>> From the Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Today is
Wednesday August 7, 2013.
I'm Brent Bjorkman with the
Kentucky Folklife Program.
I'm here today in the Coolidge
Auditorium of the Library
of Congress to conduct an
oral interview with members
of the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood
Singers from Northern Kentucky,
Covington, Cincinnati area.
They've been performing in
Washington this afternoon
and they'll be performing as
part of the Millennium Stage
at the Kennedy Center tonight
and we thought we had this great
little break in the afternoon
to really talk to them
about their music,
this wonderful jubilee
A capella style singing
that they've been doing for nearly
30 years now coming out of that area
and we have with us the current
members who perform today.
We have Ric Jennings.
We have Eric Riley.
We have Demetrius Davenport.
We have Stace Darden and we
have Sam Watson Norris Jr.
And I thought we could start
today by asking a question
to the founder Ric
Jennings of the brotherhood.
Can you tell me a little bit Ric
about what Northern Kentucky was
the time that you were growing up
and what led you into
forming the brotherhood?
>> Ric Jennings: We were a really
close-knit community project area
of Covington, Kentucky.
We kind of started off our
foundation singing actually began
in churches and small events that
took place in the communities,
parties, little small parties
little events that were taking place
at the schools and mainly
though in the churches
where we got our biggest
opportunities
to let our voices to be heard.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Did you
begin your singing in church
or is it just in the community?
Is there a definition
between the two?
>> Ric Jennings: We
definitely started in the church
with our parents marched us every
Sunday morning to Sunday School
to get our lessons and from
that point on it rolled
over into the morning service.
That's where being even we were
of course being quarantined
to the congregation we were able
to join in with the local choirs
of the church and as we grew older
we began to get more involved
with junior choirs and senior choirs
and to perfect our
voices in different areas.
>> Brent Bjorkman: The 9th Street
Baptist church and the choir
so your father was
connected to that choir.
>> Ric Jennings: Exactly he
was a member of the male chorus
at the 9th Street Baptist Church
and we always looked forward every
Saturday to jumping in the car
with him as he went to the-- the men
came together at one of the homes
and the voices blend together
and just the tranquility
that was present and
the encouragement
that we got spiritually
through listening
to them sing the mighty Word in
song is what helped to inspire us.
>> Brent Bjorkman: And that is
where the brotherhood came from?
>> Ric Jennings: Well,
no there was some room
in their choir there right after,
besides that Sundays was always
focused on religious music
but then throughout the week there
was that secular portion that kind
of made its way in as well and
that flavor of that we were able
to put together with that Sunday
morning and that's what kind
of enhanced the spirit of
singing gospel with myself
and I think I can probably
speak for these fellows as well.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Well, speaking
of other people speaking you
know I was thinking about you all
and just knowing you for about ten
years now and seeing a few new faces
and some members have either
passed on or left the group
and I think it's really
interesting--
I know that you're the leader and
you came to it that way but how
about the next guy in line
another originator, Eric Riley?
Can you tell me a little
bit about or kind
of play on what Ric was saying?
>> Eric Riley: Yes but my beginning
wags a little bit different.
I grew up at a church
called Deliverance Temple.
It's over in Cincinnati
and my parents went there.
My grandfather was a guitar
player as is my father.
He plays the guitar and
they both play the piano
so I learned the play the piano and
I learned to play a little guitar
and I played the trumpet
and I played the tuba
and I played just everything
but I did a lot of it in church.
I played the organ in the same
church for about 12 years and I went
on to college and that kind of stuff
but my beginning was the same it
was just in a different place.
>> Brent Bjorkman: I see and
how about the rest of you?
How about you Stace?
>> Stace Darden: My beginning
really started with to be honest
with The Jackson Five,
to tell the truth.
Probably around 8 years-old or
so, Sly and the Family Stone.
That was the kind of music
that I heard in my house.
My grandmother was a religious
person but my mother and them
of course they weren't there yet
so we would here that kind of music
in there with Chicago and I
think it was the Eagles and some
of those groups and when I got
older that harmony resonated in me
and I went to The School for
Creative and Performing Arts.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
And where is that?
>> Stace Darden: That's
in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The school that Nick Lachey and
people like that came out of.
That's where I learned to put
harmony together and it was funny
because I would actually
have a tape recorder
and would tape the low part then
I would use another tape recorder
and play the one and put the
second note on top of it, record it
and then do all four of the parts
and that's how I started honing
my craft in regards to harmony.
Then when I got older, out
of high school I actually got
into the church.
You know, lot of times we don't
really take the path of going
to church but I got officially
into our church service New
Jerusalem Baptist Church
in Cincinnati and sang with the
male chorus and sung with them
for five years and that's where it
really branched off with harmony,
structure, it was A capella
just like we're doing now.
But it was just slightly different
because it's a male chorus just
coming together on Saturday
and rehearse, sing that Sunday.
>> Brent Bjorkman: When you
were doing that layering
with your tape recorders and being
all really high-tech back then did
you have friends that
were into that too
or were you really doing
that just as a solo.
