Hymns&Spirituals

"When I first introduced spirituals into my performances in the United States I always feared that someone would think I was invading an area and a philosophy of life that did not belong to me because of my background. However I was extremely happy when I saw the positive responses of the audiences and of other well known singers of Afro-American spirituals because I discovered that my fears had not come true. What interest can a Greek have in Afro-American Spirituals? Can there be common feelings between Greeks and Afro-Americans? Cries of anguish, songs which express human pain and suffering, and the need for prayer can not but be universally common for all people. Greeks who have suffered hardships and torture throughout history but who have always retained their faith in God and Jesus Christ can not but abandon themselves to the magic and the spiritualism of these songs of simple people who turned their pain and their history of suffering into music. Through Afro-American Spirituals someone is able to come into touch with his soul and with his God. As Aretha Franklin once said "I came here to tell Jesus that I can't solve my problems alone" Jesus Christ is your brother, friend, father, and fellow traveler. You scream, cry, entreat, beg, and lament but you also laugh and rejoice because Jesus Christ is there for you. Through my performances I hope to communicate to you this sadness and joy, despair and optimism, lamentation and celebration. Lastly I would also like to thank all of you who have graced me with your presence in all those recitals and churches and hope that no matter what happens in our lives we will all someday find our own paradise..." Panayotis Terzakis