The Heart Pauses...To say, "I Want To Thank You Mr. Frankie Beverly"

Yes... I WANNA THANK YOU...Mr. Frankie Beverly!

Sometimes God places a musical genius on the earth. It's almost as if no one knows the genius spirit until they die. Well, at the ripe age of 10, I took my first trip to Milledgeville Ga, with my Uncle Willie Murray.
He (my uncle) was a good family man. Between driving trucks, he was the catalyst of family trips. Definitely the reason why I prided myself in taking my children on road trips every year. Another thing, he taught me more about making sure my body was clean than anyone besides my mother. I know that seems strange that a uncle will teach a girl about hygiene but he did it by waiting until you got out the tube and then scrubbing your ankle.
He use this to show me that I was made of dirt but that I could clean the dirt just right to prevent it from caking, but never enough to erase the fact that I am still dirt. (So prophetic and I get it...from the spiritual now more than ever.) However, this man has me at 50 still scrubbing my ankles. (HaHa)
But my uncle taught me something else.
He taught me about GOOD MUSIC and finding the genius in the sound and lyrics of music.
He caused me to listen closely to WORDS to the fact that they come to life with more than man's meaning but keeping in mind the creator of WORDS take them seriously.
And my uncle caused me to see that GOD has a way of speaking to the hearts of man by using the surrendered heart who will listen deeply to their spirit and decode the sentiments of life, death, purpose, pain, priviledge, and promise, and place it with a melody that causes you to sometimes get so caught up until even your own soul is stirred and moved to DO SOMETHING...just because of what you heard. 
I know, that was a mouthful and I didn't even take a breath. (Yeah...deep.)
Well, one of the first finds was in the Legendary Frankie Beverly & Maze.
My Uncle made me listen to the words so deeply that I thought I could be someone's sunshine to brighten their life. Then he caused me to understand that as a human we must be one with God, one with each other, and one with the music, but all showing love.
So, basically, for over ten hours, the ten year old girl listen to the WE ARE ONE cassette tape until I knew every word, to every song, and even to this day...when me and Scroggins are traveling Maze-We Are One is the first thing I hit on my playlist.
One of my first concerts, was a Maze concert. My momma knew my uncle had created a super fan. In my 50 years of living, I've been to see Maze more times than any other artist.
So today, my heart is saddened.
I feel like the world has lost a musical genius that cannot ever be replaced.
I want to thank my uncle Willie Murray for introducing me to a musical genius...
And thank Mr. Frankie for all the Happy Feelings he has given to people wise enough to know who he truly was and smart enough to share it with little girls who would one day understand the importance of being a voice to the world.
I will never stop reminding myself of LOVE....and spreading it from deep in my soul.
Forever a fan...
And forever in my memories,
​Danyelle

Thank you Uncle Willie Murray...for teaching a black girl about good music! I love you always.