Drummond: Rickie Byars Beckwith, a divinely authentic voice

Editor's note -- This is the first in a series of occasionalcolumns about spiritual life.

A LOT of music, whether it's on the radio, television orInternet, is an imitation of something else.

Anyone who remembers Madonna when she first burst onto the popmusic scene will recognize Lady Gaga as a knockoff.

Justin Bieber? No offense, but he is the umpteenth incarnation ofthe teen heartthrob.

The same can be said of religious and inspirational music. Somuch of it lacks authenticity.

Yet from time to time, an extraordinarily gifted individual whofollows his or her own guidance rather than succumbing to theprevailing standards of mediocrity manages to break through.

Someone like Rickie Byars Beckwith.

Chances are, you have not have heard of Beckwith.

Yet hundreds of churches -- not just here in the Bay Area butthroughout the world -- sing Beckwith's musical compositions duringtheir worship services.

"Use Me," which Beckwith cowrote with her husband The Rev.Michael Bernard Beckwith, is a virtual anthem in New Thoughtchurches. It is as common as "Amazing Grace" in traditionalChristian denominations.

Congregants sing "Use Me" at the East Bay Church of ReligiousScience and the Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland. At theCenter for Spiritual Living in San Jose. At Inner Light Ministriesin Santa Cruz.

"Use Me" is just one of many songs from Beckwith's extensivecatalog that have become staples at religious services.

David Dilullo, the director of music at the Center for SpiritualLiving in San Jose, says the church has transformed its musicprogram with Beckwith's compositions.

"Rickie"s music is powerful in that it says exactly what my heartwants to say," Dilullo said. "It's an expression of joy, it's a deepdevotion, and it's a prayer in itself.--

Beckwith is known as the "First Lady of New Thought.--

New thought is a nondenominational spiritual movement based onancient teachings, which are only relatively new to the West. Itteaches that God is within each individual, rather than an externalentity. New thought also teaches that it is done to people, as theybelieve. To change one's life conditions, an individual must work tochange his beliefs through meditation and prayer.

The movement has a strong base in California.

Beckwith is the music and arts director of the AgapeInternational Spiritual Center in Culver City in SouthernCalifornia. The church, founded Michael Beckwith, has more than9,000 members. Many more tune in worldwide via the Internet throughthe Sunday "Love Streaming" services.

Beckwith leads the internationally known 200-member choir. Shealso writes the music and the chants for each service.

She has sold more than 100,000 records independently.

Beckwith has just released a new CD and accompanying book called,"Let My Soul Surrender.--

It is a stunning work that speaks of inspiration, healing, andtransformation by surrendering to one's inner call. The book alsogives listeners valuable insight into Beckwith's creative process inwriting each song.

I saw Beckwith perform at the Scottish Rites Temple in Oaklandlast year and again in San Jose in February. Her voice has a smoky,soulful, haunting quality that touches people on a deep level.

"She sings the kind of music that reaches the souls of people,"says The Rev. Eloise Oliver, pastor at East Bay Church of ReligiousScience in Oakland.

Beckwith, 59, grew up in Charlotte, N.C., in the Catholic Church.

She had broad exposure to many different kinds of music, which isreflected, in her own compositions. There was Liverpool, CurtisMayfield and Sam Cook, Nina Simone and Stax Records.

As a young adult, she moved to New York and became the leadsinger with the New York Jazz Quartet Pharoah Sanders.

Beckwith eventually moved to Los Angeles, where in 1987, shewould be introduced to Michael Beckwith who had just founded Agape.

Together, they have built an internationally known mega church.

Beckwith admits that she would have liked to have become famousin mainstream circles.

Yet she believes in "the fabric of real things." That people whoneed to know about her music will find it.

"I didn't get what I thought I wanted, but people are playing myCDs and passing them out to people in their cars," Beckwith says. "Ijust want to Thank God. It's a blessing.--

Tammerlin Drummond is a columnist for the Bay Area News Group.Reach her at tdrummond@bayareanewsgroup.com or at Twitter.com/Tammerlin