The Joy Of The Music

Byron Stripling describes his father as "a little black kid from Georgia who followed his dream to be a classical singer."

That meant the family moved from Atlanta to Kentucky for Dad's master's degree, Colorado for his doctorate, then Minnesota, St. Louis and Texas, where he taught voice.

It also meant Stripling grew up listening to classical music but singing gospel songs.

"My father was minister of music at a church in whatever city we lived in," the jazz trumpeter says. "He made me sing in the choir. I sang soprano, alto, tenor and bass -- all in the same Sunday!"

And that explains why his performance Saturday with the Fort Smith Symphony is titled "The Gospel According to Swing."

"I always play gospel music in my regular jazz concerts, too," he explains. "That's where jazz and blues come from! Gospel is so universal."

Also universal was church "as a place of shelter. It was more than just a religious place; it was a community where [African Americans] could command respect and dignity" they didn't get in the white world outside, Stripling says.

"I wasn't brought up in a home that was prejudiced," he adds. "But it was always hammered into my head, whoever you are, be the best you can be -- and maybe a little bit better if you're black. Be so good, you cannot be denied."

Even though music was an integral part of the family's life, Stripling's father still wanted him to be a doctor or a lawyer, "like every parent," he says, chuckling. "I have to bite my tongue as I say the same things to my kids now. My daughter wants to be an actress on Broadway. I remember having to tell my parents how I was going to make a living as a musician."

Stripling starts to laugh outright, remembering the first time he played Carnegie Hall. It was his debut as a soloist with the New York Pops.

"I called my mother, and she congratulated me with tears of joy. Then she asked me, 'What do you have tomorrow? What do you have next week?' I'm thinking, let's just bask in the joy of Carnegie Hall!"

His mother died of breast cancer at the age of 59, and Stripling says it's music that continues to keep her close to him.

"More than anything, that's been what carried me through -- particularly gospel music."

The program with the symphony includes "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," "Down by the Riverside," "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," "How Great Thou Art," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "Amazing Grace" and "When the Saints Go Marchin' In," but "this concert isn't a sermon," Stripling quickly adds.

"It's the joy of the music. Songs that will reach people's hearts regardless of their religion. That's what's important to me. I don't care where the 'God bless you' comes from. I just want the music to bring people closer together. If that's God, that's great."

The performance also features pianist Micah Thomas and drummer Robert Breithaupt, and Stripling promises the rest of the orchestra "will be the finest players in the area."

"I worked with [music director] John Jeter four or five years ago on 'The Sounds of New Orleans: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong,'" Stripling remembers. "I had no clue Fort Smith would have an orchestra that good. Every community should have an orchestra like it!"

NAN What's Up on 04/15/2016