Lamar Campbell, international recording artist and minister of music at Mt. Carmel Church, has been a gospel favorite in Indianapolis and around the world for years.
Fans who enjoy his music and are in the mood for genuine praise can see Campbell perform at the 2014 Women’s Empowerment Series April 26 at the Indiana State Fairgounds Coliseum.
The Recorder recently spoke to Campbell to discuss his love of gospel music and what he plans to bring to the highly anticipated Women’s Empowerment Series.
Recorder: When did you realize you wanted to become a professional gospel artist?
Campbell: It started relatively early. The only reason I started singing was, I was in the youth choir and they needed a guy to sing and I said, ‘I’ll do it.’ I’ve been doing it on a professional level since I was 15. It really became a career in my early 20s. I graduated from Broad Ripple High School, then I went through a number of things that just didn’t feel right. So I felt a call on my life to music ministry. To do that I wanted to be equipped so I enrolled in the School of Music in the Jordan College of the Arts at Butler University. Really at that point I decided that everything I was going to do, was going to be geared toward gospel music. I remember praying “Lord, if you would allow me to use music for my livelihood, I would always do your music.” From there, God just opened doors for me.
That’s interesting because most 20-year-olds aren’t that connected to God to make those kinds of choices. What contributed to your relationship?
My parents. I grew up in church. And I guess my love for gospel radio and professional gospel music. As a kid growing up, you hear music at the church and sometimes it doesn’t always motivate you. But my early memories were my Dad on Sunday mornings blasting the gospel radio. It just instilled something in my mind. So when I began doing music, I would always remember the professional sound. I have a drive for perfection when it comes to presenting music for God. They say “make a joyful noise” and we do, but that’s for the congregation. For the musicians, he told us to play skillfully so we study to show ourselves approved. That’s what I’ve been spending a lifetime trying to do.
Do you think that striving for perfection is what led you to work on an international scale?
Yes. As a kid I could see myself as a gospel artist. We look at it as being able to do the music well and sing well, but really there’s a story and passion and testimony behind all that. That’s the stuff you grow into. Because of my passion, training and experiences, I’m able to communicate to the masses a message that helps put them in relationship with Jesus Christ.
Has there ever been a point in your career where you’ve had to revisit your purpose and passion?
I have a new record out called “Open the Sky” distributed by Capitol Records. It had been about four or five years since I had done a record. I was on that journey where I was the first artist signed to EMI Gospel and well on my way to being a gospel star. You get caught up in the award shows and always trying to push. In the midst of that, I realized I had to take some time to say “is that what this is really about? Just hitting these charts?” God put me in a place where I had to pause and discover if I would still sing and play with the same passion if I only had an audience of 10 people. I found out that I would.
Though you’ve been successful, you still live in Indy.
(Laughs) I’m a cheerleader for Indianapolis. I grew up here, but I moved to Houston for five years, but God called me back to Indianapolis because I needed to spend time with my parents. I’m glad I was able to stop what I was doing and come be with my parents. Since I’ve come back, I look at things differently. I just want to do whatever I can to bring some energy, excitement, and raise the bar right here.
Spirit of Praise is the name of your group. What’s it like to work with an ensemble of great singers?
Well, it started as a 40-voice choir and over time it became 10 background vocalists. Out of the current 10 most of those people have sung with me the whole time. It’s a family.
It began as a group of my friends that were willing to rehearse for long periods of time. We’d do service projects before we even started doing concerts. That let me know we had the right heart for it. I’m exited those people would commit themselves that way because they had no idea they’d be responsible for producing songs people sing all over the world. We have songs people sing in different languages! I remember a trip to Denmark where they were doing all kinds of things in the “church” – smoking and drinking. It was an event, not “worship.” But when it was over a guy came up to me and said “Something happened in here today. I don’t believe, but something happened.” About 10 years later I got an email from that guy and he said he’s a believer and is on the praise team at his church. That’s why we do this. It’s great to be celebrated by your peers and get all the accolades, but that’s not my motivation. These types of stories are my motivation.
Is that what you plan to do at this year’s Women’s Empowerment Series? Uplift and motivate?
Yes! One of the reasons I’m so excited about the Women’s Empowerment Series is that I’ve seen it grow throughout the years. And I just love creating something to bring people together. Here’s an opportunity for people to come together from all walks of life and as a result of them coming together, they’re going to get positive information and maybe leave with something that will impact the rest of their lives. The fact that I get to be a part of that is a big deal. But we have to put the manpower behind it, talk about it and make this something people from all over want to come to.
For more information, visit Lamarcampbell.com.
