How Sweet The Sound - Behind The Music

To support the launch of the new adult mental health campaign called Love, Your Mind, this episode will focus on key themes from the campaign to support Black men’s mental health.  It will also tap into how music and other art forms can help us express our emotions and support our overall mental health.  Music, especially gospel, can comfort the distressed soul and bring moments of hope.  By deeply engaging with such uplifting tunes, we find an avenue to foster well-being, especially during challenging times.

During this podcast, we will discuss men’s mental health and encourage everyone to prioritize their mental wellness.  While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to taking care of one’s mental health and one’s approach can change over time, this podcast will share different resources and activities men can use to start prioritizing their mental health.

With Dr. Corey Yeager as our subject matter expert, we will delve into the core messages of the new "Love, Your Mind" campaign.  Dr. Yeager, with his vast experience in addressing the mental health needs of Black men, will offer valuable insights and resources to support men's emotional well-being.  In addition to being a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, he’s also a Sports & Entertainment Life Coach, and will connect well with the gospel artist chosen to join him during this podcast. Kelontae Gavin will share his mental health journey and how music has played a pivotal role, emphasizing the transformative power of gospel music in supporting his mental health.  Together, they aim to foster a safe space where men feel empowered to seek help, nurture their mental well-being, address stigma within the faith community, and share valuable resources to help other Black men.

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, it's important to remember that mental health is essential for all, especially young people. As parents, it's crucial that we recognize the signs when something is wrong with our children and do regular check-ins with them on their emotional well-being, even if we see nothing is wrong. Dr. Tartt and musical artist, Latrice Pace, will be sharing ways to improve your mental health and stay on top of your child’s mental health during this podcast episode.

At the start of a new year, many of us reflect on how to improve our physical and spiritual health, but we often neglect the importance of our mental wellbeing.  Mental health is essential for all, especially young people.  And as parents, it is important that we know how to recognize the signs when something is wrong with our children and do regular check ins with them on their emotional well-being even if we see nothing is wrong.  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have or will have a serious mental illness.  Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental illnesses in kids and it can be challenging to communicate with a child who struggles with anxiety and/or depression, but it is vital for caregivers to try.

Music is a powerful tool that gospel artists and musicians use to praise God, express our emotions, and bring comfort to people, including those who might be struggling. Through the use of music in the church, we are able to express our emotions, heal, and find peace. Gospel artists and musicians understand the importance of vocalizing emotion to help others in times of distress. Music has the ability to soothe the soul and bring joy to those in need of comfort.  By using gospel music as a tool, we can connect with each other on a deeper level and spread joy in times of difficulty.

This podcast will help educate parents and provide valuable resources, including ones from the Ad Council’s Sound It Out campaign. It will also include real-life stories shared by Pastor JJ Hairston and show how he and his family have worked through their daughter’s challenges with mental health. Furthermore, he will share more about his new album, his new church building, and how his church and others are helping those that struggle with mental health issues. We will also feature Dr. Coralanne Griffith-Hunte to help educate the community on mental health and share resources parents can utilize to help them have better conversations with their children about their emotional wellbeing. It’s important to reinforce the importance of checking in with our kids when they aren’t (or don’t seem to be) struggling as well.

How Sweet The Sound is back, returning for 1 Live show ONLY at The Bon Secours Wellness Arena.  Come and celebrate with Grammy and Stellar awarding winning National Gospel Artist as they Perform and Judge Americas best choirs, soloists and dance ensembles.

A Kansas City, MO native, gospel artist, and praise & worship testifier, DeWayne Woods got his musical education at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts and began his professional career proper after a chance meeting with John P. Kee. He soon became a key member of Kee’s gospel ensemble, the New Life Community Choir, and continued with Kee’s next ensemble, the Company. He worked with several of contemporary gospel’s leading lights, and backed artists Celine Dion, Kirk Whalum, Kurt Carr, and Karen Clark-Sheard, among others, before launching his own solo career and ministry. His first album, Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, generated a huge gospel hit with “Let Go” in 2007, earning the singer numerous awards, allowing him to relocate from Chicago to Atlanta and assume the role of Director of Worship & Arts at Divine Faith Ministries International. After contracting the HIV virus in the '90s, Woodsgenerated some controversy when he announced he had stopped taking the various drugs that kept the virus in check, had put his health in the hands of God, and then declared that he was healed. Healed or not, it didn't keep him from singing, ministering, and staying positive in his life. His second album, My Life’s Lyric, produced -- like his first -- by P.J. Morton, Daniel Weatherspoon, and Aaron Lindsey, appeared in 2010.

Inspired by his Grandmother’s gospel records, a four- year-old Patrick climbed atop a piano bench and began to play by ear. Thus began his lifetime love affair with gospel music, a passion which has consumed and driven him…

Patrick attended Norfolk State University and received the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal music and in 2016 he completed his Masters Degree at Liberty University. While attending NSU, he was appointed director of the Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir and won many awards and choral competitions with them. For 10 years, Patrick has blessed the NSU Voices of Inspirations with his desire to "Sing unto the Lord a New Song." Together they praised God almighty, offering songs of praise that warm the souls of those proclaiming the spirit of the Lord.

Licensed to preach in 2002, Patrick has served as the Worship Pastor to one of the top-tiered churches within Hampton Roads Region. Revered by many as a true gospel choirmaster, he has often been noted for his tremendous ability to write, arrange and produce music that is stirring and always appropriate for worship. He is best celebrated for his flamboyant, aggressive, high energy, yet technical style of choir directing and has been deemed as the "Prince of Choirs". He has served as a background vocalist and choir director for many plays, gospel artists, recordings and workshops. He currently serves under his mentor Minister Ricky Dillard as assistant director in his, Grammy nominated, Stellar Award winning choir New Generation Chorale, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrick is also the founder and conductor of his national recording choir D’vyne Worship; a 50+ voice choral aggregate which sings not only gospel and contemporary songs, but anthems as well. Under his leadership, this choir has charted on Billboard Music's Top 10 and received national recognition from the voting academy of The Stellar Awards. 

He serves as the VA 2nd Jurisdiction's State Minister of Music COGIC, VA 2nd Jurisdiction's AIM Vice-Chairman, Chorum of Directors for the International Music Department COGIC, Department Cantor for the International Department of Evangelism COGIC, Music Coordinator for International Mens Department COGIC, and holds a seat on the Contemporary Adult Division Board of GMWA. Patrick frequently travels the country, as he is called upon to serve as guest conductor, vocalist, clinician, lecturer and evangelist. In 2015 Elder Riddick launched a life empowering bible study entitled "Moments of Deliverance" which is geared to equip and develop all whom desire to grow in their Christian Faith.