>> Stace Darden: No, it was just
me but I was influenced by some
of the songs that we do is
from a group called The
Cincinnati Harptones and--
>> Brent Bjorkman: Tell
me just a little bit more.
>> Stace Darden: This group
has been singing for well,
they were at the time they were
singing back in the '40s and '50s
and myself and Demetrius Davenport
we went to Winthrow High School
and we grew up with two
of the sons that were sons
of The Mighty Harptones at the time
so we would be around them a lot
and that's how we learned
in regards to structure,
in regards to discipline and
also different harmonization.
So David Godfrey which
is one of the sons I grew
up with we actually would
bounce ideas off each other
and he was teaching me actually how
to sing different harmony parts.
That's where it started
from trying to imitate him,
actually and his brother.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Okay.
Demetrius.
>> Demetrius Davenport: Yes.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Do you
want to play off that?
It sounds like you and Stace
have had a close connection
in high school and your influences?
Could you tell us a little bit?
>> Demetrius Davenport: Well,
my influences from my childhood
was the male chorus at church.
That's when I got my introduction
into hearing the different
harmony sounds
so they allowed me
to be in the group.
They were all probably
about 30 years older than me
so I started singing and getting the
parts and plus I was in the choir
so I knew I had a good ear for
distinguishing the different parts
and so before the musicians
would give
out the other I would already figure
them out in my ear and know kind
of like between myself was just
like okay, he's going to give
out this part and I was dead on and
so when I met our friend in school
and I got to sing his father's
group at a tryout and stuff
and then I got more influenced
with different harmonization parts
then we started to get good at it
and then basically couple of years
of college and out into the Marines
and started to teach
guys that could sing
who had a decent ear different
harmony parts and one of the things
that Stace didn't mention was
when we were doing the
singing we were introduced
and learned how to do all the parts.
So all the guys up here can
do from the bass all the way
up so that's a good part about the
group that we can do it effectively.
If one man is not feeling up to it
we can jump right in and cross over
and fill all the parts so--
>> Brent Bjorkman: So going
into the Marines and things--
it sounds like you all
are excited about learning
and teaching all the time.
Was there people when you
were in the service is
that how it went there as well?
>> Demetrius Davenport: Oh yes, I
mean I got out of a lot of push-ups
for being able to sing
different songs.
You know, at bedtime before we go
to bed I'd sing a song,
"Amazing Grace."
I think that was like one of
their favorites or something.
I guess everybody went under
all nationalities and stuff.
I think that's one of their
favorite songs I used to do that,
get out of a lot of
strenuous exercises
because I wasn't a good shooter,
so I had never touched a gun before
I went into the service so I had
to be there an additional three
weeks to learn to shoot to graduate,
so my music, being
able to sing got me
out of a lot of things [laughter].
>> Brent Bjorkman:
That's a beautiful story.
Well, about influences Sam?
You're the newest member
of the group.
>> Sam Norris: Yes.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Been
here for about a year.
>> Sam Norris: Right.
>> Brent Bjorkman: How
about your influences?
>> Sam Norris: Well early on I was
a guitar player back in the day.
Didn't sing at all and then all
of a sudden what's the guitar
player, jazz guitar player?
>> Brent Bjorkman: George Benson?
>> Sam Norris: Yes.
>> Brent Bjorkman: George Benson.
>> Sam Norris: He started
singing and playing, right?
And in Cincinnati there was
a guy named Wilbert Longmire
that was teaching me how to
play and he started to singing
and I started noticing they
were getting all the girls.
I noticed they were
getting all the girls.
But my uncle used to sing with the
Singing Mastermen Gospel Group years
ago and I would be on with their
rehearsals just sitting there
watching them.
So I was fascinated by the bass
but my uncle who sang bass clear
up to first tenor and he
could do them all effectively
but the bass is what turned
me on and then as a result
of playing the guitar
now all of a sudden
when I'm doing stuff I just hear
stuff and just God has blessed me
to be with these brothers and
my thing was I wanted to be
with some guys that really live
what they're singing about,
so I had the opportunity
to come with them and I'm
like a kid in the candy store.
>> Brent Bjorkman: It's an
amazing will blend how--
I was just wondering how you Ric
and Eric being the elder statesmen
of this group might be able to
think about one of the first songs
that they did together and
maybe share a little bit with us
in true Brotherhood style, maybe?
>> Well one that's pretty popular
now on the website is "Wade
in the Water" and we kind of--
>> Brent Bjorkman: How did that
come to you or how did you learn
that song or what it just
something that you always--
>> That was one of the favorites
in the church choir repertoire.
Not only that it had
some strong history
to what the enslaved Africans
put the English slaves
with the African rhythms to
form devotion to Christianity
and their desire for freedom and
also they used that to communicate
with one another as well in the day
when they weren't allowed to speak
to each other in public so
they'd use that as a means
of communication and
it's popular today.
We kind of added our own
flavor to make it [inaudible]
to the taste buds of
the soul and so.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
How does it sound?
How does the swing sound?
>> Well, why don't we give
you a demonstration of that?
[ Singing A Capella ]
>> Brent Bjorkman: Applause exactly.
