The Priest The Prophet and The Poet
WHO'S NEXT IN GOSPEL MUSIC?
Three Men, Three Styles, ONE MESSAGE!
Norris Gurganious, Raphael Ashanti & Rodney 'Doc C' Goldsmith make up: The Priest, The Prophet & The Poet. Their vocal diversity and dramatic presentations set them in a class by themselves and makes this trio very special in the world of gospel music.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Once Upon A Time...
In the winter of 2001, a visonary by the name of Raphael Ashanti established a small independent record label from the dining room table of his home in Pensacola, Florida. He was looking to further expose a gospel quartet by the name of "The Christian Disciples" which he was a member and sang 1st tenor with.
Interviewer: How did you arrive at the name DayStar Music Group for your independent label?
Raphael: I was frustrated to discover that every name I could think of was taken, including my own last name, there was a label called the 'Ashanti Music Group' and an R&B singer named "Ashanti." After exhausting attempts to find and register a name for the label, I decided not to try so hard on my own account, so I went into prayer. Several weeks later as I was studying scripture, I happened to come upon II Peter 1:19: (...as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in our hearts...). Since this was a mission that God had placed in my heart, Daystar, which literally means Jesus, was the perfect name to represent the label.
The DayStar* Music Group was born. I worked endlessly toward raising the funds and developing networks for recording, publishing, marketing and promoting the group. Just as I was in the midst of gathering promising resources to move The Christian Disciples forward, the group split up amid differences in direction, I was devastated.
Interviewer: What did you do, where did you go from there?
Raphael: "I continued praying and asking God for direction. I started doing
some solo demo recording and was introduced to Rodney 'Doc C' Goldsmith
at a recording studio where Doc was part owner. Doc C was rapping secular music at the time, but it became obvious to me that he was very talented and very good." Doc was equally impressed with my smooth singing style and passion of delivery, but there was one problem...
Interviewer: What could have possibly been the problem?
*********READ THE COMPLETE HISTORY AT www.priestprophetpoet.com/**********
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes! Visit our website: www.priestprophetpoet.com/ for annoucments of future engagements. All live moments are special when the music can help heal and deliver.
Your musical influences
Norris' influences: James Moore, John P. Kee, Darryl Coley, Smokey Norful.
Raphael's influences: Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Jonathan Butler, Melvin Williams, Marvin Sapp, Curtis Mayfield & Smokey Robinson.
Doc C's influences: Tupac Shakur, Prince, Rahkim.
All of our influences be they secular or gospel are first human by nature and ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
What equipment do you use?
Whatever is available (LOL!!!)
Anything else?
“The Vision” Next Level Anointing Gospel Music
The Vision is a tribute album like no other---19 diversified tracks delivered with heart, soul, and passion that’s sure to touch all age groups. If you have an emotion, it is sure to be touched by one song or another.
For "The Vision" is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry ---Habakkuk 2: 3
