Sometime far down in the 90's when Kirk Franklin brought in some revolution into Gospel music, he was criticised.. Kirk was doing things in a way they hadn't been done before. Many felt he was making Gospel music secular. Kirk featured secular artistes like R. Kelly, Bono, Salt n Pepa, Mary J Blige. Kirk brought a sound into Gospel that was not normal. People felt he was too funky and sounded like what they heard in the clubs. Even his slow songs didn't sound like the usual. I remember watching a documentary where Kirk and his then producer Vicki Mack said many nights they couldn't sleep because they kept being taunted by what people were saying. They prophesied Kirk won't last. It's over 3 decades and Kirk has remained a legend, still won a Grammy and he has been the most reinvented Gospel artiste alive. What they criticised him for is the same reason why he is succeeding. If he had failed they would have said "we knew it". May God have mercy on you and bless your music.

Frank Edwards brought in the advent of simple worship songs with 3-4 chords, mixing English with indigenous languages. Frank gave us many church anthems.. People started copying his style and we had many artistes bringing in songs that mix English with indigenous language. His simplicity was abused too. He was to Nigerian gospel what Maverick is to black gospel. People felt he and others like him were watering down music. Today Frank has brought in a new generation who have taken indigenous music to another level. If that style never worked we won't be saying this. I probably won't be writing this. But it worked. People like Mercy Chinwo have taken it to another level. May God have mercy on you and bless your music.

Tim Godfrey became the Kirk for a new generation. Simple old songs revamped in many ways, a funky level of gospel music performance. I remember some people telling me years ago that he will soon fade off. That he is not deep and spiritual. I called their bluff and said Tim will last and his influence will even last longer. Some said he was writing his own songs to blow that he revamps old ones. We all know Tim has written many great songs. Some said he won't last became he is only good with arrangements. Today they are eating their words. Tim is enjoying mercy and the same reason why they predicted his failure is why he is succeeding.

By all industry principles Dunsin Oyekan should probably not be doing well as an artiste. His songs are longer than 4 minutes, many extend till 11 minutes. Experts have taught us that our songs should not be more than 4 minutes if so no one will listen. His songs are not the normal and quite deep. Experts say if you want to blow do what others have been doing, use formula that has worked and don't try to fix what's not broken. Dunsin broke all the rules. If he had failed and not enjoyed mercy and blessing, the same people celebrating him today would say its because his songs are too long and too deep to be understood that's why he is not doing well.

As Tommy Tush, I have my own story too. When I brought a revolution into choir directing and even coaching, friends, church folks and many in my city felt I was making choir music too complex. They said my style was too harsh and it is not sustainable. I heard and saw discouragement. There were times I felt down. History and mercy has vindicated me. I made a grand success of choir and music directing and inked my name in the annals of time. I remember my mentor Tolucci saying many said he won't last long doing what he was doing without any denominational affiliation. This year makes 10 years he's been going strong and now the vision of MASS is spreading to other countries.

Friends, I can go on and on. So many examples lie around us. The day you succeed in your music, people will start using you as a case study on how to succeed in music. You're not wrong. You're doing well. Its just that you haven't blown. And you will blow. Your style is not bad. Its not wrong. Its Mercy you need. Its the blessing you need. When both comes on you you will become the example.

Today I pray that you will ENJOY GOD'S PROFUSE MERCY and HE BLESS THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS.

Written by Tommy Tush