Merry Christmas, and to my Jewish friends a belated happy Hanukkah.
As my friends and family know, music is an important part of my life. While my formal training was primarily orchestral, I've had the time of my life playing with a very special group the past two years called Soul Focus. We formed with the primary intent of representing American Century Investments in Fortune's Battle of the Corporate Bands.
Each year, over forty bands submit a three track CD to the competition. Eighteen are chosen to perform in three regional competitions. Finally, nine bands are chosen to advance to the finals held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. In our first year of competition we advanced to the finals and placed third. This year we won the finals competition! For the second year in a row, Soul Focus won the Fan's Choice Award, an online poll hosted at money.cnn.com
I cannot begin to describe the strong bonds Soul Focus members have formed with each other. The character and quality of each band member is truly extraordinary. In addition to my illness, three other members have been fighting serious health conditions,too. We are no longer just about music. We have become like family in our support for each other.
The name Soul Focus was originally a play on words for our music genre and the "sole focus" our company must have to win in the marketplace. A third meaning has emerged as this group of talented musicians has forged a connection that is indeed as deep as our "souls." Here is a link to our live competition at the Rock Hall. I hope you enjoy this clip of what can be called the best corporate band in America -- American Century Investments' Soul Focus.
This is a large file, and is best viewed on broadband connections. I hope you enjoy this 15 minute set. I know Soul Focus did! ;-)
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11 comments:
That was absolutely fantastic.
David unfortunately my previous 2 messages did not get to you due to me not registering on Blogger. Well I'm now and hope they come to you from now. It's early Christmas morning and I sincerely hope and pray this day of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be with peace in your heart and soul and strength in your body and that it will br enhanced by the love of your famiy and friends.
What great feelings your comments give me by seeing the unending fight, will, desire and determination within you and instilled by our Heavenly Father to defeat this severe health condition. As you mention the treatments bring on extreme damaging of the body with the chemo being control poison injected to the body. One for sure doesn't truly realized the depth or degree of damage and illness your body is experiencing until a turning around that brings some degree improvement is experienced. Then one can measure the depth of illness the body is having.
David you are a remarkable inspiration to each life you touch. The love, support and caring being given to you by every family member and friends is so very deep and special. I know this experience has strengthened your relationship to unbelievable heights with your wife, Teresa, children, Elliott and Audrey, mother and brother. I'm sure their support of physical, emotional and spiritual aspects have been never ending. As you know they are experiencing unbelievable levels of tests in life. Only through the faith of each one will the strength and guidance from our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will see each of you through.
Merry Christmas to you and your precious family. We thank you for the inspiration you are and know our love and prayers are with you.
Jerry and Shirley Matthews
Dave, I am in KC visiting family for Christmas and Roger told me about your situation and Andrew connected me to your blog. It was great to read through your account of your struggle and to see how God is working in you and obviously your family. I know this cannot be easy and something that any of us would choose to go through. But the one thing that transcends our pain and suffering is that hope in Christ that is evident in your blog.
It only seems like yesterday that you were just a small boy running around the church. Time sure flies.
I just watched your video of the band. All I can say is WOW! I don't think I had any idea that this was part of God's work in your life. I remember when your father would come and share his skills on the trumpet with us at church on special occasions. I can see your father in you and what a blessing it is to see you follow in his footsteps.
I want you to know how much I appreciate your father and the impact he had on my life. And to know that his son is serving our Lord with his life is a real testimony to the grace of Christ at work in you and your family.
I will be praying for you and your family. Thanks for your testimony of faith in Christ. Remember when things get tough that He whom we serve is the one who will work all things for our good and ultimately to His glory.
Merry Christmas!!
In Christ
Lance Keith
Very cool sound Dave. My good friend Steve Wildman referred me to your blog. I'll try to stop by again.. we KC blogs need to stick together :)
Seasons Greetings!!
Dave - I just read your message about the other meaning that is emerging for the name of your band - from "sole focus" to "soul focus." I had always assumed that you and the band members actually planned it that way from the beginning! It always had two meanings for me when I heard it.
I hope you were feeling well enough to enjoy Christmas with your family. And I hope you have good news very soon that your treatments have been successful and you can start to heal.
Take care and Merry Christmas to you and the family. Julie
Dave, the word "awesome" has been overused for about the past 20 years ... but in its genuine meaning it's the word that comes to mind when I think of you. (You're one of the most humble people I know, and playing in a band is the only way you'll ever toot your own horn.) Thanks for keeping up with the blog, and thanks especially for hanging in there to take care of our friend Dave. You're still in my family's prayers. I'm confident all will be well with you and yours. - Rodger
Belated Merry Christmas to you all! HoHoHo. Hope you felt well enough to enjoy it.
I wonder when Dobo is going to update the RockHall site and let the world know we won!!? Those darn Aussies were out there last year before they even landed back home! :-~ HAHA.
Sorry for posting an "inside" comment on your blog but wasn't sure how often you or T checked email these days. I'm sending a picture to her kc.rr account that I thought you might enjoy.
Praying that 2008 will see all of this put behind you!!
God's Peace my friends!
Seeing the video again literally brought tears to my eyes. What gifts you all have been given, and to see them in action together is really amazing. Thanks for brightening my day and reminding me again of what is important.
Just a few more days to go, Dave! Our thoughts and prayers...especially our prayers...are with you. Here's to a happy and cancer-free new year!
Diane
Your faith, wisdom, and talent are phenomenal!
You've been an inspiration to me for years. Thank you for being a great mentor.
You are "David" in current times; you had no fear, you reached down with your faith, took aim, and the "giant" in front of you, is on the way down!
Whether it's a sporting event, or a band competition; seeing people do what they love to do, and do it well, always brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for sharing the video.
And Happy New Year to you, Dave! We're thinking about you and praying everyday for you, Theresa and your kids. Great to see the Soul Focus video -- seems to me you're just like the Blues Brothers -- you're on a mission from God! Put on those sunglasses and just roll.
Barry
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