#274 DON'T GIVE IN by Leon Patillo (1981)

DON'T GIVE IN by Leon Patillo (1981)
Myrrh | MSB-6662

Producer:

Skip Konte

File Under: CCM/Funk/R&B

Time Capsule-Worthy Track:

Star of the Morning

Leon Patillo has always struck me as a smooth, happy, funky dude. 

The son of a taxi driver, Patillo was born and raised in San Francisco. His pre-school teacher noticed his interest in music and suggested piano lessons for Leon when he was just four years old. The lessons worked. Patillo joined the choir at his Methodist church as a teenager and also played in a band called the VIPs, performing for local parties and dances. After finishing his education at San Francisco City College, Patillo formed a band called Leon's Creation, later shortening the name to just Creation. 

Creation got a deal with Atlantic Records and often served as the opening act for the band War. Leon moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles and found work as a backing vocalist and arranger for artists like Funkadelic, the Vandellas, and the Pointer Sisters. One day in 1973 Carlos Santana heard Leon sing on a demo tape and invited him to join Santana.  

Leon Patillo (third from the right) with Santana

As best can be determined, Leon Patillo toured with Santana for parts of four years and appeared on 2 or 3 of the group's albums, serving as a singer, keyboard player, and songwriter for the popular secular band. Patillo had become a Christian in 1974 and his newfound faith began to create a conflict within himself as he became increasingly uncomfortable with the lyrics he was expected to sing with Santana. The story is that Leon was fired from the band after a tour in 1977 because Carlos Santana wasn't happy with his performance. Patillo says the real reason is that he was actively (and successfully) witnessing to other musicians on the band's tours. "Lots of people were becoming Christians, but nobody was becoming Buddhist," Patillo said.

So Leon then got involved with Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California and Maranatha Music. The result was 1979's Dance, Children, Dance.  

Patillo was initially billed as another big secular star (think: B.J. Thomas, Joe English, Dan Peek) who was leaving the dark side to become one of us. This was a bit of a risky strategy because Patillo was never a major part of Santana. Eventually, Patillo's record companies dropped Santana as part of the marketing plan and just let Leon's music speak for itself...which worked out great, since Patillo enjoyed good sales figures, fourteen charting singles and a Dove Award over the course of his CCM career.

Dance Children Dance sported memorable cover art by Larry McAdams. The album was full of life and showcased rhythms that were somewhat fresh and new. It's been called CCM's first dance record. Patillo played virtually every instrument on the album. Songs like Born Again, Temple to the Sky and the title track became hits.

Don't Give In was Patillo's sophomore release and certainly did nothing to slow his momentum, despite the garish cover design (someone got a little too happy with the neon effect).

Don't Give In delivered some huge hits. 

Flesh of My Flesh became one of the most iconic Christian wedding songs of the 80s (and beyond). Author Mark Allan Powell said Flesh of My Flesh became "one of Patillo's most enduring and popular" songs. 

It's almost impossible to read these words without hearing that familiar melody in your head...

You are flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
There's no one closer
You are flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
We are one

I do give my life to you
Today and every day
I will stand right by your side
Whatever comes our way
I have searched and searched for someone
Who'd make my dreams come true
Nowhere else on this earth
Is there anyone like you

Jackie and Leon Patillo in the 1970s

Sadly, Patillo's own marriage did not survive. His ex-wife Jackie worked in various positions for record companies like Star Song and Benson and today is president and executive director of the Gospel Music Association, according to her website. Patillo remarried in 1999 and if Facebook posts are to be believed, he and his wife Renee are still deliriously happy. Renee works in the family business, serving as CEO and co-founder of Patillo's S.I.N.G. Foundation.

Leon & Renee Patillo

Leon Patillo blamed himself for the breakup of his first marriage, saying that he was guilty of putting ministry ahead of family. A divorce is always painful, regardless of the reasons why and irrespective of who's to blame. But a divorce is especially embarrassing when you've written lyrics like Others try and separate us / But they don't stand a chance and The storms of life can blow and blow But they won't knock us down / We'll stand the test, the test of time / 'Cause we stand on holy ground. Sometimes I think Satan works overtime to try to destroy marriages of those who've effectively ministered to the marriages of others. With songs like Flesh of My Flesh, Security and Treat Her Like A Lady, Leon Patillo ministered to other couples in a powerful and meaningful way. In so doing, he might've unknowingly made his own marriage a target.