[ Applause ]
Wow and that's where the swing is.
I can hear that swing.
It seems like-- is that something
that's happening in the church
or with interviews before we've done
things about street corner singing
and that kind of things and I know
early life and learning those kinds
of thing in the neighborhood and
the community and I also know
that Lincoln-Grant
Elementary is part of the thing
and maybe during times of
segregation it was maybe a time
when you could go and
meet new friends
or it was a place for you to be.
Can you tell me a little bit
about that if-- was that you Ric?
>> Ric Jennings: Yeah, it
was a segregated school
in Covington, Kentucky.
That was one of the grounds, one of
the rural areas that we were able
to open up and kind of spread
our voices and the opportunity
to enhance the singing techniques.
There was a couple
of instructors there,
Bill Martin who was an awesome
music instructor and Mr. Crowder
and those guys were a great big
influence not only physically
but spiritually towards us that kind
of like a hands-on
personal relationship
which you don't find very often
these days in the public schools.
Folk were a little bit more
personal with each other.
There was a lot of concern, care and
compassion in those days that kind
of helped you because times were
hard then and it was always good
that there was an extra helping hand
out there and in the music field
that seemed to be one of the
strongest areas particularly for us.
>> But if I may, they were happy
times particularly in the '60s
and the Civil Rights Movement
and everything it was hard.
It was a struggle but the
community in Covington,
Kentucky was it was
like he said at first.
It was close-knit and it just seemed
to be happier times even
though times were rough.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
The community at large
or the African American community?
>> Yes, absolutely.
>> You almost had to depend
on one another in those days.
There weren't very many
opportunities outside the
communities for folk
of color at that time
in the early part of our lives.
Of course things have changed
tremendously today but yeah,
everybody kind of looked
after everybody.
And that's what we're hoping through
our music to be able to secure.
>> Stace Darden: And the swing
that we talk about putting on some
of the older songs it's if I may,
for the rest of us it's I think we
try to take the elderly back home
and reach the young as well.
We try to pull them in.
You know what I'm saying?
So we want the elderly, the
people back of age to hear
and be taken back with
the songs, the old stuff
but at the same time pull
in the young so we try
to make it pleasing to all.
>> Brent Bjorkman: I think I noticed
that today during your performance
and we can speak to
this now or later.
Some of the secular
music you were doing
and when you were just speaking
about reaching others and young
and people know people like you
come at it from very different ways.
Jackson Five to church but it all
seems to be sacred and secular
of course and you were
doing things like Sam Cook
and a Harry Belafonte song and
even The Beatles and Marvin Gaye
but then all these songs
that because I've known you
for a little while the "Wade in the
Water" and those types of things
so that seems to be something--
is that something you're striving
to do more with an audience
and maybe that leads
into how do you read an audience and
how has that developed over time?
And feel free to anybody jump in
and even Sam, I know that you're new
to the group but if you want
to talk about that as well.
>> Well, one thing
that we try to do is
of course always give God the glory.
>> Amen.
>> Amen.
>> In anything that we do, like Sam
said, we live the life that we sing
about but we also know
that there's times
where people will not
go into a church.
They may come to a venue where
it's a little bit more neutral
and we can make them
aware of gospel music,
gospel sounds that they may
not be aware of with our style.
If it takes us having to hit them
with a secular song or two in order
to kind of get them to
feel and be comfortable,
break the ice then we feel that
that's when the Lord can reach them
and a lot of times like you may have
noticed after the concert that's
when we get a chance to share
Christ through our fellowship,
through conversation because people
will come and they will gravitate
to us and they'll say "We liked
that song or we like this song
or this song took me back
or that was my mother
or my father's favorite" and
that's when we get a chance
to share Christ with them.
So that's the way that we engage.
Now other people do it different
but that's the way we do it.
>> And we generally
engage our audience--
our songs are kind of put
together to kind of reaching
and grabbing everybody and they
see that we put so much work
into the song and we're having fun
then even if they're a little shy
but you can just see maybe
halfway through it they just more
and more their hands become unglued
and they start clapping and kind
of getting into with you so.
>> And to add to what he is saying I
think in my opinion it's a big deal
to have a personal relationship
with your crowd if at all possible.
Some of the crowd members
may not let you
in that way but the majority will.
If you show them that you care
and you want to entertain them--
see when we sing something and
I think I speak for all of us.
When we sing whatever it is
that I'm feeling I want you
to feel so delivery is the key.
I just, when I sing I can't
expect you to feel anything
if I can't feel anything, so I'm
going to try to deliver the song
to best way I can, make
you feel something.
You know what I mean?
>> Brent Bjorkman: Absolutely.
>> And one thing that we do
especially when we're in Spain
or Russia, different places where
the language may be a barrier
or it could be anything
from past histories
from different cultures we, like
Eric said, we're about reaching out.
We go into the audience.
Like I mentioned earlier in the
concert the one thing that I think
that they could have done is
give us a cordless microphone
but it would have been
a dangerous thing.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Tell me why.
>> Because we would have
been out there in the crowd.
