GraphicNotations: Experience the Gentle Touch of Derrol Sawyer

For the past 15 years, one of Gospel Music's best kept secrets has been a gentle, unassuming minstrel who quietly travels from place to place, softly singing of the joy that is the knowledge of the Lord. It has not always been an easy road to travel, nor particularly rewarding -at least in worldly terms. But the music, the words, and the heartfelt passion and loving touch that is brought to the listener, through each song, has never faltered.

Derrol Sawyer does not fancy himself a great musician. In fact, one of his great desires is to learn to "really play" the guitar. That said, consider the fact that his music is perfectly complimented by the understatement of his own accompanyment. The stripped-down simplicity of his gentle strumming allows one to truly hear the message of the words as he sings. His timbre is, sometimes, deep and resonant (as on "Sinner's Prayer," but mostly, it is a compelling and gentle breeze that flows through each song like a zephyr.

His musical influences are not surprising, an interesting mix of Calypso (Harry Belefonte), Accoustic Singer-Songwriters (Gordon Lightfoot, and John Denver) and soft, smooth Balladeers (Nat King Cole, and Johnny Mathis) -somehow, he has combined the best of these influences and molded them into a style that is fairly unique by today's standards. One outstanding feature of his performances is how the words, the music and the gentleness of his voice combine to create a relaxing, non-threatening essence, like a "still small voice," that speaks to the heart from somewhere in the listener's own person.

In the course of his singing career, Derrol has traveled all over the Continental United States and to 17 different countries. Some years, he as covered anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 miles, sharing his passion. His passion is singing. His message is Hope, Love and Joy. His touch is gentle, like the soft chording he picks out as he sings. His presence is unassuming and his shcedule still has a few spots left open, this season. If you have not had the pleasure of listening to Derrol Sawyer, you owe it to yourself and to those in your family and church family, as well.