Dale Ross - INTERVIEW WITH BARRY J. MANN

INTERVIEW:

Dale: Barry, welcome to the interview today.

Barry: Thanks for having me. It's a privilege to be with you.

Dale: When I first met you it was in Birmingham, AL. during a Healing Explosion at a church. Then you and your music team were on stage ministering in song. While you were ministering Charles Hunter told me I should get you on my TV program; so after the service I spoke with you and your group and scheduled you for a TV interview.

Barry: That is the one of the amazing things about The Lord, when you are faithful to serve Him in the area that He has placed you, He will open up doors in other areas without you having to say a word or promote yourself.

Dale: You have had many doors open for you to minister in music since then. You have also seen many people give their hearts and lives to Jesus during your services. What inspires you the most to sing for God?

Barry: Exactly what you just said. To me, what I do isn't about building a "ministry" or a "singing career." There are many people who can do a much better job of that than myself. To me it is all about sharing Jesus and seeing lives changed for His glory. Music is just a gift that The Lord has given me to get in front of others so I can share the good news.

Dale: I know that music is constantly changing and the artists has to change too in order to keep up with the times or they will lose their listeners. What do you do to hold their attention and to ensure you are singing the, "In Style" music?

Barry: Music is such a powerful tool. It speaks to every generation and age group in a different way. I remember Christian music 15 years ago. What was considered radical then is practically considered mainstream today. I have never tried to pattern my sound or style after any particular artist or group, Christian or secular. Music has had played such a major role in my life, I can honestly say that I have been influenced by so many different styles...contemporary, rock, jazz, classical. I feel like those are the ingredients of what make up a lot of what I do. (Of course, some of the influence stand out more than others). Proverbs says that, " A man's gift will make way for him." As The Lord gives me music, as a worshiper, I usually center my lyrics around who God is to me, or if there is something that is heavy on my spirit I will write about that. For instance, I have a song called "Make me Holy" that is written as an inward cry to be more like Him in everything that I do and say. I really don't do anything to insure what I am doing is in line with mainstream Christian music. I just play what The Lord has given to me and He is faithful to bless it and draw the audience. It is interesting, just this week I received a phone call from a youth leader at a church where I recently ministered asking me advice on a style of music they were using for their youth praise and worship services. A lot of people have been taught that certain "musical sounds and musical styles" are evil. I believe it is the person and anointing behind the person making the music that determines that. I have had many friends saved at Christian rock concerts, their lives have been changed. Like it or not, we must stop putting God in a box and saying He can't use certain musical styles. He is God!

Dale: I believe you told me before that you write all of your own lyrics. Is that right?

Barry: Most of the songs that I minister, The Lord gives me the music, lyrics and arrangements to. On several occasions I have collaborated with other writers.

Dale: How do the lyrics come to you? I guess what I am trying to find out here is do they come to you when you are in different situations like while you are practicing or when you are at home or when you relax? Does the whole song come to you at one sitting or do you start a song and then the rest comes later?

Barry: It is different with various writers. Even with me, I have found many songs come together in different forms and fashions. Usually, I will get the music first. Many times when I am just playing around on the keyboard or guitar at the house. Usually an idea resolves into a verse, chorus and bridge. Usually I get the musical idea completed and then add the lyrics at a later time and then make whatever musical changes that are necessary. Some songs I have written by a having a melody or a lyric idea come to me while I'm driving down the road in the car and then I later add the music to it. And other songs, I have had come almost supernaturally. I sit down to the keyboard and The Lord gives me the complete song...music and lyrics fully arranged and completed in 10 minutes. So for me, I guess God likes to keep song writing exciting and interesting!

Dale: How long have you been singing and have you always sang gospel music?

Barry: I suppose I truly started singing around 7 years ago. I sang for a short time in a church youth band when I was growing up. I stopped singing when I had an opportunity to play keyboard and guitar behind many gifted singers. When The Lord called me to go out and minister on my own, I was the only one up there to sing the songs He had given me! I have been doing it ever since. As far as always singing gospel, I have never sang in public a song that wasn't a song of praise to The Lord.

Dale: You also play keyboard and I think you do a fantastic job at it; so does everyone I know that has heard you. In fact you are a well talented young man. You even have an excellent voice for singing. Take just a moment and tell the readers more about yourself: Like how you started playing musical instruments, when you realized you were going to be a singer, etc...

