Interview with Kevin Bond
March 2006, BlackGospel.com
If you were to take a poll among elite gospel artists and ambitious new producers today and ask the simple question, “who would you like to intimately work with on your next project or in the studio”, one name would surely surface to the top like sparkles in a glass of champagne.
Kevin Bond – a native of Chicago - is one of the most prolific, innovative and most sought-after songwriters, producers and arrangers ever to have placed his fingertips on a keyboard. With credits that tie his name to the Grammy and Stellar award-winning productions behind Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Kurt Carr, Marvin Sapp and New Birth Total Praise Choir, Kevin is the indisputable producer/musician of choice in gospel music today.
But that title did not arrive overnight like FedEx. With over twenty-five years of musical mileage behind him, Kevin has gained a faithful discipleship of musicians, producers, and everything in between from across America and around the world.
If you listen carefully, you can hear it in the creative direction of musical directors who enthrall the congregations of churches across America. You’ll pick it up in the songs of today’s most refined songwriters. You’ll definitely sense it in the songs of the best producers. Mr. Kevin Bond can certainly receive credit for much of what sounds right and feels good in gospel music today.
It’s been an illustrious career that only gets bigger and brighter with each passing year. From his days as a flamboyant musician at the Edwin Hawkins Music & Arts Seminar, to his part as one of the co-founders of the Tri-City Singers, from his executive role as VP of A&R at GospoCentric/B-Rite to his recent tenure as the Director of Worship & Arts at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Kevin Bond has been leaving his prints and presence on gospel music in a most impressive way.
BLACKGOSPEL.COM had the privilege and opportunity to pick the heart and mind of Elder Bond and discuss his most recent production on the EMI Gospel release – Bishop Eddie L. Long Presents New Birth Total Praise Choir, A New Beginning, his incredibly successful career as a modern-day Levite and his ultimate plans for the future. As always, Kevin was extremely gracious, surprisingly illuminating and far too humble in his responses. Our conversation stands as a highlight among our many exclusive interviews on BLACKGOSPEL.COM, as you will soon discover.
Christopher Heron: Kevin, when I review all the work you’ve done in studio for so many artists over the years, it’s amazing you find time for workshops and family. How have you successfully balanced your responsibilities over the years? And, as a Gospel artist who writes, plays and instructs others, where do you find the time to nurture your creative juices for composing, producing and teaching new and aspiring artists and musicians?
Kevin Bond: Time management is a critical prerequisite for success as a leader. One will never be successful if he can’t manage the time God has given him. For me the ordered priority in terms of ministry is God first, family second and ministry third. As long as I maintain a healthy balance according to this template, I am positioned so that God is faithful in blessing all the works of my hands. We must not ignore the fact that God is a God of order, and therefore, honors order in our lives.
I'm always in my personal studio creating music, which I believe is paramount towards keeping my musical antenna fresh. We should stay creative, always doing that which lends itself to yielding fruit. Did you catch that? YIELDING FRUIT! Too often, we give ourselves to busy-ness that’s void of fruit!
Regarding encouraging and instructing others….I believe that inspiring others is a function of ALL believers, not an assignment reserved exclusively for industry professionals. I love motivating and speaking life to those hoping for a better future. I still remember what it was like for me coming up, so I can certainly relate to some of the frustrations that grip God’s people as they endure the process of goal attainment. Therefore, it’s important that I stay prayerful in order that I may be able to act as God’s mouthpiece, always able to speak encouragement to others, propelling them to the next phase of their careers.
CH: The end of 2005 brought a close to your very demanding and fulfilling tenure as the Director of Worship & Arts at the New Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta (Lithonia), Georgia. How would you sum up your years working for one of America’s most recognizable mega churches?
KB: New Birth was a great experience and a privileged opportunity to make a deposit into the life of a ministry that was not known primarily as a music sanctuary. I truly enjoyed my time there and loved pastoring the 600-member Worship & Arts Department. I was able to express myself musically and expose his music department to the world.
CH: Kevin, over the years, you’ve served in a number of memorable capacities, such as musical director, acclaimed producer, Senior A&R label representative and most recently as Director of Worship & Arts at a mega church. How have all these roles and responsibilities developed you as both a professional and a minister?
KB: Chris, as a believer every experience shapes us into what God ultimately desires for us to be. Romans 8:28 encourages us to know that all things work together for our good! I totally believe that, and I’ve tried to take the entirety of all I've done to become a Godly example of one who walks in spiritual integrity. After all, I’m living this life just to live again. The accomplishments on this side are rewarding, but temporal at best!
I've loved and embraced every phase of my development. The amazing blessing was that I got the chance to glean from some of the most incredible and influential leaders of our time. To that end, I urge aspiring leaders to treasure the moments. Don’t make such foolish haste that you forfeit the vital developmental stage. I guarantee that you'll need the totality of your experiences along the journey.
My time spent with my father, Pastor Alex Bond Jr., Jesse Jackson, Walter & Edwin Hawkins, Vickie Lattailade, Bishop TD Jakes, Donnie, Yolanda, Kirk, Alvin and serving as Minister of Music, Songwriter, Producer, Music Director, etc., were most valuable experiences. Each of those individuals and experiences helped shape me into the MAN I am now.
