Some of you who know the story of Do Good U will remember it was born from music.
Gary Dugan and I worked together at high-tech company, but we also went to the same church. He was the pianist there, and whether the music was traditional or modern, choral or solo, he was solid at the keys.
One day he came into my office and asked me if I’d write some lyrics for a song he’d composed. I was not his first choice, or even his second. He and I had talked about song lyrics (mostly church songs), because it was a passion of his. As it turned out, though I had never written words to music, we made a great team.
Eventually we wrote enough songs to make an album, which people began to buy. I suggested that we start a company and sell our music online, and we did. That company was called Do Good Music, and I still say today that the name came from heaven.
The rest of that story can be saved, but I have to tell you now about an amazing “God thing” that happened just a few months after we launched Do Good Music.
Nashville comes to Colorado
Gary and I went to a music conference in Estes Park, Colorado, hoping to learn more about the music business and how we could work with independent artists.
We printed up business cards and made a little tri-fold flier. One man who took both was exactly the right person. His name, I learned, was Barry Landis, and he was the head of the Christian Music Division of Atlantic Records. That was in 1997, and Barry and I have been friends ever since.
In fact when we decided to stage Do Good Talks in Scottsdale this year, Barry was the first person I asked to speak, and he said, “I’m in!”
As an aside, and for a completely different reason, Gary and I later wrote a song we called You Don’t Have To Go To Nashville. In fact you don’t, either literally or metaphorically, and that meeting proves it.
Why did Barry take my card? Because the idea of “doing good” was already in his mind.
Bob Briner and Roaring Lambs
As his career in book publishing, music, and the world of entertainment progressed, Barry Landis came under the influence of Bob Briner. So did many, many others, because Bob was not only very successful in the field of sports management, he was also an Emmy-winning television producer and a best selling author.
The book of his that impacted Barry the most was called Roaring Lambs. It impacted so many musicians, in fact, that many artists joined together and recorded an album of the same name.
A central idea of Roaring Lambs was “doing good.” Briner was a committed evangelical Christian who lived by faith, and he wanted all Christians to do good in their vocations as well as in their daily lives. Barry pondered that for a long time, considering how he might do good in the business of music. Which, by the way, is a very tough business.
That thought was still in his mind when I introduced myself to him and handed him a business card that said, in large letters, Do Good Music. The timing was perfect, as God’s timing always is.
It wasn’t very long before Barry introduced me to Roaring Lambs, and it immediately resonated with me. I was never able to meet Bob Briner, but in many ways he and I had the same mission. And still do.
Barry’s talk
As the time for Do Good Talks approached, Barry sent along some information he’d be sharing. He wanted to make sure he was on the right track, and of course he was. I was never concerned about that at all, but I did wonder one thing: How in the world will he fit all that in to a 30 – 35 minute talk?
The title he gave his talk was: The Good That Happens in Entertainment: How entertainment enlightens, connects, and transforms our lives.
That is a great title, and the talk backed it up. Let me give you a few highlights.
The very first slide had a title, and Barry said it outloud. “My journey through music and film.” But I confess that I missed it when I was watching in real time, and here is why:
The background picture was Barry standing next to music legend David Foster, both of them smiling at the camera and each holding two Dove Awards. (Those are the Christian music industry equivalent of the Grammy Awards.)
How cool is that? And it was because of Barry’s work with an amazing group that he signed and shepherded and mentored called Plus One. Foster had been a producer on some of their songs, and thanks to Barry’s leadership their debut album was certified gold.
Of course he didn’t say any of that, he just went right into his talk. And I was already behind!
Good in Music
Barry told us that good music brings hope and creates unity. He talked specifically about the ability of music to touch our emotions in ways that words alone can’t.
That is why the famous lines from William Congreve are true: Music has charms to soothe a savage breast; to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak. Music, he said, speaks directly to our emotions, a place where words can rarely reach.
Because of that, music has played a pivotal role in social change, has had a significant role in humanitarian efforts, and is finally being recognized and used as an important tool in treating mental health.
Congreve knew that in 1697!
And there is much, much more.
Barry went on to talk about the good in films, in television, and even in gaming! He made a very strong case for “doing good” in the entertainment industry. Bob Briner would have been very pleased.
Entertainment gets put down as a waste of time. After hearing Barry, I completely disagree. It is an extraordinary force for good. We just have to see it.
Do good music. Do good movies. It’s in you!