We would have been--
>> Shaking hands.
>> Now let me preface that because
in 2009 it was our first time here
and we cordless mics but we
chose not to go into the crowd
because we knew it
was being archived
and we decided to stay on stage.
But when we did the Kennedy Center
I think one maybe two songs we were
out in the crowd and that's
typically what we'll do.
We'll go to the top because we
tell people just because you're
up there we're going to get to you.
Don't try to sit way back there
and think that you're off limits.
We come to you and we'll
sit next to a person.
>> Sit on their lap.
>> We might give them a hug or
a kiss as you saw with "My Girl"
and like Demetrius
said, it breaks the ice.
It allows people to feel comfortable
and they feel more personal.
It's funny, a story-- we
went to Spain one time
and we shared the stage with a
group called Asking for Praise
and they were a small subset
of Mississippi Mass choir.
So of course we got the attachment
of the Mississippi Mass Choir,
of course that's the draw.
Now the Brotherhood Singers
had been singing maybe
at that time maybe 15 tours
and were well-known in Spain
but were the second bill to
this newly created group.
Now we sung first.
We did our performance like with do,
went out in the crowd
and had a good time.
Then they did theirs and
it was beautiful music.
I mean phenomenal, phenomenal
voices but when we went
out to sell CDs we could not believe
that we had a standing room only
line at our tape table and they were
out there asking people
to come over here.
It was literally, you
could see them right here.
They were like, "Come over here."
And we couldn't understand what it
was but than our promoter said "It's
because you guys went
out to the crowd
and you made it personal to them."
See they did choir music
and it was beautiful
but they stayed on the stage.
We went out to the audience
and we made friends with them.
And that's what we
try to do every time.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Does
that work everywhere?
I know I spoke with Ric
on the phone last month
and asking him this expansion
of your international touring
and having these opportunities that
are wonderful and is it always,
is music always the
universal language?
Did you have any times where maybe
where you're in a different country
where you didn't go out to
the crowds or you didn't--
there was a different reception?
>> I haven't noticed
any difference at all.
What's interesting about the
European tours is the majority
of the audience don't speak English
so we were curious how we got
such a large response to
our concerts and they said
because they feel your music.
They may not be understanding
a thing you're saying
but they feel the spirit
that we're sharing.
That's what's so interesting
and unique
about these guys is
they're for real.
When you see them you
see the real deal.
These hearts are sprinkled
from an [inaudible] conscious
and these guys go out there and
share that whether they're here
or out there in the audience
they share that authenticity
with those folks that's
what they feel.
These guys aren't pretending.
This is the real deal and
this feels awful good.
I'm having a bad day but they're
making me feel good for some reason.
It's because it's true and
it's right and it's good
and that's what these guys
exercise all the time.
We've had some strong
words with each other 10,
15 minutes before going on stage
before thousands over there
and once we get out on stage
it's like it never happened.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Really?
>> That's right.
>> Yeah.
>> That's how these guys--
>> Brent Bjorkman: As the founder
how did you, as I said before
and asked you before,
several different people
have been part of this group.
How did you first come to find Eric
and how did these other two come
to you seem to be, both
Stace and Demetrius they seem
to be friends from a long ago?
So is it different generations and
how do you find that they all have
that special thing that
you're talking about?
>> Ric Jennings: Well I
can wrap it up in one word.
There was a fervent
prayer that the Spirit
of the Lord have revealed these
guys to me through the communities
because these guys are
from different communities
surrounding Covington and starting
out in 9th Street Baptist
Church when we decided to expand
because they weren't
quite as active anymore
with the male chorus right there in
the community Eric and his expertise
and singing abilities he
came on board and then
of course we had a couple of other
members originally from Covington.
A couple of those guys passed
away but like I say it was
through the Spirit, through prayer
that the Lord revealed these guys
and that's the only way then this
could have happened was it was
divine intervention.
God revealed this, he said, "You
go here and be obedient and do this
and you go there and be obedient
and do this and I'll take care
of the rest and that's how these
guys were able to come together.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
So it covered itself
and the individual
talents came together
to have this common mission?
>> Ric could not have
done it by himself.
>> Amen.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Yeah.
Sam I go back to you.
You're the newest.
Is there a song that maybe
Sam introduced to you all
that you do now are maybe we
can talk about different songs,
different love of music
that each person had shared
and you all brought that
into your repertoire.
Would that be a way to maybe
share another song or two?
>> Sure.
>> Sam Norris Jr: Well you
know, to give you an example.
Just take you back but today's
performance with "A Trouble
In My Way" you know in thinking
about that song and thinking
about what people we all are going
through today you know no matter
how good we think we have it
that thing could flip in a matter
of seconds and you never know what's
about to happen or what's going on.
You never know if it's your
daughter, your son and it comes
in such way that you think
everything is fine then all
of sudden there's trouble.
And just that song and
the way we do it you know
because I get emotional
and I'm easy at that.
I get emotional because
I've been through a lot
and God has been an anchor
in my life, you know.
I lost my wife ten
years ago and just
out of nowhere, just, I'm out, gone.
