print: Lady Peachena | Interview | September 2006 on BlackGospel.com, Your Music Ministry Source!

Interview with Lady Peachena
September 2006, BlackGospel.com by Christopher Heron

There are few symbols in society today more precious than watching a children’s choir singing praises unto God. Their childish expressions and wholesome voices symbolize the cries of angels in synchronized worship. A children’s choir, through song and testimony, can also illustrate the victory our next generation can have over the ills and disturbing images our society reinforces on children, adolescents and young adults.

It was these set of reasons that prompted ‘Lady Peachena’, an experienced New York vocalist, performer and artist, to record a Gospel album over 15 years ago, featuring impressionable kids from Brooklyn, New York. The result was a very special album entitled, I AM SOMEBODY, at the legendary Institutional Church of God in Christ. Now, 15 years later, with a new generation facing unprecedented pressures from Hip-Hop culture, secular values and materialistic pressures, Lady Peachena felt compelled to minister to once again to the children by re-releasing this timeless recording, in hopes of saving a few lives from destruction. The lesson in the lyrics is simply, ‘I Am Somebody’ but we’ll let Lady Peachena tell the tale on BlackGospel.com in her own vernacular.

Christopher Heron: Lady Peachena, you grew up spiritually as a part of a very popular church family in Brooklyn, New York – The Institutional Church of God In Christ – which has produced so many remarkable talents in Gospel music over the years, including the Institutional Radio Mass Choir that’s been recording Gospel music for over 30 years. How inspirational has the sound of Gospel music from Institutional been on your ministry, particularly the launch of the New York Sunshine Choir, over 15 years ago?

Lady Peachena: Oh, the sound of Gospel music from Institutional has been very effective upon my ministry. Over the years, I've written several songs that have that Institutional sound such as "Stay In The Will of The Lord," a power-packed song that's on my current CD, The Bishop's Daughter." Fortunately, I was a member of the Institutional Radio Choir for over 10 years, and I had the opportunity to sing with the choir when we appeared on Broadway in 1988 in the show, "GOSPEL AT COLONUS." I was mentored by two of Institutional’s greatest psalmists - Carolyn Johnson-White and Dr. Joyce Taylor.

As a matter of fact, the live portion of this children's CD, I AM SOMEBODY, was recorded at Institutional COGIC Int., during the summer of '91. It was so hot that night that I'm grateful that none of the children fainted under the intense heat. Instead, they sang out their hearts under the anointing of God. However, now I am a member of Love Fellowship Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York which is pastored by Overseer Hezekiah Walker.

CH: This particular recording – I Am Somebody – featuring the New York Sunshine Choir was recorded 15 years ago. What was your motivation back in 1991 to record this album featuring the children’s choir? And what was your inspiration to re-release this album now?

LP: I was motivated to record this recording because as a dedicated educator, I've seen hundreds of children's lives change for the better after learning and singing these songs. I've seen their lives and self-esteem improve, as well as their academic work. I feel that these songs are food for the soul for children everywhere.

I was inspired to re-release this music in February of this year after I heard my grandbaby, Jeniyah, who was 2 at the time, singing along with a curse song she heard on the radio. I said, "'Oh no, Lord, not my grandbaby!" And the spirit spoke to me saying, "You have what she needs to hear!" That's when I remembered the lone cassette of those songs that I stashed away under a pile of papers years ago. Frantically I searched for it, found it, and played it for her. She loved those songs, asking me to play them over and over again.

She learned the lyrics, and she still insists on hearing these songs every morning before she goes to her day care center. This incident with her made me realize that these songs are still very relevant today. These are the positive self-esteem boosting songs that children need to hear and grow by.

CH: What has been the response from the church, the original members of NY Sunshine Choir and the children today, who are the intended recipients of this project?

LP: I just mailed out the CD to Pastor Walker a few days ago so I'm still waiting for feedback from him. But when I played it for some of the original members of NY's Sunshine Choir, they were ecstatic! Some of them gave testimonies as to how being in the choir and singing these songs changed their lives, kept them from the pitfalls of life, and has helped them to become successful in life. Some of them are now in college, while some have already graduated and are doing well.

CH: You’ve also released an accompanying activity book entitled, I Am Somebody, as a workbook for children struggling with self-esteem and identity crisis. Tell us what is your perception of the struggles today’s children in Brooklyn and across America are facing? And how can music from the church and children choirs play a part in solving these problems?

LP: There are many problems that our children are facing in America today. They are bombarded with economic pressures reinforced by the media, which propels them to spend millions of dollars on sneakers and clothing. They are inundated with negative messages from TV, movies, and print media, promoting pre-marital sex, homosexuality, cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs as a cool way of life.

However, somebody has to step out boldly, and say that that's not right, that's not the way. So I truly believe that God has chosen me as a vehicle to go forth and minister to our youth, and I am hereby accepting the call. I have written over 200 songs for children, and I truly believe that this is my God-given ministry, to reach out to our youth through music. Most children love to sing. It's a gift that God has given to many of them. That's why I believe that parents should demand that music be taught in schools all over this nation. I think it's a trick of the devil that so many public schools have abolished music and art programs, and as a result that's why so many of our children are turned off, and they're not learning as well as they should be.

For example, a few years ago, while I was teaching in a NYC Public School, I was given permission to lead and sing along with children for 45 minutes everyday with first, second, and third graders every day before they went to their classes. Guess what? There were no fights or violence in that school that entire year. But the next year, the principal retired and they changed my schedule and stopped the music and soon fighting and violence became an everyday reality.

Therefore, I am urging pastors, community leaders, and parents everywhere to come together and work out some positive solutions to save our children from this violent world. Our youth are our greatest commodity, our greatest wealth. If we would make some sincere efforts to help them, we will insure a better future for all. Consequently, teaching them some morale-boosting songs is a great way to start.

CH: And finally Lady Peachena, could you tell us what – I Am Somebody – represents as the title of the album? Who were some of the individuals who taught you that you were somebody as a child? And who are the individuals you hope to touch with this special project?

LP: I AM SOMEBODY sends a powerful message to children. The album lets them know that they are special, that they are important, and they are members of royalty. And because of this, there are certain things that they cannot do. They can't do drugs, or cigarettes, or alcohol, or anything violent or disrespectful to others because they belong to God. When I was a child, I was surrounded by VIPs (Very Important People). I was brought up in a saved, church-going, church-living, two-parent household. My father, the late Bishop James L. Eure, and my mother, Mrs. Mary Eure, (of Holy Temple COGIC), were devoted to serving the Lord Jesus Christ and to unselfishly serving others in our community on a daily basis.

Bishops and evangelists, like the late Bishop D. Lawrence Williams of Norfolk, VA, the late Bishop J.O. Patterson of Memphis, TN the late Bishop O.T. Jones, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA and the late Mother Catherine Carter from Baltimore, MD, preachers from all over the U.S.A. came to our house for dinner on a regular basis and they all treated us like royalty. They all made us feel so special. They allowed us to express our thoughts, and show off our talents to them. Then they'd hug us and give us those shiny silver dollars. So I learned early on that great things were expected of me. Therefore I surely hope that this project - I AM SOMEBODY - will be a blessing to the lives of the children, and to the hearts of all parents who will bring this anointed, life-changing music into their homes.

For more information on Lady Peachena & NY Youth’s Sunshine Choir, visit the official website at www.nysunshinechoir.com. To contact Lady Peachena for hosting or performances as well as children’s workshops and youth conferences, email her at peachena@aol.com or call 718-657-6407.