Story on Rolling Stone gathers no moss
Posted July 20, 2006
Herald-Leader subscribers read it first on July 1: Keith Richards of "Sympathy for the Devil" fame is now jamming for Jehovah. The world-famous guitarist recorded a half-dozen tracks for the CD "My Soul Is A Witness" at his Connecticut home. Richards' sister-in-law, a Lutheran gospel singer named Marsha Hansen, sings lead vocals. Augsburg Books, which released the book-CD project, says the first printing of 2,500 copies has already sold out. A second printing is moving quickly.
When I wrote about Richards' gospel music project, I figured the story would spread and it has. A Google search turned up the following headlines in German, Spanish, Italian, English, Polish and a couple of languages I can't even begin to decipher:
Keith Richards kitaroi hengellistä Keith Richards spielt religiöse Lieder Keith Richards colabora en disco con canciones religiosas Keith Richards spielt auf Platte mit religiösen Liedern mit Keith Richards Collabora a Disco Di Canzoni Religiosi Keith Richards spielt auf Platte mit religiösen Liedern mit Keith Richards is now 'jamming with Jehovah'! Richards w stylu gospel - Muzyka - Wirtualna Polska
The London papers are all over it. "Some of Keith's friends back in Britain have been poking fun, saying he's now jamming with Jehovah," The Sun reported. Newspapers in Australia, India, Canada and Mexico are carrying the news.
The album's release comes two months after Richards fell from a coconut tree in Fiji and hit his head, leaving him with a mild concussion. Some alarmed fans are asking if the accident has impaired Richards' judgment or inspired him to seek religion. The answer to both questions is "No."
Richards recorded the songs in 2001, as a favor to his sister-in-law. Marsha Hansen is married to Texas Lutheran minister Rodney Hansen, whose sister is 1970s supemodel Patti Hansen.
Richards isn't a Lutheran, Marsha Hansen says. But another blog, GetReligion.Org, reports that the guitarist is a Christian and has "embraced Christ as a way of life."
If Richards wishes to discuss his faith journey -- or anything else -- on Bible Belt Blogger, we'd gladly give him all the space he needs.
To read the original article: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/living/religion/14926617.htm
To read the GetReligion article: http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1733
To read a fascinating article on Richards' spirituality (which is cited by GetReligion) go to: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200311/ai_n9319806/print
To read about the coconut tree incident: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4957948.stm
COMMENT AUTHOR: aimie
EMAIL: aimiejolockwood@hotmail.com
URL: http://hotmail.com
DATE: 07/20/2006 05:26:56 PM
I the headlines in different languages are awsome. Check your email.