The Legacy of a Mother
A mother is informed by the doctors when her son is but two days old that her child has rheumatic fever and ten days– maybe less –to live. She swaddles her son and takes him home to the little cottage where she lived in New Mexico. There she held her newborn up to a single light bulb hanging from a wire in the ceiling. “God,” she prayed, “I’m coming to you as Hannah did. I’m asking you to save my baby. And I promise I will give him back to You.”
That son became part of her legacy to the Lord. That son is Wayburn Dean. His vocal abilities gained him much acclaim during his 5 ½ year stint with the multi-million-selling group, Acappella. Wayburn’s lead vocals reaped Grammy and Dove nominations, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the CAMA for his efforts to further acappella music.
In 1993 Wayburn would decide to take a sabbatical from music that ended up lasting more than eight years. He returned to the world of music as a solo artist in 2001 and released his debut album “As Long As I Live” followed by his second album “Immeasurable” which garnered 3 top 5 national hits. His third and latest album “Through the Rain.” has been equally as successful. The first two releases charted #3 and #2 consecutively on t the national charts on R&R (Radio & Records) Soft AC Inspo radio.
The newest single release from Wayburn is “What Will Be Your Legacy.” Perhaps it is even more fitting that it is being released in the month of May when we celebrate and honor our mothers.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Wayburn on the eve of the release of “What Will Be Your Legacy.”
P: No interview can begin with you, without a mention of your own mother’s faith. How did that mold you as a person and as an artist?
Wayburn: My mother is my mentor, in the truest form of the word. She is incredibly knowledgeable, Godly and faithful.There is a bond that is God inspired between she and I and it all happened at birth when I was only given 10 days to live by the doctors. I contracted Rheumatic Fever and my lifespan was to be very short. My mother prayed the prayer of Hannah, who prayed for a son and promised God that she would give her son, Samuel, to God if He would just give her a son. God answered my mother’s prayer and my purpose was charted. I believe that event has not only guided me in my Christian life but saved me as well. As an artist I think it’s relatively easy, once you’ve decided to whom you will devote your gift….
P: Where did you begin your career in the music industry and what is one of your most inspiring or memorable times during those early days?
Wayburn: My professional music career began in Paris, Tennessee with Acappella. The most inspiring time was doing a concert at the Huntsville Prison, in Huntsville TX. Although we had done concerts for thousands, here we had a small group of men in a prison chapel. Men, who we would probably call hopeless, truly understood with desperation the need for God. Incredible concert….
P: During your sabbatical from the music industry what do you believe God was teaching you and how does that come through in you music today?
Wayburn: During the Acappella days, we did everything we could to stay focused on the ministry. But, I have to say it was difficult. We were home about 10 days per month. And when we were at home many times we would often record late into the nights. So, we rarely had much personal time. I look back and now I can see that I was so busy doing the work for the Lord, I was not doing the work of the Lord. This time, in my ministry, even though the lifestyle can be taxing. Janae and I are taking time to hear from God. We are writing music, doing concerts and teaching from that perspective.
P: There is a fine line between Gospel & Christian Contemporary; you seem to have defined a “new sub-genre’ that successfully blends to the two. Tell us how this came about.
Wayburn: Really, I just want to do music that God has given me, use the talents as well. Janae and I asked God to help us write music that, first of all will draw men closer to Him. Secondly, our desire is to write music that will soothe people. Having them enjoy the music and message and not have to work so hard to see Jesus in it. This is not only our musical approach; it’s our ministry approach as well.
P: Your wife, Janae, co-wrote many of the songs on your new CD. Have the two you always worked together in music?
Wayburn: Yes, we pray about the songs…Janae is extremely gifted in concepts and lyrics. My strengths are in music production and delivery. So, we’ve always put those two gifts together to glorify God and encourage men.
P: Tell us a bit about the non-profit you and your wife founded.
Wayburn: In 1998 we developed our non-profit organization called “Afterword Music Ministry.” This ministry focuses on music as a ministry. In addition to concerts, we have a music ministry that partner with missionaries all over the globe. We also have a CD ministry that ministers to individuals in places where we cannot go. “Afterword Music Ministry” houses the ministry efforts of Wayburn Dean and thereby utilizes music to evangelize to the world.
P: You mentioned to me that “Forgiveness is key to healing….” can you expound on that further?
Wayburn: Janae wrote a song on our Immeasurable album called, “Gotta Forgive Them” The song talks about the fact that people are people; they are going to hurt you. And those who don’t know God will hurt you sometimes even worse. The strange thing is neither matters much in terms of forgiveness, We’ve gotta forgive them anyway…Jesus said” if you don’t forgive them, then I won’t forgive you”…Now that’s motivation, but besides that, the lack of forgiving someone is synonymous with a straight jacket. It binds you and holds you captive until you learn to forgive. The difference between the two, is you don’t need anyone to undo the latches for forgiveness as you do with a straight jacket, you have the power to forgive on your own…It’s up to you and how badly you want to be free…
P: Tell us a bit about your new solo album and your newest release.
Wayburn: Our latest single release is “What will be your legacy” a poignant question that we should all be asking ourselves right now. We all are writing a book as we live that reflects our lives that people are currently reading. Family members, church members, friends, co-workers will all comment on the book that we’re writing. The song, “What will be your legacy,” reminds us that we should be cognizant of how we should live our lives and that we’re writing our own legacy for God. If we do that, men will say, it was God he/she adored…
Quote of the day:
‘I believe we serve a musical God’ -Wayburn Dean
Please visit Wayburn’s website for further information on his personal appearances and for information for where to purchase his album, “Through the Rain.”
© 2009 Penny Carlton
