I knew him eons ago when I was a high school English teacher and tennis coach in a Atmore, Alabama. He was on my tennis team. Flash forward, and that young teen has gone on to achieve great things. Now, Dr. James Michael Stevens is a professor of music and chair of the music department at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee. Stevens is also a composer and a prolific one at that. By his estimation, he has some 8,000 compositions to his credit, mainly for piano but also for organ and choral groups. The chorale composition Without Love We Have Nothing– written with Joseph M. Martin – has been performed and recorded all over the world, particularly in South Korea. Last month, Dr. Stevens was invited to join the Recording Academy as a voting member of the Grammy Awards. In this episode of The Hollywood Beat, Dr. Stevens talks with me about his career and this latest achievement with the Grammy Folks.
Without Love We Have Nothing performed by a South Korean Choral Group
Congratulations, Dr. Michael Stevens! We are so very proud of you! Just have to tell you, though, you will always be that cute, sweet little Jimbo in our hearts and mind! Your family moved away before you became an adult, so this is still how we imagine you to be. I know your family are so proud of you! Hope we can hear you play one of your compositions in person one day! God has blessed you with such wonderful talents! We love and miss you and your wonderful family. Sincerely, Dr. William and Harriet Thomas