As I recently watched “Gospel According to Al Green,” a 1984 documentary film about one of the most iconic R&B singers of all-time, I was reminded of a conversation I had a few years ago with Greenville native Edwin McCain.
McCain, a nationally renowned singer-songwriter most famous for his 1998 smash hit “I’ll Be,” was talking about his love for vintage soul music when he brought up the classic film, which was directed by award-winning filmmaker Robert Mugge.
“If you can track down a copy, do yourself a favor and get it,” McCain said to me in 2013. “It’s interesting because this documentary film crew was obviously trying to paint Al in sort of a tragic light — like, ‘oh, look at what happened to poor Al’ — and the more they tried, the better Al looked. I mean, every time he opened his mouth, he was just so kind and so genuine.
“And then, they have these live snippets of him singing at Air Force bases and stuff, and he’s just on fire. It’s amazing. You’ve got to see it. You’ll love it. That movie will change your life. It’s crazy good."
While I wouldn’t go as far as saying “Gospel According to Al Green” changed my life, it’s an excellent film that, in some ways, provides a blueprint for how one can find happiness through following their own path.
In Green’s case, it was becoming a preacher and transitioning from secular music to gospel.
Watching “Gospel According to Al Green” got me to thinking — especially at the beginning of a new year — that perhaps we all could benefit from seeking happiness by following a path of our own.
To a certain extent, it’s what I strive to do with this column. Instead of focusing on popular trends and the latest musical fads, I try to write from my heart — about the things I’d be as excited to talk about as McCain was in regard to “Gospel According to Al Green.”
In that same chat I had with McCain nearly five years ago, he also brought up Rance Allen, referring to the legendary gospel singer as “the deep end of the pool for me.”
“There’s some YouTube footage of him singing at some big gospel show,” McCain said. “He has this song called ‘That Will Be Good Enough For Me,’ and he just destroyed the place. I show it to people all the time.”
I smiled when I re-read that quote from McCain, knowing that he, too, is someone who has found happiness by following his own path. And if that ain’t the gospel, I don’t know what is.
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A closer look at some of this week’s area shows:
The Creekwood Trio will perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Growler Haus in Spartanburg. Composed of Spartanburg musicians Janeen Scott, Tommy Hunt and Josh Bishop, the relatively new band offers a pure Americana sound that’s peppered with elements of classic jazz, blues, country and more.
John The Revelator will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at The Upstairs Bar in Spartanburg. The brainchild of Upstate musician Jake Garrett, John the Revelator cranks out raw, blues-fueled folk and rock ‘n’ roll that pays a nod to such legendary North Mississippi hill country bluesmen as R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough.
Vilai Harrington and the Hamptones will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at New Groove Artisan Brewery in Boiling Springs. Led by its namesake on banjo and guitar, the Greenville-based group delivers a thoughtful brand of Appalachian folk music that comes across as simultaneously modern and old-fashioned.
David Ezell will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at Brickhouse Fresh Pizzeria and Grill in Spartanburg. A fixture on the Hub City music scene for decades, Ezell offers gut-wrenchingly beautiful original folk songs as well as carefully selected covers that range from vintage soul and Beatle-esque pop to classic country.
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Looking ahead:
Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot will bring his tour to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium for a performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 24. Tickets are $52-$77 and on sale now. For more information, call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.