Vestal Goodman and Ozzy Osborne

I was talking music and it's importance with a friend today, and why a list of greatest all time rock bands would be so top heavy with British groups. The thought that occurred to me is this. The great Euro bands of the 60s did the same thing that saves and revives Rock & Roll every ten years or so, they stripped it to it's ugly carcase and built it anew. The greatest of the first wave British bands were firmly rooted in the blues, and It gave them a reto-fresh sound that was grittier than the bands Americans had grown accustomed to. It got straight to ones nether regions, and did what music has done for thousands of years, it made them tingle. Music at it's best, bypasses our brain and reaches straight into our soul (Gregorian Chant, Mozart, Keith Green), or our trousers (The Who, The Stones, Prince). Music has always been important in to me. Growing up in the Pentecostal faith, it was our most highly emotional form of worship.

I so clearly remember the two most important musical events in my life. First, I remember the first time I heard Black Sabbath. I had been invited to ride to the convenience store with my friend's older brother. He had a Camaro, and long hair. To us he was a full on tough guy, and I was really excited to get the invite. As soon as he fired up the big V8, I heard the sound of Tony Iommi bending that sinister sounding note, at the intro of Ironman. It scared me, it honestly frightened me. The funny thing was, I didn't have to be told who it was, as soon as I heard Ozzy growl "I am Ironman!" I somehow knew it was Sabbath. I was sure that I was committing a sin, by just hearing it, but I was hooked. Sabbath had bypassed my sense of morality and had struck a down-tuned, note that shook right through my Levi's, and gave the mischievous part of my soul an erection. I was afraid and excited, and I loved it. I've had major reactions to bands sense then. Bands like TSOL, Black Flag, Slayer, The Pogues, Sex Pistols, have all had an effect, but Sabbath was the first, and most palpable reaction I've had to secular music. Toni, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill are with me until death.

The other moment that shaped my understanding of music's power, took place a couple of years earlier. I was maybe eight or nine years old. It was in an auditorium in San Antonio, that I first saw Vestal Goodman. Vestal, was part of the legendary gospel group, The Happy Goodman Family, and she was a striking woman. Large in every way, she owned any stage that she graced. I was absolutely taken aback by this portly, angelic figure with the stacked, "Pentecostal" hair. and floor length white gown. She seamed to glide along the stage rather than walk, singing songs of faith, love and forgiveness of sins. In my mind, I can still see her tilt back her head, hold up one hand and sing God Walks The Dark Hills. I was enthralled. She embodied matronly, heavenly, unpretentious beauty. She carried a white handkerchief in one hand and when she would tilt her head toward heaven, and raise that hand to hit a high note, it would go right through me. Her music, bypassed my mischievous young heart, and held me in place, it went straight to the part of my soul that ever yearns to know God, and gently kissed it. I'll never forget her. If someone had told me at that moment that she was an angel, I would have believed.

Music is amazing. Behind man, It's God's masterpiece.


Ozzy Osborne and Vestal Goodman