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Music is silence and sound,
Dancing together in space.
The heavens are music,
The earth is music.
Called into being, we listen.
Living resonances of the word, we sing.
Embracing in silence and sound
Together in endless song, is harmony.
Listen with love.
Awaken to music. Sounding the truth,
together, is healing.
--Author unknown
The Healing Power of Music
By Paul Lloyd Warner
www.waterfallmusic.com
Even before King David, the kings of old employed musicians to soothe and heal them during times of stress and illness. The healing power of music has been expressed throughout the centuries, from the strumming of ancient harps and flutes, to the pure voice sung in chants and folk songs. Music has no bounds when it creates the sounds to heal and mellow the soul. Its legacy survives every generation through history and is expressed through the hearts and deepest feelings in the people from almost every culture, ancient and modern. Sound and music coupled with a pure heart and clear soul activates the principles of healing. And nothing can take its place in the world.
What distinguishes "healing music" from other musical forms? In one word: SPIRITUALITY. In a few words: Music created from the soul to and for the soul. In a paragraph: Music aimed toward a healing effect, a mother singing a lullaby to a sick or tired child. A young boy playing soft guitar music for his ailing father. A woman playing lyrical piano music for her grandmother. The gentle strumming of a harp, the plaintive sound of a flute echoing through the mountains, a cappella choral music sung in a cathedral, the didgeridoo sound-power of a Shaman, a solo violinist singing out with the soul of a great human voice through five strings, an orchestra playing Vaughan-William's "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis," Segovia playing the guitar, Bill Evans playing the piano, the Beatles singing: "All You Need is Love."
It matters not who or what is in vogue; all that is important is the fact there exists music which is therapeutic, spiritually uplifting, quieting, relaxing, energizing, life-affirming, regenerative, positive, beautiful, healing, awakening, soul-searching, metaphysical and based upon the affirmation of love as a active principle in within every note and phrase as they pass through the hearing and enter the human experience.
When we are touched to the depths of our being and enervated as a result; when we reach a musical catharsis, no matter what our taste or style we prefer, but one which brings to us the rapture of a musical climax, where we are moved to absolute tears, we are experiencing music of a healing nature. And we are ennobled, enriched, and transformed.
The transformative power of music has been recognized throughout history, in all cultures and all peoples. Sound emitted through air into the hearing reaches into our hearts, vitalizes our nerves, tension is reduced, and often vanishes. We are refreshed, rejuvenated and attain a higher power of concentration, leading to a greater fulfillment and even a revelation. The music which does this, regardless of style, may be considered "healing", healthful, curative, therapeutic, resonating with the spirit, and charged with the ability to be visionary and enlightening. Nothing can replace it. The only substitute may be prayer, meditation, spiritual revelation, and awareness of the supreme essence at work as an active principle in the cosmos.
Healing music is limitless in its ability to transform the listener to a heightened state of awareness. And just to imagine the music of the spheres, the sounds in the stars, can bring us to nirvana where we can die and be reborn into even greater human beings, evolved by our keen awareness into a finer person, a loving human being, and a more highly conscious Human Being.
"Music exalts each Joy,
allays each Grief,
expels Diseases,
softens every Pain,
subdues the rage of
Poison and the Plague."
From the Art of Preserving Health,
Book IV, by John Armstrong,
1709-1779
Unity Church on Greenville is blessed to have Tommy DeSalvo as our pianist. If you would like to some really wonderful music as you browse our website then please click here to open a new browser window and listen Part 1 of "Neverending Medley". This file may take a few seconds to download so please be patient.
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Carlotta Cole |
Carlotta began singing at age 12 in the church choir. Her professional career began at the age of 16 when her uncle, Gaynel Hodge, a Hollywood studio musician, one of the producers for the original Platters, and a writer for “Earth Angel” and “Emily”, phoned and asked her and two of her friends to back up football player Roosevelt Grier in a recording session. This opportunity allowed her to begin a career as a studio background singer in Hollywood, California.
She backed up various artists in studios and/or live performances. These artists included Herb Albert, Little Richard, Everly Bros., Doby Gray, Eddie Fisher, Eddy Adams, Marvin Gay, Billy Preston, Johnny Guitar Watson, and a host of other artists. She frequently worked in recording studios in Hollywood, such as A & E Records, Columbia Records, Motown, and a host of other recording studios for various recording companies.
Carlotta performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York at age 16 with an all female group named the ‘Unforgettable’. They were signed with Doris Day and Marty Melcher’s recording label. Their hit single was “Was It Alright”.
Carlotta was a member of several female singing groups and traveled with various bands as the featured singer. She was the lead singer on the original recording of “He Was a Big Man Yesterday” which debuted on the Dick Clark Show. She was also an original Delicate, and led the song “Boo Hoo Hoo”. She was a regular singer at Art Laboe’s Sunset Strip with a nostalgic group called the ‘Sherteles’. Carlotta traveled with the Dick Clark Caravan as one of the Ikettes, formed by Ike and Tina Turner. She also worked with producers Phil Specter, H. B. Barnum, Bumps Blackwell, Wilder Brothers, and many others. After 12 years of traveling, she felt a need to make her family her priority. However, she continued to sing in different venues and traveled on weekends.
Carlotta began her spiritual path 30 years ago, and has not looked back. She began practicing Universal principles in 1983. Now, she has dedicated herself to the ministry in Universal Thought/Truth.
Carlotta is currently singing for spiritual inspirational services, weddings, memorial services, and private parties. She is presently the Music Director at Unity Church of Christianity. Her aspirations are to inspire hearts to seek more of goodness, more of God. She believes anyone can find true happiness, if only they would ‘taste’ the goodness of God. Also, that there can be peace on earth if we practice truth and peace beginning with ourselves, and then share this peace with others.
Click the play button below to listen to Carlotta's beautiful voice.
Unity's Little Big Band
Click here to read the bios of the members of The Little Big Band.
