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Discography
"FINALLY"
At the age of nineteen I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. In the summer of that year the Lord spoke to me about putting the story of Jesus' life to music. At that time I had only written three songs that I considered good, and they were written before I was a Christian. I asked the Lord to teach me to write songs and I began with the story of Jesus' birth.
I put together an outline of Jesus' life and ministry from the four accounts of the Gospel and The Acts of the Apostles. I continued writing for eight years until I had about two hours of music, lyrics and dialogue, which I edited to the current seventy-four minutes.
I wrote this music, (and there is a certain amount of my personality in the music), but writing it was more like taking dictation than composing. I would set at the piano for hours just playing and singing, and then suddenly a song would come. Most of these songs were written in fifteen minutes or less. There is no doubt that God gave me this music.
The title, "Finally", was given to me in a vision. Several years ago, I had to ask God for a good title for a debut album. I laid down in bed one night to go to sleep and I saw a picture flash in front of my eyes. I saw a white album cover with black printing that said, "Finally, Lanny Swaim". I thought, "What a great title for a debut album". At the time I did not associate it with the music about Jesus' life.
Some time later I ask the Lord for a title cut for the debut album. One Sunday morning before I went to church God gave me the song, "Finally". It took all of about ten minutes to write.
The debut album I had planned was never recorded. The Lord finally got through to me that "Finally" was to be the title of the work about Jesus' life and ministry, and the song "Finally" would be the last cut on the CD/cassette.
The recording of "Finally" was as exciting as the writing. As I wrote these songs I heard arrangements in my head. To hear those arrangements actually become reality in the studio was a joyful experience. God anointed all the musicians and technicians who worked on the project. The time it took to record this project was much less than one would expect, and cost a fraction of what comparable projects have cost.
Over the years I have performed this music solo as well as with others musicians. I am now making plans to put together the kind of production I have dreamed of from the beginning. The Lord has given me a plan for a stage production involving mime, dancing, acting and singing, with lighting and specials effects.
I believe "Finally" is a tool that God will use in powerful ways to spread the Gospel that the world so desperately needs to hear. To have God entrust me with "Finally" is a humbling experience and an awesome responsibility.
"for such a time as this"
In March of 2000 I attended a Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Advance at Fort Caswell, North Carolina. As I was walking and praying on Saturday morning, the Lord spoke to me. He said, "I am now anointing you to lead praise and worship." Up until that time I had not been involved in leading praise and worship although I have enjoyed being a part of praise and worship since I was a young Christian.
In the months that followed I began to lead praise and worship at FGBMFI chapter meetings and events. A little over a year later I became praise and worship leader at Love of Christ Church in Bolivia, North Carolina. Robert Paul Lamb, a prophet from Moravian Falls, NC, visited Love of Christ Church and prophecied to me that praise and worship songs were going to begin to come out of my spirit. Then he advised me to write simple songs. A short time later the Lord began to give me simple little praise and worship choruses. "Jesus, My Jubilee" was given to me before I got out of bed one morning. "More Than Enough" came to me in the shower one evening. I wrote "Is There Anyone" while mowing my yard. "There Is None" came to me in a barn somewhere in the mountains of Virginia.
In September of 2006 I traveled to Nashville, TN and recorded some of the choruses the Lord has given me.(Including "Jesus, My Jubilee", "More Than Enough", "Is There Anyone" and "There Is None".) They are available on my CD/cassette entitled, "for such a time as this".
The CD was produced and mixed by my long time friend, Rick Sandidge of the Mark Five Company. Rick is one of the best in the business. He assembled a band of Nashville studio musicians and singers that were awesome. |
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