THE GOSPEL SONGS OF REDBIRD CLINGAN
8-3-08
Here are my liner notes to Redbird Clingan's
gospel CD that we took to be manufactured just yesterday:
"George 'Redbird' Clingan was born at Birchwood, Tennessee July 3, 1929
and by his late teens, had his own radio show on WDXB in nearby
Chattanooga. His lead guitarist, Leon Sutton, became one of the top
studio guitarists in Nashville and played the road with several country
stars but alcohol took Redbird in a different direction. He took a wild
and crazy trip that landed him in the woods near Ft. Myers, Florida
where he slept under dry cleaning bags and did anything he could to get
one more drink.
One day a fellow alcoholic realized Redbird was dying and took him to an
AA Center called Dry Palms. After they got some nutrition in his body
and helped get his nerves settled, they offered him a chance to sign in
and get off alcohol. Thank God, he took it.
After a year of sobriety he returned to Chattanooga and began performing
with his old musician friend, Dalton Roberts. Almost immediately he
began writing for Roberts' music publishing company.
Recently he said, 'I know many people have not forgiven me for the life
I have lived and I can't say I blame them. But God has forgiven me and
has been giving me gospel songs that make the hair on my body stand up.
I thought it was time to start giving the Lord credit for my ability to
write. This is my first gospel album. It is something that I have longed
to do ever since He walked me out of the woods, literally and
figuratively. The only songs here I didn't write are three of Dalton's
songs. Playing shows with him, I fell in love with these three songs. My
thanks to B.G. Raines for Bible research on He Has Come.'
As you listen to this CD, you may experience the same hair-raising
feelings Redbird felt as he wrote them. Dalton once said, 'If you need
someone to walk you out of the woods of addiction and great spiritual
pain, ask a man who has been there.' Here he is."
Redbird has been on a roll ever since he came home. So many great songs
have come to him and through him that I cannot help feeling a Divine
Force at work. Releasing his CD is a way to repay and honor him for
helping me through a hard place. Once when I was going through a
depressing personal ordeal that required some support from a
psychiatrist, Redbird began to instruct me in some of the life-saving
principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am here to tell you that this
non-high school graduate did more to help me through an emotional briar
patch than did the psychiatrist.
The spiritual lessons he picked up in gaining deliverance from alcohol
are reflected in the songs on this album.
A powerful recitation titled My Friend closes out the album, Redbird
wrote this after a spiritual experience he had while he was in jail. His
tribute to the Lord is The Light of My Life.
The pleasure he found in the spiritual path he chose is reflected
beautifully in Walking In The Garden:
It's like walking around in the Garden of Eden
Talking to the great I Am
It's like wading in the water of the river of Jordan
Baptized in the blood of the lamb
Sometimes I feel like I can walk on the water
That river don't look so wide
When I feel the Lord reaching out both hands
Walking back from the other side.
I will let you know when it comes out (I'd guess 2-4 weeks) and I hope
you get it. It cannot help but have a transforming effect of anyone who
listens to it.
Just working on the CD was a rich spiritual experience to me.
