John Howard – FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, the pop artist, John Howard, talks about the story of his first experience with live music.

John Howard

In this First Concert Ever segment, the pop artist, John Howard, talks about the story of his first experience with live music. You can check out the story, after the break.

The first concert I went to growing up was the Commissioned “Number 7” Tour in Memphis, Tennessee. Commissioned was one of the first contemporary gospel groups ever formed. They were much different from the traditional quartets that had been the sound of gospel for years. Their sound was cutting edge and their songs were far from the cliches and repetitive lyrics found in quartet music.
I had seen them before at musicals with other artists, but this was my first time seeing them in full concert! I went with my brothers Luke and Ezra and my cousin Joseph! Yeah, I know, all of our names are biblical! We had been following the group since their first album in 1985 when my mother bought their debut album “I’m Going On.” We had been listening to their music for six years, so it is an understatement to say we were ecstatic to be there! Growing up in rural Mississippi, we didn’t have the opportunity to go to concerts of this caliber often.
The year was 1991, in the month of November, we couldn’t believe we were actually there! We ran up the stairs with pure jubilation as the concert was beginning. As we hustled to the balcony of the auditorium, at the of 14, my mind was blown. The band had just added three new members for this album, Marvin Sapp, Maxx Frank, and Eddie Howard. Of course, I wanted to believe Eddie was kinfolk since we shared the same last name, but that was just my imagination once again… Anyway, the energy, the musicianship, the flow from song to song was something I had never experienced before in my entire life! I can still hear Anson and Eric (Dawkins & Dawkins) singing, “The way you love me makes me feel…” as Commissioned started with one of their tracks, “The Way You Love Me.” We jumped, we screamed, we sang along, we were truly inspired.
Until this day, my wife has to convince me that I am not in the group! That concert sparked something in me that is still on fire today! I am forever grateful for the gift of music that I got to witness that day, and I would hope that I am inspiring someone just like Commissioned inspired me!

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