Day One, Year Four: The Singer and The Truth

Sat Jan 28, 2006



Three years have gone by, and now a new one begins.

I knew nothing about you at the moment I “met” you, except your name and the city you called home. Within a minute of that first sighting, I knew the truth about you.

Three years, and that truth has been confirmed again and again.

One has to listen to learn the truth. Chatter cannot change the truth, static cannot drown it out, discord cannot hide it.

I learned your first truth at “take.”

There, when your voice caressed the words of “Always and Forever,” was the evidence of a prodigious vocal talent --- in a plain brown wrapper.

It was already too late for you to alter the truth when we, a nationwide audience, met you. You had told the truth for years, in your singing, in your service, in your work, in your education, in your faith, in your relationships with friends, family, coworkers, classmates and teachers.

Your life was your evidence, then and now.

The truth is that you are an extraordinarily gifted singer, growing in your artistry day by day.

The truth is that you have chosen to dedicate much of your time to service, to advancing humanity, starting with the youngest of us, not just with the words of your mouth but through the actions of your life.

The truth is that you are an altogether fascinating, flawed human being: a man of faith with a slightly bawdy sense of humor, a man who counts his blessings but whose talent has a power he does not yet fully recognize, a self-effacing person with a healthy ego, a gentle man with a bit of a temper, an old soul with a childlike streak, and a man of honor --- period. Though you might correct people, I have noticed that the person you work hardest at correcting is yourself.

I have never seen a shred of evidence to contradict these truths.

Clay, there is not a thing you need to prove to me. This is a cynical world, and I can be very skeptical, but I believe in you.

You’ve earned that.

What truths will you reveal in the days to come?

There have been, since Measure of a Man, some tantalizing hints of where we’ll find you tomorrow:

The tour de force vocals of "Solitaire".

The brilliant character voice of "Proud of Your Boy".

The simple wonder and passion of "Mary, Did You Know?".

The heartbreak and yearning of "I Can’t Make You Love Me".

The irresistible beat that propels the addictive "Back for More".

I tune in to you, my mind delicately adjusting the frequencies of possibility. I draw back and wince --- there is static and shrill noise where I try to find you. I concentrate, I wait and then the buzzing nonsense falls away.

And then I hear it... a sound and a promise. It is the music you will make tomorrow.

Your truth is in your music. There is no noise, no cacophony, no caterwauling that will silence you. In the end, just as beauty repels ugliness and love conquers hate, it is your voice that will rise above the hiss, the yap, the whine.

Are you ready? It is nearly your time.

And on a day soon to dawn, what a magnificent sound, what a joyful noise, you’ll give the world.

It will be the truth of your new song, the truth of the gift that you are, and it will rise higher and higher, traveling farther and farther across the airwaves to the millions who respect you as an artist and a man.

And there will be no static at all, just you, the unique remarkable you, reaching out to those who long to listen...

Just you, Clay, coming in...

Loud and clear.