O, WHAT A NIGHT

Richard asked Roger to let him hear what Darlene and I had done. "Turn up the volume!" Roger supposedly kept turning the knob and pushing buttons, but there was nothing but music and background vocals. Somehow, the lead vocals had disappeared from the track, and we were summoned back to Omega Studio in Rockville to record them again...I'm glad we were. I'd had a bit of a sore throat, and I didn't think I'd done my best the first time--and I'd been a little nervous, and a lot honored. It was my first recorded duet with one of my favorite DC singers, who, in my mind, was the vocal clone of Chaka Khan.
On trip two to the studio, Darlene had her kids in tow, and Richard ordered food for them. It seemed like he had ten hands as he was serving the kids, opening ketchup and mustard packets, dividing up french fries, asking who liked what, and passing out forks and napkins. He was The Maestro AND Uncle Richard that day. It was hard to keep a straight face as we watched him through the glass, moving from one child to another, cutting bite-sized portions, wiping the table, passing out napkins, opening sodas--all of this while looking up periodically to direct us...He looked up at one point late in the song, stopped the tape, and said, "Hey, y'all, I was thinking..." (History has since revealed that if he EVER says, "I was thinking", you should just pray and get your brain and throat ready.) He suggested, "Right during that chorus...right there. I want you to sing 'OOOOH, OOOOH, WHAT A NI-I-I-I-I-IGHT', okay?" "He demonstrated how he wanted it sung. He did one of those perfect southern-accent-tinged runs, then looked at us as if it was as common as breathing. First I just stared back at him, appreciating the confidence, and then I looked at Darlene, who nailed it on the first try. "Nessa, girl we got this", she laughed. He wanted it done in harmony. "Darlene, you take the top". (Well, DUH? lol)...Darlene gave it "full out" and with all the signature sass of a Smallwood Singer...I just closed my eyes and tried to hang on, hoping I could mimic her timing and texture...It really was a fun session.
After we were done, Darlene's daughter told Richard she wanted to sing a song for him. We were all anxious to hear her sweet rendition of her favorite Smallwood composition, and she commenced to keeping her own beat by tapping her little foot on the floor. Then, with all the attitude, dance moves, and facial expressions of a pro, she sang the lead and background vocals of Kirk Franklin's "Stomp"...lol

That day is among my fondest memories as a member of Richard's Vision, and I love that Christmas project. You can still get it if you don't have it, and fill your home with even more holiday music. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rejoice-Richard-Smallwood/dp/B0000005CO/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1419105607

I don't recall that we've ever sung this song, live, before...Darlene and I will tomorrow, though, with the help of the gracious music ministry of Friendship Baptist Church http://www.friendshipbaptistdc.org/  in SW, under the leadership of that hymn-loving, piano-playing, all around nice guy, Derrick M. Anderson Sr.---who is a faithful Smallwood Singers/ Vision supporter if there ever was one...: )