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Written by Splinter Wrenn
Whenever we sing the song, "Lead with Love" at St. Thomas, I am confident that I am not the only one with a strong emotional response.
After a recent service, I was standing at the back with Rev. Tori commenting that “Lead with Love” feels like the spiritual heart of our parish. That spurred me to go home and jump down the rabbit hole, seeking more information about the song, its origins and Melanie DeMore, its composer.
What I found was a large number of videos and other information featuring Melanie and the song. An Oakland based musician/composer, Melanie has a lot of music experience and a large body of work worth exploring.
I found the two videos linked below that, to me, capture why the song feels so important and show the power it has with those experiencing it.
The first is Melanie telling the story of how she came to write it in November 2016 — the day after the election. She was inspired by a conversation she had with two young black children in the Minnesota school where she was artist-in-residence. It is a powerful insight into the song’s emotional connection. The story is followed by her leading the congregation in singing it.
In the second video Melanie performs with Vocal Essence Chorus and other groups to “raise the roof”.
If James Brown was the “hardest working man in show business”, Melanie DeMore is in the running for “the hardest working artist in gospel."
Melanie DeMore biography
The Story Behind "Lead with Love"
(Allendale UMC – St. Petersburg)
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