Star of the Morning was another favorite from this album. It was half worship anthem/half history lesson, focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. 

All of creation sings, Star of the Morning
Praise to the risen King, Star of the Morning

People shouted, "Here comes the King!"
As You marched down the road to Jerusalem
There were tears in Your eyes
The same ones who cheered, yelled, "Crucify!"

I lift my hands to Thee, Star of the Morning
You gave Your life for me, Star of the Morning

When they nailed You to the tree
They thought they had won a mighty victory
But not even death could hold You down
On that third day, You rose from the ground

Hallelujah...

One day soon we'll look on high
And the angels of God will light up the sky
What a day that will be
When Jesus our Lord comes for you and me

Star of the Morning went all the way to #2 on CCM radio airplay charts. It would rightfully belong on any Leon Patillo greatest hits collection.

Interestingly, Patillo offered two secular covers on this album - (Your Love is Lifting Me) Higher and Higher, originally popularized by Jackie Wilson in the 60s and Rita Coolidge in the 70s; and My Sweet Lord, made popular by Geoge Harrison. In each case, Patillo makes the song his own with some musical tweaks and sings it from a Christian perspective. This is especially important in the case of My Sweet Lord (the Hare Krishna references would've been somewhat confusing on a CCM album). By the way, Patillo wasn't the first Christian artist to try to "redeem" My Sweet Lord; Larry Norman holds that distinction.

Don't Give In was produced by Skip Konte; the album was recorded, mixed and mastered at International Automated Media. Dennis Hill supplied art direction and Alan Bergman took the photos. 

Background vocals were supplied by Fred Field, Mickey Rooney Jr., Donn Thomas, Denny Correll, and Denny's younger brother Tim (among others). Charlie Souza played bass, Gaylord Birch played drums, and Leon Patillo played all the keyboards. The record was engineered by Brook Johnson and Willie Harlan, mastered by Richard Donaldson, and mixed by Willie Harlan. The tracks were orchestrated by Dave Garland.

Don't Give In ends with a song that has been a missions anthem over the years, simply entitled Go. This song also served as the title track of an album by Shirley Caeser, also released in 1981. But these powerful words, echoing the Great Commission, were penned by Leon Patillo:

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, go, go, go
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, go, go, go
Baptizing them in the Name of the Father,
And Son, and Holy Ghost, go, go, go

If you love Me, really love Me, feed My sheep
If you love Me, really love Me, feed My sheep
And lo, I'll be with You forever and ever
Until the end of the world, go, go, go

Leon Patillo was just getting warmed up. He would release eight more albums, the last one coming in 2005. He's always been a multi-talented performer (singer/songwriter, keyboardist, dancer, TV host). And he's still active in music ministry today. Patillo has always seen himself as an encourager, with a reach that crosses age barriers and ethnic lines. His music has definitely brought joy to the hearts of many people over the decades. 

Fun fact: Leon Patillo led Phillip Bailey to the Lord when Santana was on tour with Earth, Wind and Fire.

#275 A SONG IN THE NIGHT by Silverwind (1982)

A SONG IN THE NIGHT by Silverwind (1982)
Sparrow Records  |  SPR 1058

Producers:

Georgian Banov, Larry Muhoberac, Tony Salerno

File Under: Euro-Pop CCM

Time Capsule-Worthy Track:

A Song in the Night

The music of Silverwind was a breath of fresh air in the early 80s. Musical comparisons were made to the European secular group Abba and, while I'm no expert on the music of Abba, I suppose there were some similarities. Silverwind was also compared to another famous trio known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts, but that comparison didn't work as well. The 2nd Chapter was in a league of their own with a unique sound and a unique ministry. But playing the comparison game also sold Silverwind short. They deserved to be evaluated and appreciated for what they brought to the table. 

Georgian Banov was a professionally trained musician who began playing violin as a child prodigy in Bulgaria. In the 1960s, he was the founder of the first officially recognized rock band from that communist country before escaping to the United States in 1973. Initially demoralized by the San Francisco drug culture, Banov eventually met other like-minded believers and became heavily involved with ministries known as Candle and Agape Force. In 1980, in Tacoma, Washington, Banov formed Silverwind with two other members of Candle - Betsy Hernandez and Patty Gramling.

The group brought a fresh, Euro-pop sound to CCM that was well-received. Taking the Narrow Street and Never Had a Reason were standout tracks from the group's self-titled debut in 1981. Never Had a Reason was the only song to chart from that record, peaking at #8 on CCM airplay charts in 1982.

