Gospel music fans everywhere are preparing for the 26th Annual Stellar Awards Show.
However, local residents will see a familiar face on stage during the event.
Indiana native Reggie Strong and his band will perform on stage with gospel recording artist Myron Williams.
“We’re just getting prepared and getting everything ready,” Strong said. “Things are going wonderfully.”
This year’s Stellar Awards took place with a series of events on Jan. 15 in Nashville, which will be aired during different dates on various television stations between Jan. 22 and March 13.
As awesome as last weekend’s opportunity might be, it won’t be the first prestigious gig for Strong, whose talents have been applauded by both sacred and secular music icons.
A musician, songwriter, producer and minister extraordinaire, Strong is best known for his skills as a keyboard player and music director for some of the most celebrated names in gospel music.
He has traveled with and played for artists such as Ricky Dillard, John Pee Key, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, Lashun Pace, Marvin Sapp, Rance Allen and Kiki Sheard.
The musical journey for Strong, who was born in Terre Haute and now lives in Indianapolis, began with inspiration from his parents, both of whom are musicians and helped him hone his natural talent.
Strong began playing piano publicly with the children’s choir at his family’s church, a Church of God in Christ (COGIC) congregation. Just two years later, at age 7, he was providing music for regular Sunday services.
Strong smiled as he remembered a statement that was made at the time to his father by Dorothy Blade, wife of COGIC Bishop Mark Blade and the current Jurisdictional Women’s Supervisor for Indiana’s First COGIC Jurisdiction.
“Lady Blade said ‘if he don’t know how to play hymns, then we don’t need him to play,’” Strong said, laughing. “That kind of pushed me to learn hymns.”
Strong’s firm grasp of both the traditional and contemporary styles of gospel music quickly earned him respect among peers in the industry. He gained national exposure after being noticed by national recording artist Ricky Dillard during a choir competition between Hezekiah Walker and Nathan Simmons, for whom Strong was playing.
“Hezekiah brought his entire band and ensemble, while we were making a lot of music with just me, a bass player and a drummer,” Strong said. “Ricky heard me and said, ‘I need you.’”
Strong has also established a working partnership, and friendship, with artist and producer Myron Williams, who developed his own following after serving as music director for Juanita Bynum and the recording label she established – Flow Records.
“He embraces my whole ministry,” Strong said. “He has been very helpful in developing me as a worship leader, and has given me a better understanding of the business.”
Although gospel music is his first love, Strong has toured with several well-known secular R&B performers, including Brian McKnight, New Edition, Babyface, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, The Temptations, K.C. and JoJo and many others.
When he’s not on the road performing, recording or producing, Strong can be found at Puritan Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis, where he serves as director of the music ministry.
At the same time, strong is continuing his recording career and his group, Diverse Crew, will release a new project this coming spring.
Strong believes that God has also called him to service as pastor of a church, and would like to establish a new, diverse congregation when the timing is right.
“Outreach will be important with this church, because so many people get caught up in the church, but there’s no outreach,” Strong said.
Another goal that Strong would like to establish in the near future is the opening of a performing arts center that serves both adults and children.
“The vision is to get people off the street and into kind of a musical Walmart where they can express their talents,” Strong said.
The center will have general music lessons, but also have programs in dance, drama, talk show style events for men and women and positive movies.
Although searching for donors, Strong has been personally giving funds to purchase equipment for the center, most of which have come from tours he conducted with New Edition, Bell Biv Devoe and Gerald Levert between 2004 and 2006.
“We definitely want to have it up and running within a year,” said Monique, Massey, Strong’s manager. “Students and guests will experience the diverse artistic styles that will be embraced, and see for themselves how exciting it is to work with a professional like Reggie.”
Michael Green of Lamont Keith Management, Strong’s booking agent, believes the hard work will achieve all of the goals he has set for himself in the Kingdom of God.
“Reggie is very precise. He knows what needs to be done and how it needs to be executed,” Lamont said. “Sometimes it’s hard to get in touch with him because he stays so busy, but he’s a joy to work with.”
