PREMIERE | Johnny Ray Daniels, "God Is Able"
A gospel testimonial by Johnny Ray Daniels; photographed by Bill Reynolds.
The universe works in mysterious ways. Something perchance stronger than us, bigger than we can fathom that brings us to calming green pastures and offers a new lease on life beyond anything we could ever measure. Through tempestuous walks beyond the valleys of the shadows of death and weeping and gnashing of teeth; a new world of balance and light can be found. A new discovered purpose for talents that had only previously begun to be realized are made whole, shining bright like a humble tabernacle tent on a lonesome hill to reach the congregation of the entire world. The universe gives us the moon to shine by night and the sun by day, a reminder that these glowing kernels of mysterious divinity shine in perpetuity.
Hailing from rural Pitt County, Greenville, North Carolina stands gospel icon Johnny Ray Daniels who delivers a life affirming testimonial with "God is Able". From the artist's forthcoming album Whatever You Need available May 6 from the prestigious Bible & Tire Recording Co. imprint; Daniels is a pop pastor that found his calling at life's curious crossroads. From his days in the Beaver Dam area's rock & rollers the Soul Twisters, an epiphany struck Ray while performing at an exclusively white venue nearby in the city of Wilson where the club was offering him a 360 contract deal:
I saw them just like a picture, in the blink of an eye, it was like I could hear the Lord saying, You’re in the wrong place. You promise the Lord something and don’t do it, some big thing could happen. You don’t make a vow to the Lord and then back up.
From this moment on Johnny Ray Daniels fulfilled the remaining gigs with the Soul Twisters and turned his attention toward the church where met and married Dorothy Vines of the "Glorifying" Vines Sisters and later their son Anthony would continue the Daniels/Vines dynasty tradition through the Dedicated Men of Zion. Venturing out as a solo Sacred Soul artist for the first time, Johnny delivers the message of good news, recounting all trials and tribulations such as miraculously surviving a car accident that threatened his vital organs to affirming the power in something greater than the sum of his own talents. Daniels presents our weary and wary world with the gospel of goodwill and a mysticism that is everlasting (beyond the scope and scale of human comprehension).
“God is Able” is the living testament to the supernatural powers of healing and inspiration offered through prayer, devotion, meditation and invested trust in the unknown. Johnny Ray Daniels takes his message from the pulpit to the people that rocks with the healing power of renewal full of joy and strength in the ability that all things are possible. The energy from a Sunday service echoes loud like metaphysical thunder and lightning, from the steps of the altar and choir gallery to the big stages of the largest amphitheaters imaginable. “God is Able” is a sermon that breaks beyond the barriers of religion alone. It speaks to the many, as well as the individual. Johnny Ray hones in on the sparks of divination that burn like the brightest stars from within us all, a call of unity to recognize something that is greater than the sum of humankind alone. Something larger than the heavy weights that we carry as burdens upon our exhausted shoulders. Daniels speaks to the mystic powers of inexplicable might that tower above the material plane of struggles, strife and anguish that offers a new sense of enlightenment and a love supreme. Ultimately “God is Able” attests to the abilities of something that is greater than ourselves, summoning an omnipotent energy of hands raised in communion with the heavens that unites believers and non-believers alike (and everyone else in-between).
Cover art for Johnny Ray Daniels’ Whatever You Need by Bill Reynolds.
The living Sacred Soul legend shared some exclusive insights of astounding testimonials:
When you say that "God is Able," God is able to do anything that you ask him to do. Because when I was sick, when I was in an accident, the doctors said they would have to operate and take out my kidney. I prayed to the lord to heal my kidney. Lord, if you heal my kidney I would serve you until the day I die. Two or three days later the doctors came back and said, You know what, a miracle done happened! Your kidneys have stopped bleeding. I’m planning for the rest of my life to serve Him.
He able to take us through. He able to make things possible. I know that God is able to take you through anything. There’s a whole lot of things that we can ask for. God is able to do anything that we ask him to do. I say He able to do it because he made the whole world.
Whatever you need, God’s got it, because he’s able to perform what you ask him for. He’s able to do it. Other people might be able to help you out a little bit but God can help you all the way with it. I know! I prayed and asked for a lot of things that men wouldn’t have made possible but God made it possible. God is able to perform what he say. I wanted to get some music out that let everybody hear me and God made it possible and he able to do good. I done thank God that he put me in the pathway of Music Maker [Foundation] and all to make that possible, because he could put you in the right place for the thing that’s going to happen and put you in that path. I’m glad he put me in that path. I done thank God that I can keep on moving and bless Him because he blessed my soul.
Johnny Ray Daniels' album Whatever You Need will be available May 6 via Bible & Tire Recording Company.
Johnny Ray Daniels – Lead vocals and guitar
Anthony “Amp” Daniels – vocals
KeAmber Daniels – vocals
Produced by Bruce Watson and Will Sexton
Recorded and Mixed by Bruce Watson @ Delta-Sonic Sound – Memphis, TN
Mastered by Clay Jones
The Sacred Sound Section:
Will Sexton – Guitar, piano and mellotron
Matt Ross-Spang – Guitar
Mark Edgar Stuart – Bass
Will McCarley – Drums and Percussion
Rick Steff – Hammond Organ