With the element of surprise now off the table, CCM listeners waited expectantly for Silverwind's sophomore offering. It did not disappoint.

Unlike the debut album, this one sported a dark color scheme on the record jacket. But the music was still light, breezy, synth-driven European pop. Audiences loved it.

A Song in the Night kicked off with the title track - a song that seemed to draw somewhat on the trio's experiences with Candle. It was a charming tune that could appeal to children and adults alike, and it received a lot of extra attention due to a music video treatment (a new art form at the time). The video for A Song in the Night (complete with ocean waves, playground equipment, a clown, a monkey, colorful flags, balloons and streamers) was played again and again on national outlets like TBN's Real Videos and the PTL Network's Sound Effects. Not at all your typical rock music video, but memorable nonetheless. It didn't hurt that Banov, Hernandez and Gramling were a physically attractive trio. The camera liked them. And their vocal blend was impressive as well. 

A New Beginning was another memorable track from this record that exhibited the trademark Silverwind sound, with lyrics by Stormie Omartian. A New Beginning climbed to #8 on CCM airplay charts, while the title track peaked at #25.

Musical heavyweights such as pianist Larry Muhoberac, bassist Abraham Laboriel, drummer Paul Leim, and percussionist Alex Acuña all contributed to the sound of A Song in the Night. The album was recorded and mixed at Westwind Studios in Thousand Oaks, CA. 

Much of Silverwind's lyrical output was a little ahead of its time, being centered primarily on praise, worship and devotion to God. They were worship before worship was cool. Before worship was commercial might be a better way to say it.

This lineup of Silverwind released one more record - 1985's By His Spirit. That one featured a hit song entitled Heaven is Being With You. Then the group inexplicably changed out all of its members, yet recorded again in 1986 under the name Silverwind with three completely new singers. Weird... 

Today Georgian Banov and his wife Winnie call themselves "joy apostles" and travel extensively conducting revival services and Christian conferences under the name Global Celebration. Their bio on the Global Celebration website says that their ministry is accompanied by "a strong anointing and tangible sense of the presence of God" as well as "signs, wonders, and the impartation of the manifest presence of Christ." 

Winnie & Georgian Banov 

Betsy Hernandez and her husband Frank (who played bass for Silverwind) have a ministry called His and Hernandez Music. Based out of Boise, Idaho, they continue to write and produce music that is focused on helping children worship and assisting children's ministries.

Frank & Betsy Hernandez

Patty Gramling (now Patricia Forney) is still involved in ministry as well. She directs a Victims of Sexual Violence ministry with a group called Heaven's Family.

Patricia Gramling Forney

Banov, Hernandez and Gramling have basically spent their lives in various Christian ministry endeavors...but memories of their 5 short years together as Silverwind never fail to bring a smile.

#276 SWB by Scott Wesley Brown (1981)

SWB by Scott Wesley Brown (1981)
Sparrow Records | SPR 1049

Producer:

Dan Collins

File Under: Inspirational / MOR / CCM

Time Capsule-Worthy Track:

This Little Child

SWB.

Is this the only CCM album to ever be titled after the artist's initials? You'd think Michael W. Smith might've put out MWS at some point, but I don't think he ever did. And to my knowledge Steven Curtis Chapman never released one called SCC...did he? 

1974

Scott Wesley Brown is in a small club that's getting smaller all the time: he got his start during the Jesus Movement and he's still active today. Sometimes compared to Gordon Lightfoot, Brown was a shaggy-haired singer-songwriter who stood alongside Larry Norman, Randy Matthews, and other Jesus Rock pioneers in the 1970s. 

As he matured, his music did as well, providing airplay fodder for the growing number of Christian radio stations that began to pop up around the country in the 1980s. Easy listening ballads and worship became his forte.  

Vocally, Brown was sort of an everyman. He did not possess the pipes of a Matthew Ward or a Bob Carlisle, nor could he hit the high notes of a Greg X. Volz or Bryan Duncan. But his warm baritone was the perfect vehicle for the comforting lyrics that flowed from his songwriting pen. Brown became a prolific songwriter, with no fewer than nine #1 songs on Christian radio. His songs were covered by artists as diverse as Petra, Pat Boone, Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, the Imperials and even Plácido Domingo. 

