Polished Piano Player's Performance

We went to the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Lucie this morning. Besides friendly people and a well-spoken female minister, we were blessed with piano music by Huntley Brown.

Before the service began, he played in a trio with the organ and another piano, played by the church's regular pianist. Her name is Dr. Montague and she introduced Huntley Brown.

Long ago she taught in Jamaica and there were many who wanted piano lessons. So, she gave piano classes to 50 students. Then they signed up for 15 minute practice sessions on the only piano. As she began to work with individual students, she met Huntley. She soon figured out that he played by ear and didn't read music.

Huntley learned to read music and later came to the U.S.and earned a Master's Degree in piano performance and pedagogy. His music ministry has taken him all over the world.

In the United States, he has performed in places like the Crystal Cathedral, Willow Creek Community Church, and one of Bill Gaither’s popular Homecoming concerts.

He was also the regular crusade pianist for the recently retired Dr. Ralph Bell, an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Association. He is now the pianist for Ruth Graham and Friends Ministries.Huntley played a few more times during the service and we went to his concert this afternoon. He is a minister with his words and his music. One friend has said, “Huntley plays as if God is whispering in his ears.”

This video is one of the pieces he played today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnHQepl5SM&feature=related

You can get a sample of one of his unique techniques in the following clip at about 4:30 (I dragged the slider button to 4:30, waited a moment, and the music started): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpK75kpA90s

Huntley Brown knocked my socks off and I wasn't even wearing socks!!

Here are a couple more good clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DvsvQ6N06Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXJRUNxgMME