Music
Jesus, you are the center of my joy!
Ebenezer’s Minister of Music began singing as a small child in the Children’s Choir. She has held the position for eight years and participates in many productions throughout the greater Seattle area, including Seattle Theater Group’s Black Nativity and appearances with the Total Experience Gospel Choir.
Praise & Worship
Jenell was born in Chicago, Illinois the 4th of 6 children. Brought up in New Mt. Zion MB Church. At the age of 5 sung her first song, "Yes Jesus Loves Me". From that time on she belonged to a choir, the tiny tots, youth, junior's, and then gospel choir. She state's that "I could not ever imagine myself "not" in a choir singing praises to GOD." Jenell moved to Seattle in early 1997 and visited Ebenezer A.M.E. Zion around sometime in 1998 where she sung a duet with one of the members at the time, The Potters house. She continued to come as a visitor until Pastor Meadows was named pastor of the church and she pledged membership. She joined the choir, started the praise and worship and became choir director. She says she has "no special training, most people are "into" music but I have always felt that music was "IN" me." She love's lyrics, especially those that are directly related to the word. She select's songs for the choir first by lyrics, second by music composition. And says, "If there is one line that truly describes me I would have to steal one from a song..."I LOVE TO PRAISE HIM"".
Pianist/Keyboardist
Tim Kennedy is a pianist/keyboardist and song writer based in Seattle, WA. Tim has a degree in piano performance from William Paterson University in New Jersey. He lived in New York City as an active performer on the jazz and pop scene for ten years. Tim has toured internationally as a soloist and as a keyboardist with different bands. Currently he performs and produces music with his band Gravity. Gravity is an active touring band and have released four albums in the past year.
Tim plays every sunday at Ebenezer AME Zion Church, and is a first call musician in Seattle for performance and record sessions. He has played on over 30 albums, and performed with some of the biggest names in pop and jazz.
Drummer
LeNard Jones is CEO of Goodybagg Entertainment. He earned a Minor in music at Oral Roberts University. He has played with Richard Smallwood, Phillip Bailey, Darrell Coley, Joan Rivers, Malcolm Jamal Warner - Cosby kid, Domino, Candy Man, Ryan Shea Smith - artist up for Song of the Year - KWJZ, Michael Williams at the Grammy's Sundance Film Festival, S.W.A.G., Chiwaniso- Grammy Award Nominee from Zimbabwe and Too Short. Lenard was drummer in Billie Holiday play "Lady Sings the Blues" 2009.
Currently, he is the drummer for Ebenezer A. M. E. Zion Church, CEO/Drummer for Goodybagg Entertainment and setting up an all-purpose youth production school; to teach music, audio, video, lighting, stage and studio production.
LeNard is involved in the local community. He has received the following awards: Best summer program of 2003 - Boys and Girl's Club of America King County, Black Firefighters scholarship and toy drive, 2010. Best overall band-Seattle voted by Arial Media and KWJZ, 2010. Been involved in fundraisers for Obesity Clinics of Washington and Breast Cancer - 2009/2010. Al well as organized Haiti Relief Musical/Fundraiser - 2010. He has Played drums at various churches for choirs, musicals, plays, funerals, etc. Types of music he plays are Gospel, Jazz, R & B, Hip Hop, Funk and Latin.
Music Ministry
Men’s Chorus
Chris J Dudley, musically known as CJ, is an African American singer-songwriter, born and raised in Seattle, WA. He released his first album entitled All You Need Is Faith in 2007, which generated two singles that received continual local radio air play. He released his second album in 2009, entitled Ordinary Man Extraordinary God, which generated a single that was featured on an online radio show, as well as on the Holy Hip Hop website DaSouth.com. He is now 25 years old and is a singer, songwriter, and producer. Faith Records is CJ's independent label and company that he has started. He's Hoping to one day fulfill his dreams and have his own major label in Seattle, where independent, driven and passionate artists, sound engineers, and music business people could grow in their artistry and craft.
Musicians
Bassist
Gerald Turner is critically acclaimed all over the globe for his innovative array of musical talent. Gerald`s career began singing at church and playing in school bands. Having graduated with Musical Honors and a Scholastics Achievement award for the Franklin High School Band Jazz Lab. He also participated in the Reno International Jazz Festival.
It was more than evident that Gerald was well on his way to a successful music career. His inventive style is carried throughout his work opening doors that were once closed. With original lyrics, pioneering bass, keyboard, trombone, and trumpet playing, Gerald explores jazz, funk, gospel, hip hop, blues, house, rock, and reggae.
He has performed in Theatre productions such as’Black Nativity’, a gospel song play by Langston Hughes, at Intiman Theatre, ‘Livin` Ain`t Easy’, ‘God`s Trombones’. and ‘Music Magic’ for the Paul Robeson Community Theatre Group, and ‘The Mafia Suite’, A doco-drama based on the kidnap and enslavement of the African people.
Gerald has toured nationally and internationally with some of America`s most talented musicians. He has performed with and/or shared a stage with such artist as Patti Holly, from ‘Just Like A Prayer’ video, Harmon Pride, Richard Smallwood, Dave Brubeck, Julian Priester, Phillip Woo, Michael White, Bernard Purdie, Jubilation, Digable Planets, Ice Cube, Shock G of Digital Underground, George and Daryll Clinton, Suns of Funkenstein, Tony Coleman, Kenny G, Spearhead, Sandra Reeves Phillips from ‘Lean On Me’, Jungle Brothers, Clarence “Bash” Robinson, Black Uhuru, Sister Carol, Michael Rhodes, Abyssinian Congo, Mad Professor, Majek Fashek, Third world, Macy Gray, Coolio, Eryka Badu, Bernie Worrell, Michael Hepburn, B-Legit, The Dells, Shock, Fatback, Edi Fitzroy, Mavis Staples, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago, Domino, Too Short, Devin the Dude, Malcom Jamal Warner, Joan Rivers, and Raz B from B2K.
Gerald has also appeared on the major motion picture soundtrack Money, Sex, and Thugs, with D-Shot of The Click, The short film “Turnaround;” and has also performed with Seattle Artist such as Darrius Willrich, Felicia Loud, Haard Copy, Blumeadows, Deformation, Ghoul Booty, Michael Williams, 206 ribshack BBQ orchestra. He also appeared on Nocturnal Rage, “Way Out’ video on BET.