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Producer: James Cobb
Label: Skinny Records
Website: www.donnyhenderson.com

The name and face may be familiar to you as Donny Henderson used to sing baritone for Poet Voices back a few years ago and he also filled in quite a bit with the Greenes during Tim Greene's illness. Donny has embarked upon a solo career and has quite an interesting twist to his music. I wouldn't really call it Southern Gospel, though that is the basis for his sound. I wouldn't call it CCM or Inspirational, though it does have some of those stylings in the mix. Donny gives a unique blend of Southern Gospel, CCM, Inspiration, funk and R&B and he delivers them flawlessly. Not only is Donny an exceptional singer, 9 of the 10 songs on this recording were either written or co-written by Donny, and for the most part they are all very well written tunes.

The bouncy “BEFORE I KNEW” starts things off before we get to the kicker, “THAT KIND OF LOVE”, which has a Classic Rock edge to it and is a definite highlight of the recording.

The Greenes recorded Donny's song, “COME TO JESUS”, on their “Glimpse of Glory” recording back in 2002 and Donny comes out with a most heartfelt and soothing version of the song. You simply can't help but want to close your eyes and worship as you listen to this song. This song would do very well in the CCM or Inspirational markets.

Showing off a bit of R&B flavor on a song that really makes me think of rock CCM group The Kry (though I will admit that I hadn't heard their music in recent years), “THANK YOU” picks the pace back up before Donny gives us a touching ballad of a soldier gone off to war but never makes it back home to his family on the tender, “GOING AWAY”. Those who have loved ones fighting in Iraq and other places around the world will hold this song close to their heart. Keeping things at a slower pace, Donny sings the easy flowing, acoustical contemporary flavored, “MUCH MORE” before pumping things up with the uptempo Praise & Worship stylings of “THE REASON WHY I CAME”. The song “I WILL LOVE YOU” would also fit very nicely into the Praise & Worship genre. Nice instrumental turnaround at the end as well.

The prayerful “SPEAK TO ME” is a beautiful, honest song of our reliance upon the Lord and our constant need to hear from Him. With Donny playing the piano as his only accompaniment, Donny sings, “Lord, speak to me and I will listen, Lord you have my full attention, let your truth change my thinking, speak to me, Lord, speak to me… set the course I will go with you, lead the way I will follow you, this my prayer Lord, it's all I ask of you, just speak to me.”

“FADE TO BLUE” in many ways, reminds me of the classic song, “Mizpah” , with the exception that this has a more spiritual impact to it. As the curtain falls upon a performer's show, Donny leaves this thought, “sing this song for me, let it be my legacy, this is how I want you to remember me, so far from perfect I'm ashamed, but I did my best and I hope I came just close enough to somehow touch a life or two, so let the curtain fall…and fade to blue.” Hang on because after the song is over, we are treated to a vintage sounding acapella version of a verse and chorus of “THE SWEETEST SONG I KNOW” as a hidden track.

This recording is very well done. The vocals are great, the music tracks are really cool and the overall CD graphics are excellent. Donny is an original talent and though I have not seem him in a solo concert, if this recording is any indication of what his concerts are like, I look forward to seeing a spectacular array of songs done in Donny's inimitable manner, interpreted as only he can do it.

Personal Favs: THAT KIND OF LOVE; COME TO JESUS; SPEAK TO ME; I WILL LOVE YOU; FADE TO BLUE

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