And it's just the impact of that
and my son and I and what have gone
through as a result of it.
You know the singing thing is
something that I was doing anyway.
I used to sing in the
world, singing everywhere
but I'd never sung gospel music.
You know, because I felt in my mind
guys singing gospel couldn't sing
and that's the reason
they're singing gospel.
But God flipped that
whole thing in my life
and showed me it was the opposite.
It was the opposite and then able
to just sing and begin to get
into the church thing
because my wife was heavy
in the church situation.
You know she was the superintendent
of Sunday school and that's all kind
of stuff so and her thing was if
you want me then you come to church.
I've been there ever since.
I've got a son that's 29 and
we were baptized together.
>> Brent Bjorkman: That
is the power of love.
>> Amen.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Truly.
>> Sam Norris Jr: You know it's
that and when I think about there's
"Trouble In My Way," is just a
way of pulling people in no matter
where you are spiritually
or whatever.
>> Everybody has a story.
>> Sam Norris Jr: That's
what I'm talking about.
That's what I'm talking about.
>> How does it sound?
[ Singing A Capella ]
[ Laughter ]
>> Brent Bjorkman: We
want to feature ourselves.
Yeah, Stace.
>> Stace Darden: One
thing that gravitated me
to this group is the
versatility in every member.
I think it was mentioned earlier
that everybody can sing from a bass
or baritone bass, not a true bass.
Only Sam maybe Eric or
Demetrius but everybody but me.
How's that a true bass but we if you
notice in our concerts we make sure
that everyone is featured at
one particular time and try
to do it twice and
that's what we did today.
So let people say, well I might be
a bass singer in my shower at home.
I may not be someone that's popular
and singing in front of thousands
of people but I sing bass.
Well when they hear Sam
we see them imitating Sam
and then Ric he'll play off of it
and say I see you out there singing.
And that's how we make
the connection.
Or Eric as a matter of fact
him and Demetrius they're just
up in the clouds with these songs.
>> And you too.
>> Stace Darden: They're up in
the clouds with these sounds
and you're thinking,
man, this is coming
out of men singing these high
voices but it's like a song bird.
It's smooth but then we can drop
down to the lower notes as well.
We just flip.
If anyone really listened
to our concerts and went
through 12 songs they would hear
all of us taking different notes
within each different song.
We never stay on the
same note on every song.
Never.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
So it's very fluid?
>> Stace Darden: Yes.
Yes. And we praise God for
that because it allows us
like I think Demetrius said,
we'd gone to Spain one time,
we did I think it was an 11
city tour in 12 days or so
or it was another one and
we literally lost a couple
of voices during the tour.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Because
it was so strenuous.
>> Yeah, we went one time--
>> In and out of weather too.
>> We went from Canary Islands
where it was 80 degrees.
We flew into Madrid that same day.
It dropped to 50 then we drove
eight hours to Andover which is
in between France and Spain
and it was 22 degrees.
And that's what we had to
deal with all in one day.
And we had a concert with
that night and a couple
of guys lost their voices
or it was touch and go.
So what happened was we said
well, you know tonight we'll have
to have Stace step up this
time or you know Demetrius
or someone else has to step
up because literally the last
concert we had Ric couldn't sing.
He literally could not sing.
>> He could hardly talk.
>> And still got a cut of the money.
Can you believe that [laughter]?
>> Brent Bjorkman:
There's power in that too.
There's power in that too.
>> There's a saying, as a rule if
you don't sing you don't get paid.
I said, "Ric, you better
put your clothes on.
Come up on stage man.
You know you better sweat with us or
we're going to get your money dude."
Every now and then, now see the
beauty of what he was doing was
that he was still effective
because at times he was
woo-woo-woo, woo-woo-woo.
We needed that.
We needed that.
Whatever you have give it to us.
We've got your back though.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Very adaptive.
You're a very adaptive group.
>> We had his back.
We had his back.
>> The fact that that was
one of our best concerts.
The people loved it.
We had our soul and spirit in it.
>> Exactly.
>> You could hear a
pin drop when we did--
>> And even Sam, Sam
sings high enough
where we can raise the register.
It doesn't have to be a true bass.
So we can actually make it
and he sings a baritone--
in the clouds with his harmony
and if he wants to the drop
out somebody else can jump
in there really quick.
So I mean we give all
glory to God for that.
>> Absolutely.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Absolutely.
Sam shared one of the
songs that he cares.
Anybody want to share something that
they may have brought to the group
or helped the group adapt or--
>> I guess that's me.
>> You've brought several
to the group.
>> Well, of course we did "My Girl"
and I have a wife and
I've got seven kids.
Of course I sing "My Girl" and my
wife is in the audience but I try
to find a young child
like I mentioned earlier,
maybe a little girl, 9 or 10 to sing
to and that's actually strategic.
It's strategic because
let me explain it to you
like this everyone has a song
that they bring and Eric will get
out there and he'll
sing "Mama", okay?
You know that's going to touch
anybody that has a mother.
But we don't want to let kids
feel like they're left out.
They may not know "My Girl" but
they can relate to it because we're
out there singing straight to them.
