The Photo is courtesy of my dear friend Scott Ginn / Ginn Photography.

"The Reason Why We Sing" was released by gospel music star Kirk Franklin in 1993. It was a big hit then, and is still a staple song of worship in the black church. I have always loved the lyrics as well as the melody of this song. The Chorus is my favorite:

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free 
His eye's on the sparrow
That's the reason why I sing

Below is my solo piano arrangement of this beautiful gospel classic.

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I composed this song titled "It May Be Over" during a very dark and lonely time in my life. I had a different name originally, but "It May Be Over" is most fitting in hindsight. At this period of my life I felt like I was losing everything and everyone, especially myself. Looking back, I did lose a lot. At the time it felt so like everything was "over" and pointless. I know now, that I had to lose some people, places and things, in order to make room for the next and better version of my life. I write this as an encouragement. I share this simply reminder that new flowers do bloom, and new sunrises are closer than they appear. Forward isn't always straight.

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I took this photo at a park in Delhi Ohio. I love watching birds fly free.

This is a composition that I named "Sincerely Yours" . According to the “Just English” website, The earliest definition of sincere is “free of falseness.” It comes from the Latin sincerus meaning “clean, pure, untainted.” The adverbial form sincerely appeared as a valediction in letters starting around 1700, and is still used as a sign-off with a sense of “in earnest” or “genuinely.” The picture below is of the Little Miami River. I took the photo below while walking the Kings Mill stretch of the Ohio to Erie Trail. 

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This song was inspired by the wedding vows we took. I completed the melody after 25 years while spending beautiful weekend at  the General Butler State Park Lodge this fall. I remember being super nervous 23 years ago when I took the vows for better or for worse. I'm beyond happy to still be with that same gal I said "I DO" to. 

Daven, do you take Kristie to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?  

{II DO.} 

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I took the photo while we were hiking around the lake at General Butler. 

This is a simple solo piano composition I wrote called "Seven Snowfalls". It reminds me of a poem by Emily Dickenson titled "It sifts from Leaden Sieves".

Here is the link to the poem!

I took the photo below at Glen Helen Nature Preserve.

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