MLK Jr. Invitation and Message
Blessings to All Y’all People of Conscience,
Greetings from Atlanta! We pray that this newsletter finds everyone welcoming the new year with a spirit of hope and determination. The two of us wrapped up 2023 by spending a few days in the recording studio and we are kicking off 2024 by joining our home communities-- The Temple and Historic Ebenezer Baptist-- for our annual MLK Shabbat on Friday, January 12th. We’re looking forward to the combined choirs singing some of our favorite Lapidus & Myles tunes, but we’re even more looking forward to the fellowship that comes with being together. We’d love for you to join us (in person!) or via livestream for MLK Shabbat. It’s really not-to-be-missed. You’ll also be able to hear Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock preach from the bimah of The Temple in his capacity as the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer. Here’s the info:
When: Jan 12, 2024 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: 1/12/24 Friday Evening MLK Shabbat Worship
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85947618361
MLK Shabbat is the weekend that we celebrate not only the legacy of MLK Jr., but also the anniversary of Lapidus & Myles. The two of us first met at MLK Shabbat in 2016. A spiritual light bulb “went off” when Micah heard Melvin sing “Praying with our Feet” backed by those two incredible choirs. As with many spiritual light bulbs, the life changing implications didn’t reveal themselves to either of us until a few years later. After the brutal murder of George Floyd we found ourselves yearning to create new music with the implicit understanding that we could be stronger together and that we could bring a message of hope and empowerment to People of Conscience near and far. We wrote a more in depth version of our origin story a few years ago. You can find that here.
Before sharing a few Lapidus & Myles goings’ on we want to offer a teaching from MLK Jr. In a sermon he wrote entitled “A Tough Mind and A Tender Heart” he penned the following words:
Violence brings only temporary victories; violence by creating many more social problems than it solves, never brings permanent peace. I am convinced that if we succumb to the temptation to use violence in our struggle for freedom, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and our chief legacy to them will be a never-ending reign of chaos.
Given the widespread violence we see in the world today, both near and far, these are painful words to read (especially if we agree with them). We share them here, in honor of MLK Jr., because Truth (with a capital T) isn’t always easy to hear. But for one moment, let’s all pause and envision a world free from violence; free from the violence we casually inflict on ourselves and our loved ones; free from the violence we inflict upon those with whom we disagree and distrust; free from the violence we inflict and justify because the target of our violence represents, to us, Pure Evil; free from the violence we inflict and justify upon those we dehumanize; free from the violence we sometimes unwittingly or anonymously inflict having conveniently forgotten that we can commit acts of violence even without raising our hand or having our “finger on the button”; free from the violence we inflict upon all creation and Mother Earth. Let’s build that world together.
As per usual we’ll share some new content, recent goings on, upcoming engagements, and best ways to keep in touch.
ACTION ITEM
As mentioned, we are currently “in the recording studio.” We intend to record 8 songs that we will be sharing via this newsletter before “general release.” If you would like to know more, OR, if you would like/ are able to help underwrite the cost of production through any modest (or immodest) generosity, please contact us directly. There’s no time like the present to become a patron of the (conscientious) arts! And truth be told, recording our songs at the level of professionalism they deserve isn’t an inexpensive proposition! But at least the revenue from streaming services is so significant that we’ll quickly recover our investment! 🙂
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS
1/19-21/24-- We will be artists in residence at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ. If you live in the area we’d love for you to join us. It’s our first foray into what we believe is the greater NY metro area.
1/31/24-- We will share our music and message with the wonderful organization, Facing History & Ourselves, in Memphis, TN for their educators’ conference.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Send us a note, come to ATL, invite us to come hang with your community, and feel free to connect online as well: FB-- @WeAreLapidusAndMyles and IG: Lapidus&Myles. YouTube @lapidusmyles
In the meantime, many blessings, peace, and love.
Till We Meet Again,
Micah & Melvin (Lapidus & Myles)