Entertainment is good for you
Some of you who know the story of Do Good U will remember it was born from music.
Gary Dugan and I worked together at high-tech company, but we also went to the same church. He was the pianist there, and whether the music was traditional or modern, choral or solo, he was solid at the keys.
One day he came into my office and asked me if I’d write some lyrics for a song he’d composed. I was not his first choice, or even his second. He and I had talked about song lyrics (mostly church songs), because it was a passion of his. As it turned out, though I had never written words to music, we made a great team.
Eventually we wrote enough songs to make an album, which people began to buy. I suggested that we start a company and sell our music online, and we did. That company was called Do Good Music, and I still say today that the name came from heaven.
The rest of that story can be saved, but I have to tell you now about an amazing “God thing” that happened just a few months after we launched Do Good Music.
Nashville comes to Colorado
Gary and I went to a music conference in Estes Park, Colorado, hoping to learn more about the music business and how we could work with independent artists.
We printed up business cards and made a little tri-fold flier. One man who took both was exactly the right person. His name, I learned, was Barry Landis, and he was the head of the Christian Music Division of Atlantic Records. That was in 1997, and Barry and I have been friends ever since.
In fact when we decided to stage Do Good Talks in Scottsdale this year, Barry was the first person I asked to speak, and he said, “I’m in!”
As an aside, and for a completely different reason, Gary and I later wrote a song we called You Don’t Have To Go To Nashville. In fact you don’t, either literally or metaphorically, and that meeting proves it.
Why did Barry take my card? Because the idea of “doing good” was already in his mind.
Bob Briner and Roaring Lambs
As his career in book publishing, music, and the world of entertainment progressed, Barry Landis came under the influence of Bob Briner. So did many, many others, because Bob was not only very successful in the field of sports management, he was also an Emmy-winning television producer and a best selling author.
The book of his that impacted Barry the most was called Roaring Lambs. It impacted so many musicians, in fact, that many artists joined together and recorded an album of the same name.
A central idea of Roaring Lambs was “doing good.” Briner was a committed evangelical Christian who lived by faith, and he wanted all Christians to do good in their vocations as well as in their daily lives. Barry pondered that for a long time, considering how he might do good in the business of music. Which, by the way, is a very tough business.
That thought was still in his mind when I introduced myself to him and handed him a business card that said, in large letters, Do Good Music. The timing was perfect, as God’s timing always is.
It wasn’t very long before Barry introduced me to Roaring Lambs, and it immediately resonated with me. I was never able to meet Bob Briner, but in many ways he and I had the same mission. And still do.
Barry’s talk
As the time for Do Good Talks approached, Barry sent along some information he’d be sharing. He wanted to make sure he was on the right track, and of course he was. I was never concerned about that at all, but I did wonder one thing: How in the world will he fit all that in to a 30 – 35 minute talk?
The title he gave his talk was: The Good That Happens in Entertainment: How entertainment enlightens, connects, and transforms our lives.
That is a great title, and the talk backed it up. Let me give you a few highlights.
The very first slide had a title, and Barry said it outloud. “My journey through music and film.” But I confess that I missed it when I was watching in real time, and here is why:
The background picture was Barry standing next to music legend David Foster, both of them smiling at the camera and each holding two Dove Awards. (Those are the Christian music industry equivalent of the Grammy Awards.)
How cool is that? And it was because of Barry’s work with an amazing group that he signed and shepherded and mentored called Plus One. Foster had been a producer on some of their songs, and thanks to Barry’s leadership their debut album was certified gold.
Of course he didn’t say any of that, he just went right into his talk. And I was already behind!
Good in Music
Barry told us that good music brings hope and creates unity. He talked specifically about the ability of music to touch our emotions in ways that words alone can’t.
That is why the famous lines from William Congreve are true: Music has charms to soothe a savage breast; to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak. Music, he said, speaks directly to our emotions, a place where words can rarely reach.
Because of that, music has played a pivotal role in social change, has had a significant role in humanitarian efforts, and is finally being recognized and used as an important tool in treating mental health.
Congreve knew that in 1697!
And there is much, much more.
Barry went on to talk about the good in films, in television, and even in gaming! He made a very strong case for “doing good” in the entertainment industry. Bob Briner would have been very pleased.
Entertainment gets put down as a waste of time. After hearing Barry, I completely disagree. It is an extraordinary force for good. We just have to see it.
Do good music. Do good movies. It’s in you!
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