FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Everyone,

My buddy Jay Sellers and I arrived safely today in Washington, D.C. I thought I’d never get here, as I was informed upon checking through security at the airport in JAX that my ID had expired. So, flashes of this entire concert weekend flushing down the drain as I stood there, wondering what would happen.

TSA (security) decided I could go through with extra screening - so I’m the guy over there holding the orange TSA “high risk” card, getting searched over. I’m just glad that I haven’t been pulled over since my license expired nearly 6 months ago without my realizing it.

Landing at DCA (Washington-Reagan) was a breeze, and I promptly went to security and asked them if I’d be able to come home Sunday w/ my expired license. They said no prob, it would just take extra screening like in JAX.

Well, getting onto the military base at Ft. Belvoir wasn’t quite as simple. We were held up at the gate, and despite my military escort, the MP’s wouldn’t allow me on base. “But, he’s one of the headline artists for the concert in the AM, and they are expecting Mr. McKinnon on Parade Field 1 right now for a sound check”. Sorry, expired ID = invalid ID = no getting on this base. Finally, the Major got involved (thanks Major) and vouched for me. After a brief wait, they let us through and off we headed to sound check.

Went straight to the big Parade 1 field where they had this huge stage setup with a big tent over it and a massive PA … and enough backline gear to stock a music store. “Simon”, the house band leader was there with his musicians, and let me just say … these guys are amazing. Jay and I laughed that we’re the only “white boys” around, which doesn’t matter a bit, ’cause we felt the brotherhood (and sisterhood) immediately. The house band started playing my tunes like they’ve been playing with me for a decade. I’ll have to get a pic of us all tomorrow. We rehearsed again after dinner this evening, and we just had some awesome church and worship.

So, we’re back at the housing, and I’m hoping to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day - will be twittering and sending some pics from the shows.

How was your Friday?
Fred

• Comments (11)

Hey Everyone,

For those who haven’t heard, I must pay tribute to a wonderful gospel songwriter and singer, Dottie Rambo. As a professional musician, writer, and arranger, I’ve seen Dottie’s name on more manuscripts than I could count. I suppose of all her songs, “Behold the Lamb” may be one of the most well-known to me. Other giant songs that Dottie penned include “Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome”, “He Looked Beyond My Fault”, and “I Go To The Rock”.

She was killed tragically as her tour bus crashed into an embankment in Missouri.

Dottie was certainly a legend in Christian music, and her songs have been recorded by many greats, including Dolly Parton.

Pray for the other people on her bus, most of whom were injured and are in the hospital.

CBN News Article:
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/373505.aspx

I realize that with the mixed demographic of this blog, many of my readers won’t even know who Dottie was, but do you recognize her songs?

• Comments (7)

Hey Everyone,

So, it’s been a wild week. I typically take one day per week and “unplug” from blog world. Normally, I’ll catch up pretty easily but this week has had it’s share of detours, so I start out Friday morning with nearly 500 unread blogs in my Google Reader. So, yep - I did it again - I declared RSS Bankruptcy and “Marked All Read”.

Today Joy leaves for the weekend - she’s going down to Orlando with some of her girfriends who are running a triathlon race. Joy’s not in the race - she’s just going to hang out with some girls and have fun. I’d say she’s much-deserving of this get away. It leaves me this weekend with all four of my beloved munchkins … so pray for them! Seriously, I’m looking forward to it - we’re gonna have a blast.

Stay tuned this evening for a super-blog-post … one that is VERY IMPORTANT to me. I am going to set it to automatically release around 1:30 AM, EST … but on auto-release, my email subscription folks don’t get an email (I don’t know why that doesn’t work!?).

In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve been meaning to mention:

1. Please vote for my song, “Fix My Eyes” on IndieHeaven.Com’s FanFaves chart daily. As of today, it’s at #29 on the charts and rising.
2. I just watched my friend Mandy’s video, in partnership with Brent’s wife, Tam … it’s on the new MTTV Video Blog … and is hilarious, so check it out and encourage those gals.
3. Travis and Chris hit homeruns as always with their media and print-related work for our current sermon series at SSCC, “Just Breathe”.
4. Worship this past Sunday was amazing. I need a dedicated confessional or text-fessional to describe it, but I think I waited too long.
5. There is a “revival” happening in Lakeland, FL - over 8,000 people attending every night. Lots of salvations, miracles, signs, wonders, healings. I’ve not been, nor have I watched it on God.TV, but I understand you can see it every night. I have a LOT of thoughts in my head about this type of thing, and I need to write them down … but I can sum it up by simply saying, “I believe, Lord help my unbelief”. More on that later.
6. EXTRA (added about 30 minutes AFTER publishing this) … Perry Noble had a great post called “Five Phases in Dealing with a Critic” … I just had to share this post, as I’ve experienced all FIVE of these phases within about 72 hours this week.  Dang, I can relate!

So Mandy & Tam’s tips on MTTV said keep your blog posts short … this is still within one “screen”, so I hope I’m doing OK … any constructive criticism, ladies?

Fred

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OK - I ain’t gonna lie. I’m very excited about Neil Diamond being on American Idol. I realize that for most folks my age (and younger), that’s not necessarily cool. I don’t give a rip. This guy is a legend.

Part of the reason I’m a music lover is because I was exposed to so much music growing up. Coming from a family of musicians and music-lovers, I was constantly exposed to music. My parents were HUGE fans of Neil Diamond. As a kid, I heard lots of Neil Diamond, John Denver, and the Kingston Trio. (remember eatin’ Goober Peas?).

Perhaps the biggest influece was Neil Diamond. I must have been less than 10-years old when my parents took me to my first concert. Every time Neil came to Atlanta, we were there.

His songwriting is incredible. His performances were inspiring. His orchestrations and band arrangements were simple and rich at the same time. His ability to add guitar, percussion, and orchestra into what was like a pop-folk type music is timeless.

I’ll never forget the “America” tour. The Atlanta Omni was packed. That huge flag came down, pyros going off … oh man, as a kid, I thought I was in heaven. Some would think a 10-year old is too young for that - but let me tell you, it inspired me for a lifetime. His concerts left me with an incredible desire to perform. I would come home and pick out every single note on the piano, and play along with the records.

So, obviously - somebody else must agree that he’s a legend, because he’ll be the mentor this week on American Idol. So what will the contestants sing?

I’ve got no clue, but wanted to publish this BEFORE it airs tonight in hopes that some of my wishes come true.

I’d love to hear:

David Cook sing a rocked out version of “America” or “Cherry Cherry”
David Archuelta sing a beautiful rendition of “I Am, I Said”
Jason Castro OR Brooke White do a bluesy, acoustic guitar version of “Song, Sung Blue” or “Forever in Blue Jeans

Those are some of my all-time favorites, along with “Sweet Caroline”, “Red, Red Wine”, “Cherry Cherry”, “Play Me”, and “Done to Soon” … anything off the “Hot August Night” album would be awesome.

I’ll leave you with this video I found on YouTube, Neil singing my all-time favorite, “I Am, I Said”:

So am I the *ONLY* person out there in my age bracket that thinks this guy is awesome?
Fred

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