By the time SWB hit store shelves in 1981, Scott Wesley Brown had left rock and roll in the rearview mirror. This album fits squarely into the world of Inspirational CCM. CCM historian Mark Allan Powell said that "SWB displays more of an orchestrated pop style reminiscent of artists like Neil Diamond." Lyrically, most of the songs are experiential and testimony-driven. Close To You, written by Bruce Hibbard, was also covered by Andrus, Blackwood & Co. on their album Soldier of the Light.

Two songs off this record caused it to stand out: My Treasure and This Little Child.

Brown had a knack for writing good love songs from a Christian perspective, and My Treasure is fondly remembered as one of them. It's been sung at countless weddings over the years including the nuptials of one of President Reagan's daughters. The words are beautiful:

I don't need to follow any rainbow
Search the world to find my dream come true
I don't need a lucky star to guide me
I found my treasure in You

I don't need to climb another mountain
Set my sail across the seven seas
The paradise that I was always longing for
Is found when You love me

And now my greatest joy is loving You
The hope I lost was found and made anew
Now my lonely days are finally through
I have found my life in loving You

I don't need to pray a prayer unanswered
Make a wish that will never, never come true
For I have found my every answer
My every wish is You

This Little Child presented Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords...in a very powerful and comprehensive way. Despite clocking in at just under 6 minutes, the song became a smash hit on radio airwaves. It's a song that audiences insist that Brown still performs to this day.

He begins with Jesus' birth and earthly ministry:  

Who would have thought that long ago, so very far away
A little Child would be born and in a manger laid
And who would have thought this little Child was born the King of kings
The Son of just a carpenter, but for Whom the angels sing
And who would have thought that as He grew and with other children played
This Child with Whom they laughed and sang would die for them someday
And who would have thought this little Child could make a blind man see
Feed the hungry, make rich the poor, and set the sinner free
Oh who would have thought this little Child was who the prophets said
Would take away the sins of man and rise up from the dead

Oh, I believe and I will always sing
This little Child is the King
Oh, I believe and I will always sing
This little Child
He is the King of kings

Then he transitions into a description of ills plaguing America in modern times and how Jesus is still the answer:

Many years have come and gone, yet this world remains the same
Empires have been built and fallen, only time has made a change
Nation against nation, brother against brother
Men so filled with hatred, killing one another
And over half the world is starving while our banner of decency is torn
Debating over disarmament, killing children before they're born
And fools who march to win the right to justify their sin
Oh, every nation that has fallen has fallen from within
Yet in the midst of this darkness, there is a hope, a light that burns
This little Child, the King of kings someday will return

And I believe and I will always sing
This little Child is the King
And I believe and I will always sing
This little Child
He is the King of kings

Who would have thought this little Child is Who the prophets said
Will return to judge this world, the living and the dead
Oh, can't you see that long ago, so very far away
This little Child, our only hope, was born a King that day
And can't you see that here and now, as unto Him we pray
This Lord of lords who is our hope is still King today
He's still the King today

This Little Child would certainly be included on any list of the top CCM songs of all time.

SWB was voted one of the Top 5 releases of 1981 by Campus Life magazine. Meanwhile, CCM magazine said it was "a treasure of well-wrought MOR/inspirational songs arranged with high drama yet delivered with obvious and simple sincerity." 

Scott Wesley Brown later developed an intense awareness and keen focus on missions, playing concerts in countries around the world and ministering to people who were hungry for Jesus, not just seeking an autograph. He has also pastored a church and is an ordained minister.

L-R: Dallas Holm, Barry McGuire, Scott Wesley Brown, Matthew Ward
and Michael Card on a "Christian Classics" cruise 

Brown has recorded more than 25 albums over the past 4 decades or so. He still plays concerts, preaches, leads worship, pens blog posts, even plays on CCM-themed Alaskan cruises. 

Scott Wesley Brown continues to faithfully proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen. 

Scott has never impressed me as a guy who cared much about awards shows, #1 singles, and the like. "I would say my greatest highlights have taken place overseas where I've been privileged to minister in third world countries and seen the dedication and faithfulness of believers who are in the midst of tremendous suffering yet worship with total abandon," Scott told Timothy Yap in a 2014 interview. "Even though they are poor or persecuted they have humble and grateful hearts. This has shaped my entire approach to ministry. Being in fellowship with these precious brothers and sisters is greater than any award or commercial success I could have in the Christian Music Industry." 

Scott and his wife Belinda