So what I do is instead of singing
to somebody our age I'm running
over to a child to bring
them into it as well.
Now we've had parents, "Thank you
for singing that song to my child."
That kind of thing or we'll do like
we wanted to do today and bring Thia
on to the stage but she was
having fun in the background
so we've done that as well.
Now we've actually sung "My Girl"
in Kiev and there was a young lady
that had some kind of an
ailment and it was her birthday
and they literally asked us couple
of hours before can you
sing happy birthday,
can you sing happy birthday to her
and we brought her up on stage.
She wasn't a Down Syndrome
or anything
but it was pretty bad what she had.
And we brought her on stage.
We all had flowers and we handed her
flowers and we sung Happy Birthday
or "My Girl," one of the songs.
>> We did both.
>> Oh, we did both.
Okay and that's how we
reach a lot of the ages.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Goes
back to what Eric was saying
like having something for the
older and bringing the younger back
into with that and
seeing the audience
and making that happen for them.
>> And then the audience
can relate because
"My Girl" is a timeless classic.
So people can relate to that.
So it kind of goes like this.
[ Singing A Capella ]
>> That's it.
>> Brent Bjorkman: That is it.
>> We thank The Temptations
for that one.
We thank The Temptations for
letting us sing that song.
>> Brent Bjorkman: How
about you Demetrius?
What about a song that
you've brought
to the group or something that.
[ Inaudible Remarks ]
If you haven't performed
it that would be great
to tell me about, tell me the song.
>> Demetrius Davenport:
The song is by a group
out of South Carolina
called the William Singers
and one day I listened to them.
They came to a convention in our
city, a big gospel convention.
I heard the song and then I
was like wow, I love that song.
Then I heard how they put
it together on YouTube
and then I brought it to the guys
and they added their own flavor
so they learned it in probably
about ten minutes [laughter].
So it goes something like this.
[ Singing A Capella ]
Now you say this is video, right?
>> Brent Bjorkman: Yes.
Yes.
>> This is what we do.
When we know we messed up on
a part or if we've got a part
that we've been struggling
with, we in the middle
of the concert did you see Ric
give me if high-five [laughter].
That's for real and
that's how we do it.
You notice we might do a little
side turn there [laughter].
I don't care if we're
singing in front
of the President we're
going to turn around.
Take that back up now.
Bring that back down.
What do they say about
the tight rope?
>> That's why I love these guys.
>> One thing about it if
you bring a song like me
and these guys will get the
song and it's like well,
I really haven't completed the
verses or got really any part
but these dudes be like they have
got to whole song and they're
like okay so when can we do it?
And I'm like, I've got
to learn my part now.
>> He's got to look at his arm.
>> He writes the words on his arm.
>> There was a funny thing.
I had sung at a wedding or was
going to sing at a wedding.
It was my barber, her
daughter was getting married
so she had me sing
the song but I knew
that Eric already had
learned the song.
I was trying to get out
of it but she said, "No,
I want you to sing a song
and I want this other song."
So I had Eric to help me.
Well, I didn't know the
song so what did was,
I didn't want to tell the lady no
so I spent half the day writing it
on my arm you know like
reading it on my arm,
you know like the highlights
and the lady her mother,
she thought it was so hilarious she
has it in her barber shop of my arm
and the words over a mirror
where everybody can see.
So when anybody asks about they're
like they associate it with me so.
>> You thought that
was passion right?
He was doing all this
but he was like--
>> But they spoil us because
when we go to other churches
and we get involved in other events
that we don't have that support
of learning now we actually have to
be teaching teachers of what we do.
So that's the good part we think
with these guy are so great is
that when we don't have that in
the community when we're going back
to our teachers so we have to
sort of, okay I've got to start
from step one, do all the other
step to get to guys or females,
Eric he works with,
he's in a praise team,
he works with a mixed female group.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Tell
me about that Eric.
You know I think it was when
Ric was saying when I asked you
about Lincoln and just
about there was a solid bass
that was really needed and you grew
when you were singing with some
of those people during that time.
I think it has to do with teaching,
taking things in and giving things
out again and can you
tell me a little bit
about what Demetrius
was talking about?
About your teaching?
>> Eric Riley: Well I think first
we've learned from each other.
We've learned so much.
Of course, Ric already
knew what he was doing.
He was already out there
doing his thing and when Stace
and Demetrius came in we were
like having fun and jelling
with each other and
learning from each other
and Ric and I also taught.
We taught a class, vocal
class in Covington.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
Tell me about that.
>> Eric Riley: It was at the Frank
DuVeneck Arts and Cultural Center
and we had a group of kids.
We had a good time.
We had a good time.
Every week so actually twice a week
we met with them like on a Monday
and a Thursday and we'd
buy snacks and stuff.
We would meet with them for
about an hour and a half
and we let them bring songs and
that they would want to sing
because the stuff that we
sing is old for the most part.
They probably wouldn't have been
interested unless they heard us
collectively singing them and so
we started to teach these kids
and now, we don't anymore.
I don't even think
that it's still open.
I'm not sure.
