On Sound for a Soulful Summer
It's no secret: I'm a lover of all things R&B, neo-soul, and classic funk. While I'm not locked in my room jamming to old cuts from Parliament and Funkadelic (yes, Eddie Hazel is a terribly underrated axeman), chances are I'm spinning the latest from John Legend, Alicia Keys, or other greats of the genre. Today seems like an apt occasion to reflect on some of the music that keeps the heat out, or at least that makes the sweating and swamp-cooled air worth it. Yep, that house is pink. This summer is a special one because I'm serving as a staff worker for an intentional urban ministry program here in Fresno. I've even relocated from my colleagues' apartment to the appropriately named "Pink House" downtown. Now I'm walking distance from the popular pub where I can watch the World Cup with a good brew and some friends, but more importantly, I'm situated in the midst of the city's most vulnerable neighborhoods. As I learn more