Barry: Thanks for all the nice things you said! Well, at a very young age I was drawn to music. I began guitar lessons as an early teen. I was very disciplined with my playing... usually putting in 4 to 6 hours of practice every day. I played in several heavy metal, hard rock local garage bands up until the time that I got saved when I was 16. After I got saved, I put music down for a while altogether to seek God's direction for my life. After a season of not playing, I saw myself writing music, singing and playing keyboard. It was interesting, because I didn't even know the notes on a keyboard, but that is what The Lord put in my spirit to do. Several months later, a young, black minister came up to me and told me The Lord had told him to give me his keyboard. He was out every weekend traveling with a radio ministry and that was his only keyboard! I knew then, God had called me into a music ministry. Immediately I began to write songs of worship and praise and go anywhere I could and minister. To this day, I have never actually had a true formal piano lesson. I understand theory, but every- thing that I do musically, in particular, is a gift from God.

Dale: Your whole life is centered around music because you manage a music store and I believe you teach music lessons, right?

Barry: Actually, right now I am teaching and ministering full time. I used to manage a music store here in Birmingham, AL. It allowed me to get first hand knowledge and hands on experience on the latest music gear available, attend the workshops and meet a lot of people. I am currently teaching private music lessons and conducting music workshops on guitar, keyboard (piano), music theory, song writing, arranging and midi sequencing here in Birmingham (I travel and conduct workshops usually anywhere I am asked). It keeps me on my feet musically, plus allows me to pour what The Lord has given me back into the lives of other musicians and players and share with them spiritually.

Dale: Tell us in your own words how The Holy Spirit takes music and ministers to the very hearts of people and changes their lives.

Barry: I Samuel 16 : 23 says that when king Saul was troubled by an evil spirit that David would take his harp and play for him. We all know David was a worshiper and that the anointing of God rested on his life. The scripture says that, "When David would play that deliverance and healing came to Saul." The scripture doesn't even say that David sang. It just says that "he played and Saul was made well." Everyone knows that music alone cannot drive out devils and evil sprits. There was something supernatural about David's music and his life. He had the anointing of God on his life. It was reflected in his music. The night that I got saved, I attended a worship service. The person who was ministering had such an anointing on his life, I felt something happen to me as he played. I began to feel and experience the presence of The Lord. I sat there and wept and received Jesus into my life as this man sang and played to The Lord. So, I know first hand of how God can use music and the anointing to break and draw someone in to His presence. It is the same thing that I have been seeing as I minister. People have run up to the altar weeping, as I was playing and singing to get saved. No altar call was yet given. But God inhabits the praises of His people. Music sets an atmosphere for God to move. It's like we were talking about the "musical styles" on the other question. God isn't into the styles, He is looking for musicians who are sold out for Him and music that exalts Him.

Dale: Barry, you have a couple of cd's out. They have been posted on my website for a while. Tell us about them. Take this time and sell your cd's to the readers.

Barry: All I will say is, I believe the music on both of these projects will bless the listener. As I said, I do music that I believe will minister to people, not for the purpose of making hit records. We have received numerous praise reports on how people were ministered to as they have listened to them. I recently received a phone call from someone wanting to purchase extra copies for their family who live out of state. The person said, "As I listened to the words of 'My heart belongs to You"( a song from my new self-titled worship sampler) I realized what a sermon in itself the song was... a cry for brokeness, holiness and more of God. We all need that," she said, "That one song really spoke to me and made me think." That same project has an upbeat song I wrote called "Shout It" that we are getting a lot of request for when we go out and minister. And there are other songs of worship our latest project contains that I believe will minister to everyone. I also have a full length instrumental Christmas CD out called, "The Everlasting Light," that we released last year. It is a lite jazz, keyboard project that is very soothing, inspirational and peaceful, especially for this time of the year!

Dale: I have a copy of both of the cd's and I certainly recommend both of them to every home and church library

Barry: Thank you. I appreciate you posting them on your website and making them available to your viewers.

Dale: You are working on another upcoming cd project. Tell us about it and when you expect it to be out.