>> Ric Jennings: Yeah, they
don't have the classes.
>> Eric Riley: Okay.
But we're not doing that
anymore but a lot of times some
of the kids will see us singing
the national anthem somewhere
and they'll remember us.
It was gratifying to see them some
of the kids that we've worked with.
>> Ric Jennings: And these
were mostly troubled kids.
>> Eric Riley: Yeah, yeah.
>> Ric Jennings: And
we got to the point
to where their parents
were beginning to come in.
They were having problems but they
came in and found a peace in singing
as well so we were able to kind
of like the concerts we were able
to reach the oldest to the youngest
and that's the same
way those class were.
We were able to reach out
and to share that experience
with those folk, give
them something,
some sort of hope,
some areas of hope.
>> Let me expound on that.
There was an opportunity before
me, Demetrius and Sam came
into the group these guys
would go to West Virginia
to the Davis & Elkins College
and they would teach
for a week at a time.
This was probably seven, eight
years ago maybe even longer.
Because of that experience
of them going
to the teach we now were given an
opportunity when we go home Saturday
to go to Elkins College to
open up for Ralph Stanley
and I mean they literally said we
want the Brotherhood Singers to come
and open up for Ralph Stanley.
So I mean, you know God really
nothing is by happenstance.
I mean it's all ordained and we know
that but for something like that
to happen, a legendary bluegrass,
country artist like Ralph Stanley
and they're asking us to open
for them it's just a blessing
and it's all because
of their relationship
and see we pride ourselves
on how we carry ourselves.
I mean we cut up and we have
fun and everything but we're
about seriousness and
we're about business.
We have fun but when it's down
to making this thing happen
and happen the right way
where people respect what we
do we're serious about that.
But then once we get here
we act just as silly as--
>> I mentioned how we've
learned from each other
and I didn't mention Sam.
And the reason I didn't mention
Sam, Sam crazy [laughter].
Sam's crazy.
Let me tell you something.
Sam [laughter] he's
the best guy man,
the best guy you've
ever wanted to meet.
He's crazy though.
We're in concert and we always
like to give him his little space
because he turns into a bass player
for real and he does this thing
where he's hitting
himself and he's so bruised
up by the time the concert's over.
He's hurting right now.
He's laughing but really
it's pain [laughter].
>> Don't tell him to lift his shirt.
We learn from Sam as well though.
We learn from Sam absolutely.
We learn how to not hurt ourselves.
You start bandaging yourself up
before the concert [laughter].
Preventative maintenance
is what we get from him.
>> Sam Norris Jr: These guys when
they told me, "Sam just be you."
I said, "Are you sure?"
You know what I'm saying.
"You sure?
Be you. Don't add nothing.
Don't take away nothing.
Just be you."
And I'm like a kid in a candy store.
>> He climbs into the
songs all right.
That's for sure.
>> To be the elder statesman
of the group I mean
he's got so much energy.
He makes me say I've
got to catch up to him.
>> Yeah.
>> Right.
>> But then after the
concert he's going to sleep.
That's all there is to it.
>> Just like that.
We're talking about in the car
on the way back to the hotel.
I'm talking about five
minutes later.
He's asleep two minutes
into the drive [laughter].
>> As a matter of fact do you
have a stretcher to carry him out?
>> When we're flying
out we all take bets
to see how many minutes it will
take for him to go to sleep.
I had like seven.
I think Stace had five.
>> Stace Darden: I had five.
>> About four-and-a-half the
plane hadn't even taxied yet.
>> While the plane backed
out we're talking to him,
man and he was already gone.
[ Laughter ]
>> Brent Bjorkman: To me you
all seem so grateful and blessed
and you share your
blessings through music
and I think one of the things
you've wanted for your audiences is
to share both to have that
energy flow back and forth
that way in your ministry.
Is there anything that
you would love
to have The Northern Kentucky
Brotherhood continue on?
Do you look into the future as
you just continue on this journey
and is there anything
more you want or need?
>> I'll say that we
don't see an end, okay?
We don't see an end to this.
It's just out there.
We're just going.
We're just going.
I don't see it ending.
Maybe I'm wrong.
Am I speaking for everybody?
I don't see an end.
>> Yeah, well the thing about
this group that I learned is
that you don't get
kicked out of the group.
>> You die out.
>> You leave on your own.
I mean 27 years and there's
no, we had to get rid of you.
You get rid of yourself and
we've had guys have gotten rid
of themselves and have come back.
We've still got two guys that still
sing with us, two original members
because it's an open door policy.
First of all, we're
Brothers in Christ.
>> Amen.
>> And just like any other brother,
any relationship family-wise you're
going to have your ups and downs.
You're going to have your people
that butt heads and things
of that nature and you're
going to have high expectations
out of certain people and when
we try move to a certain degree
or level or whatever you want to
call it sometimes we get resistance
but regardless we never
say well, you're out.
We just can't use you anymore.
We just say, "Hey,
let's work together.
Let's try to get you up to speed
of where we're trying to go
and if not then we're going to work
with someone else in the meantime
until you bring up to speed."
And that's exactly what happened.
