First of all, I hope your 2012 ROCKS and that you always have a song in your heart to sing!

Music has always been my first love, and it was always one of the two constants that kept me going during the hard times and trials of my life.  When all hope seemed to be lost, God and music always were available for a lonely boy growing up in the streets of New York City, coming from a broken home and living with relatives most of the time.  Then after joining the US Marines at seventeen, I did not hear a single note of music (except some marching music on one occasion) for over three months while in recruit training in Parris Island (which was run more like Devils Island). We were completely deprived of radio, television, newspapers and even our personalities, but the songs swam in my head like thousands of luminescent fish in a cerebral aquarium! They carried me away from the darkness of that place, and into the future where I dreamed of hearing and playing music once again. They helped me to ignore the screams of the merciless sergeants, and they pain they inflicted upon us throughout the rigorous course of training! They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. While that may be true without music one feels lost on another planet!

It has been said that music is the universal language, and this is very true.  I would add that it can lift the weight off of a weary and troubled mind like a heavenly crane.  It can also cleanse and refresh the soul like the raindrops of April bringing new color to the earth once again.   Nothing else can carry the heart, mind and soul to where they never even dreamed of going! To the top of the highest mountain, to the bottom of the deepest sea, to beyond this life and beyond the stars, to victory, to love, and into the arms of God Himself -- music seems to take you there! No other gift can evoke or sooth emotions like music or seemingly connect one to the universe in the same way!

On September 11, 2001, when the whole world -- even the music -- seemed to stop for a day, there was only God left for us to turn to.  Speaking on behalf of myself, though I'm not exactly a holy roller, I'm glad that I kept Him #1 in the order of all things.  My gratitude for that is why I have always tried to give something back by helping others in need, and also protect those who are most vulnerable in society. I have passed these principals on to my children, as well.

All that being said, September 12, 2001 gave birth to some brand new songs, and instant rebirth to some old classics like Ray Charles' version of "America The Beautiful" that served as the inspiration to a "brotherhood of man" that suddenly found itself almost totally enveloped in darkness and despair. Music helped to bring light to a seemingly unfathomable and insane situation, and gave the rescuers and relief workers -- which included many of my friends and family for months -- new inspiration.  It helped to define and temper a spirit, will and determination, which could never be destroyed, because it is divine in nature! Sure enough, 9/11 also found my dear friend  Freddie Scott and me participating in the some rescue and recovery efforts, and doing a number of free benefits for the rescuers and their families with other recording artist friends around New York City and on Long Island. Despite all of our combined decades of experience in the world of music, were we all somewhat amazed how much it really made a difference all over America and a world.

The Rock, Pop and R&B music that many friends of mine created and performed were definitely inspirational to many over the years. Their songs carried positive messages of love, of truth, of hope, of peace, of carrying the day, and of an appreciation for all of the wonderful things in the world that surrounds us! The words heard in songs like Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," the Rascals' "It's A Beautiful Morning" or Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream,” have positively affected multiple generations and untold billions!

Some of these songs like the Rascals’ "People Got To Be Free," and the Beatles’ "Revolution" also featured a theme of uprising for peace and liberty carried out within the framework of a constitutional democracy that preserves the unbridled rights of all people to be free!  Even today these songs continue to be an influence on popular culture, and in the way people think and act.

The minds of these celebrated artists, and the hands that held the pens that emblazoned propitious and thundering words onto paper must have been connected to the hand of the Author of All That is Good! They effectively made an entire world think of what was -- and even more -- made us all dream of what could be, and made it happen!

In the final analysis they helped to bring an end an unpopular war, and later on, communism it was once known. The almost prophetic verses set to melodies helped to carry American soldiers out of Southeast Asia, and topple the nefarious Berlin Wall.  Many good people died trying to solve these problems and their differences with lead, concrete and steel, but in the end it was the words and the music that prevailed.

As we now move forward looking and hoping for a new dawn in these troubled times, music will once again be a factor that will break down the walls and barriers between the peoples, corporations and nations of the world and the glue that keeps us all together!

Peace and love to all . . . .

• Greg