Barry: I'm very excited about this project. Musically, it is going to be upbeat, exciting and refreshing. And it will have its share of quiet worship ballads. I believe it has all the musical elements that will get the attention of the listener of mainstream gospel. A bit of contemporary, black gospel, maybe a lite influence of jazz. After having nearly 70 songs that The Lord has given me, many of which people have come to know and request when I minister. It has been challenging to choose what songs to put on this project. As I began to pray before the recording, I found The Lord giving me fresh new material, musically and lyrically. Some of the songs that I hadn't ministered in a while are also coming back around taking new form. When I recorded the sampler, what was cool is that none of those songs had never been sung live before we did the record. I believe there will be songs on this project that will minister lyric and music-wise to various people. I mentioned the different influences in the sound. Yet I wanted to do something that would musically draw different people in, so there may be a few songs on it that may not sound exactly like what you may be used to hearing, if you have heard my other 2 projects. As far as a release date, we are aiming for March 2002.

Dale: You have made several TV appearances with me and you get several phone calls so I know you are ministering to the needs of the people. They love you where ever you go. Do you foresee anytime to where you will be making more appearances on TV?

Barry: I am always available to go wherever The Lord places me. I get just as excited when I go to a small church as I do when I play a large church or do TV or radio. I guess I am just excited about sharing the gospel! Right now I have been asked to appear on several television shows but the dates haven't been confirmed yet.

Dale: You are definitely going to have to come back and be my guest on TV again soon.

Barry: It would be my pleasure. I have always enjoyed ministering with you on your weekly syndicated TV show, "Light Tracks".

Dale: Barry, do you have any closing comments for the readers before we wrap this up?

Barry: It is an exciting day we are living in. We are living a day where prophecy is being fulfilled all around us. I encourage everyone to keep in mind the things that really matter. One hundred years from now, the things that most of us let steal our joy and take most of our attention won't matter. I encourage everyone to draw close and press in closer to their relation- ship with The Lord. Get your spiritual house in order. Pray for your unsaved loved ones, make your life count for all that it can everyday, because I really believe Jesus is coming soon!

Dale: Will you give us your contact information?

Barry: You may contact me by mail or email. My mailing address is Barry J. Mann, PO Box 94841, Birmingham, AL 35220 - 4841.

Dale: Are you available for bookings?

Barry: Oh yes, I am always taking ministry bookings. I can honestly say I believe I have ministered in every denomination I can think of. Because of my musical style, I get to minister frequently in black churches as well as white churches, of course. I have even played and sang at numerous non-church functions and various events. Of course, as I mentioned, I also conduct music workshop at various churches almost anywhere I am invited. By no means am I limited to ministering only in the Southeast! Regardless of your church size, race or denomination....please contact me if you are interested in having me minister in your area.

Dale: Barry, thanks for taking the time today for this interview. May you and your family have a very Blessed Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Barry: Thank you for the interview Dale. May The Lord richly bless you and all of your readers. Happy holidays and God bless you!

This is Barry J. Mann and he on fire for God. He has the most humble spirit that you have ever seen in anyone. He loves to sing and play music. Let me tell you how I met him. It is interresting. I was at a Healing Explosion with Charles and Frances Hunter in Birmingham, AL and Barry and his music team were ministering on stage. Halfway through the music ministry Charles leaned over to me and said, "Dale, you need to get him on your TV program, he is great". After services I talked to Barry & his team & scheduled him for a TV appearance.

Barry J. Man has made several TV appearances with me and has gotten several phone calls during the broadcasts and the audience really loves him and his music. He is available for bookings. If you haven't seen and met him yet just hold on because you will. Barry is so in love with God and goes through the doors The Lord opens for him. His main reason for doing what he does is to see people give their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, and he sees lots of if. He reaches down into the hearts of the young people, old people and middle aged people impacting their lives everywhere he goes. Barry J. Mann (songs include) 1. Shout It 2. Lord Of All The Earth 3. My Heart Belongs To You 4. With All Of My Heart ©2001 Barry J. Mann Music The Everlasting Light (songs include) 1. Angels We Have Heard On High 2. Away In A Manger 3. What Child Is This 4. Silent Night 5. O come All Ye Faithful 6. The First Noel 7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem 8. We Three Kings 9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 10. Joy To The World 11. The Savior Is Born 12. What Child Is This (Timeless Mix) 13. The Everlasting Light ©2000 Barry Mann, Power Genre Music (BMI)