Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
May 19, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Lake Street Dive photos, Charlotte, NC, May 19, 2015
Lake Street Dive
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
May 19, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
May 19, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
Shirley Caesar interview
Shirley Caesar: A Short interview
by Daniel Coston
Shirley Caesar is sitting back in a reclining chair, just a few minutes after delivering the commencement address at Johnson C. Smith’s baccalaureate graduation. Despite giving a rousing sermon that moved both the graduates, and even the University president to dance and shout, she worries that her voice was not up to her own standards. “I had a cold this spring that was hard on me,” she says to a University staffer nearby. “I hope that it was enough.”
After more than 60 years of singing all over the world, and pastoring over her Mount Calvary Word Of Mouth Church in Raleigh, it is still the next speech, and the next message that drives her. “I still want to speak to everyone,” she says when asked why came to Johnson C. Smith. “I wanted to speak to these graduates, provide some help, and say something that will shine a light, and steer them towards what is right.”
It is that willingness to speak of the Gospel that Caesar carries with her everywhere, even to people that may not be prepared for that message. “I was on a plane once,” she remembers, “and I said to a friend of mine, ‘I’m going to witness to whoever sits next to me on this flight’. And the man ended up being Chinese. And I testified to him, and he just looked at me. He didn’t speak english. But that’s okay. There is always someone else to speak to.”
When asked what message that she would want to pass on the graduating students of Johnson C. Smith, and people at large, “Remember that Jesus loves you,” she replies. “I want people to know that they can change the way they think, and use what the Lord has done for you. I tell people to think of themselves as sermons in shoes, spreading the message of Christ, and the Word."
by Daniel Coston
Shirley Caesar is sitting back in a reclining chair, just a few minutes after delivering the commencement address at Johnson C. Smith’s baccalaureate graduation. Despite giving a rousing sermon that moved both the graduates, and even the University president to dance and shout, she worries that her voice was not up to her own standards. “I had a cold this spring that was hard on me,” she says to a University staffer nearby. “I hope that it was enough.”
After more than 60 years of singing all over the world, and pastoring over her Mount Calvary Word Of Mouth Church in Raleigh, it is still the next speech, and the next message that drives her. “I still want to speak to everyone,” she says when asked why came to Johnson C. Smith. “I wanted to speak to these graduates, provide some help, and say something that will shine a light, and steer them towards what is right.”
It is that willingness to speak of the Gospel that Caesar carries with her everywhere, even to people that may not be prepared for that message. “I was on a plane once,” she remembers, “and I said to a friend of mine, ‘I’m going to witness to whoever sits next to me on this flight’. And the man ended up being Chinese. And I testified to him, and he just looked at me. He didn’t speak english. But that’s okay. There is always someone else to speak to.”
When asked what message that she would want to pass on the graduating students of Johnson C. Smith, and people at large, “Remember that Jesus loves you,” she replies. “I want people to know that they can change the way they think, and use what the Lord has done for you. I tell people to think of themselves as sermons in shoes, spreading the message of Christ, and the Word."
Friday, May 29, 2015
Thank You Olivia
Today is a sad day for me, as it is the last day at the Charlotte Observer for Olivia Fortson, who has been their society editor for the last 24 years. Olivia first hired me fifteen years ago to take photos for her Scene & Heard section. My first event for her was photographing then-tween pop star Aaron Carter at a Walmart appearance. Needless to say, events and gala in Charlotte have come a long way since then.
Over the past fifteen years, Olivia and I became great friends, and we both worked hard to cover the bright lights of Charlotte’s comings and goings. Many of you first met me at those events. While I hope to continue to take photos for the Observer, I honestly do not know what the future is for me, or Scene & Heard. Change is constant, and change has arrived. The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne. Whatever comes from this, it will be different without Olivia, whose elegant work has guided the paper’s attempts to canvas the town, and brush the backdrop. All we can do is go forward. Columnated ruins domino.
I dedicate this song today to Olivia, her 24 years with the Observer, and her future. And perhaps mine, as well. I heard this song on the radio last week, while on my way to a photo shoot, and I thought, “That says it all.” Surf's Up, aboard the tidal wave. Thank you Olivia for my being my editor and friend for the last fifteen years, and for all of the photos. It was a wonderful thing, like a children’s song.
See travels to all of you, and see you on the road.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Here's The Facebook Event Page For Our CLT 60s Rock & Roll Reunion Show
Spread the word, and see you there.
-Daniel
May 27, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/events/1446358955664731/
-Daniel
May 27, 2015
https://www.facebook.com/events/1446358955664731/
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Updated Book Talk And Signing Schedule
As I gear up for the Charlotte 60s Rock & Roll Reunion show at Neighborhood Theatre on June 27th, I've got a number of talks on my books coming up, as well as book signings for my NC Musicians book at a number of Mast General Stores. All of these events, apart from The Wrecking Crew documentary, are free. Spread the word, and see you on the road. Columnated ruins domino....
NC Musicians and NC 1960s Rock & Roll book talks-
June 17th, North County Regional Library, Huntersville, 6pm
June 30th, South County Region Library, 6pm
July 13th, Plaza Midwood Library 6pm
Book signings for NC Musicians book-
June 13th, Hendersonville, 11am-3pm
June 19th, Boone, noon-4pm
July 10th, Boone, 1 to 5pm
July 11th, Valle Crusis, 11am to 3pm
I’ll also be speaking after the Charlotte screening of The Wrecking Crew documentary, at Theatre Charlotte on June 6th.
-Daniel
May 19, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Beach Fossils/Yardwork pics, Charlotte, NC, May 16, 2015
Beach Fossils
Yardwork
Reverb Fest
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
May 16, 2015
photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
Yardwork
Reverb Fest
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
May 16, 2015
photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
Saturday, May 16, 2015
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