We had unfortunately, rest in peace,
Shaka Zulu Tyehimba he passed
away in August of 2009.
It was right when we got back,
right before we got back.
He literally was the fifth man,
Demetrius had just join today group
and he was the fifth
man and we found out.
Let me see, he found out in April
that he had Lou Gehrig's disease.
He found out but he
wouldn't share it with us
and I mean let's think about that.
I mean you feel like you're dying.
You don't want to share it with
anybody I don't care Christian
or not, faith or not that's a hard
thing to deal with but he found out
and when he found out that we
were coming here we said you know
what brother?
We love you but we need you
to concentrate on your life
and your family and your kids
and your salvation and things
of that nature and when we
go to the Library of Congress
and the Kennedy Center we need
to have our best five
guys and you're weak.
>> He literally could not breathe.
>> He could barely
stand and it was a lot
of resistance, a lot of resistance.
When you think about it,
wow, the Library of Congress.
I mean you guys have arrived.
Man, the Kennedy Center,
you know that kind of stuff.
So we had a lot of that resistance
from him and we came up here
without him and we were sad to
hear that he passed away less
than a month after that and as much
as we tried to reach out to him
and minister to him in fellowship
and brotherhood and praying
for him he wouldn't
allow us to do that.
And we regret that so we
make it an effort now to say
if there's something going
on man let's talk about this.
Let's get this out.
Let's pray about this
because we're brothers.
We need to be our brother's
keeper and we need to continue
to uplift Christ and also push
for them to know that we love them
that nothing that we're doing
is to kick, push anybody out.
It's to help them especially with
their spiritual walk and us as well.
>> Brent Bjorkman: I think you've
explained a lot about the success
of this in which you've just
told what Ric had started
from the very beginning about
how nobody is kicked out
and you all just grow
together in God
and in talent and in
change over time.
>> We have a memorial section in the
website for him and one of the songs
in the repertoire that we keep
alive I think we were scheduled
to do it this afternoon but there's
one song that Shaka really enjoyed.
I'd like for us to have the
opportunity to do that if possible,
a small part of it just to kind
of salute him and the service
that he gave this group,
we can salute him
and maybe he can put
in a good word for us.
>> You made me look up.
>> We know he's in
his resting place.
>> Brent Bjorkman: What
are you going to sing?
>> It's called "Be with Me Jesus."
That was one of his favorites.
>> Sam Cook and the Soul Stirrers.
He made it popular.
>> That was one of his favorite.
>> Are you guys ready?
[ Singing A Capella ]
>> That's Shaka.
>> That's for Shaka.
He used to do that man.
He would hold that note man
>> Forever.
>> And he would take that microphone
and then we would do the
James Brown coat [laughter].
He sure would.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Wow.
>> Yeah, we miss Shaka.
>> Yeah, he was a good guy.
>> Brent Bjorkman: We're
coming to the end of our time.
You know it's just been so
great to be back in Kentucky
and to get re-acquainted with you
again and so proud of the power
that you bring to your
message and to be a part
of it and to know you again.
>> It's not us though.
>> That's right.
>> Brent Bjorkman:
Well, that's right.
But you bring that all to me
and crystallize that into me.
>> Praise God.
>> Brent Bjorkman: So would you
like to maybe do one more little
piece of a favorite song or?
>> Everybody sung but you.
>> Did we tell you about the--
we do The National Anthem.
>> Everybody sung except Ric.
>> We did at the Bengals game I
think we're doing it well this year.
But Mike Brown which is not
a talker but we auditioned
to do the Star Spangled Banner
and he literally said how much he
loved it and now we're doing it
like every year at one of the NFL
Bengals games, The National Anthem.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Well, that
might be appropriate to do.
Ric, would you want to do that right
now in the Library of Congress?
>> Why not.
Yeah.
>> Brent Bjorkman: All right.
>> Well it was strange because
we auditioned three years ago
and we landed at the pre-season home
opener for that year then the year
after we land the regular
season home opener
and we were just thinking, wow,
a quartet from this local area
that kind of stuff is
for the entertainers.
They usually leave that
spot open for people
that are nationally known.
I mean we're internationally
known but not as well as they are
so we just praise God for it.
I mean they asked us again
this year and we were hoping
to get the Monday Night Football.
We didn't get that one this time.
That was against Pittsburgh but
we do have the Green Bay game
on September 22 so it's
an honor to do that.
[ Singing A Capella ]
>> Brent Bjorkman:
That was wonderful.
[ Applause ]
Gentleman, on behalf of
the Library of Congress
and the Kentucky Folklife Program
it's just been a treat to be here
with you this entire day to be
here with you for this interview
and have you share your praise
music and your A capella style
and to be guys from Kentucky.
>> Thank you.
We appreciate you all too.
You want to also do Bob Gates who is
the director the Kentucky Folklife--
>> Brent Bjorkman:
For so many years.
>> He was very instrumental with us.
And Thea Austin [phonetic]
who is super cool.
>> Brent Bjorkman: Thank you.
>> This has been a presentation
of Library of Congress.
Visit us at loc.gov.