CH: New Birth Cathedral has now released its second album with EMI Gospel -- A New Beginning. I love this album, even more than the debut project, Spirit & Truth. It is different in a variety of ways. The new album highlights a very powerful sounding choir, while surprisingly omitting lead soloists. And secondly, A New Beginning offers very complementary sermonette's featuring the senior. What inspired the album to go in this direction? And what were some of the other special ingredients you brought to A New Beginning?
KB: WOW, Thanks Sir!! In hindsight, “A New Beginning” was a prophetic work from start to finish. While I'm sure that many will be blessed by the CD, in the strangest of ironies, God actually had me write a love letter from Him to me this time. Chris, I'm learning that God is ever the Teacher. He had me write and produce this CD to tell ME to move into MY New Beginning! So with the release of the CD, I too have been released to do the things I had placed on the back burner while I served and helped build the ministries of others. I pray that many will find encouragement through this prophetic work as I have. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! This is your time to step out and walk into the things that God has placed in your spirit.
I'm sorry to go off on a tangent there, but I'm very passionate about God’s busy-ness! And now, He’s given me time to get busy with His Busy-ness!
You asked about the direction of the CD and the choices I made this time around. Honestly, I'm always like a child when I begin the production process. I like it that way because it keeps me fresh and fosters my total reliance upon God’s leading. I produced and wrote nine or so songs, taught the band and choir, played keys, mixed, and edited the piece. WOW! That’s quite a bit, in retrospect. But it was such a joy to do so in order to present this offering to the world.
Regarding the sermonettes… I did something similar a few years ago with Bishop Jakes and thought it would be good to revisit this concept The New Birth Total Praise Choir. I felt that the wedding of the word and the music would grab the listeners’ attention and hold them throughout the entire piece. After all, the Word states that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. What better way to build the faith of believers than integrating the two most powerful driving forces in our worship services! And from the responses I've received, I believe it worked!
Regarding the production of this CD… I took 175 choir members into the studio to record this offering. WOW!!!!! That’s unheard of in our day. Many producers (including myself) typically use small groups to do studio overdubs near the end of a project such as this. However, having trained the NBTP Choir for four years, I felt very confident that they would not let all my training and instruction be in vain. AND THEY DIDN’T DISAPPOINT!!! THEY DID IT.” I am so very proud of them and so thankful for the time I spent building them up and introducing them to the world! Total Praise, You ROCK!!!!!!!!
I chose not to add soloists to the project because I wanted to truly showcase The Total Praise Choir. I've observed that much too often in the corporate worship experience when soloists are featured, the congregation has a tendency to abandon worship and become spectators. With this project, I wanted to foster an atmosphere that would allow the listeners to worship unhindered--without the “distraction” of a worship leader or soloist out front.
CH: The popularity of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is certainly due, in large part, to the exceptional music you’ve provided to its service. By your evaluation, how valuable is music to the whole worship and praise experience? And what advice would you have for Music Ministers across the country seeking to enrich the Sunday morning worship service in their respective churches?
KB: Thanks Chris, but I dare not take credit for what God has done! God places the vision in the shepherd and allows him to work the vision. Bishop Long recognized his vision and found others to help bring that vision to manifestation. And when everybody brings their gifts to the table to work toward a clear vision, you then have synergy!
Primary leadership should never feel threatened by secondary leadership. If that occurs, ministry will never grow. Instead, perpetual stagnancy will be its ultimate definition. In my estimation, the driving force of our success at New Birth was a leader’s willingness to trust God, grow, and allow his music department to become something more than even he had dreamed of.
To all my co-laborers and Levites serving in music ministry, I urge you to seek God’s guidance daily for the direction of your department. You can’t do this in your own strength! It is a Godly assignment that must be subject to God’s leading! Also, I urge you to meet with, or as I did, listen to the messages from your spiritual leader to understand the direction he or she is going. Without that direction you can’t see the vision necessary for you to lead the music in that house. Of course, that’s a challenge because we all have our own vision. But the key is distinguishing between your personal vision and the vision of the one you're serving.
During my time at New Birth, I won Grammy’s with other artists, did outside production, and performed other great ministry assignments outside the house, BUT while I was at New Birth I always focused on the duties of the house. You can wear many hats, but the key is balance! Never get confused about which hat you’re wearing today! Otherwise, you'll miss out on what God has for you to impart to that house. Consequently, you will stifle your personal ministry outside the house.
CH: In conclusion, what’s in store for Kevin Bond in 2006 and the foreseeable future? And are there any new projects outside of music that you are itching to do?
KB: Chris, I have many things that I'm embarking upon right now. Stay tuned. They will be listed on my websites as they develop. Right now I'm traveling the country conducting Levitical workshops and leadership training for worship and arts departments. I'm also taking speaking engagements as well as doing production. One of the things I'm giving great priority to is helping aspiring independent artists get their feet in the door. God has been and still is faithful to me, and I'd love nothing more than to reciprocate His faithfulness by helping others achieve their dreams as I am achieving mine.
KEVIN BOND (The Chief Levite)
To contact Kevin Bond for speaking engagements, seminars and special appearances, call his office at 678-854-8809 or email him at Bookings@kevinbond.com or visit his official website at www.kevinbond.com for more information.
