Lowell Pye “Finally” out on his own!
by Ta-Tanisha Thomas
Lowell Pye has been ministering about his love of Christ with song since the age of three. Born and raised in Detroit on the city’s “West Side,” his voice is evidence that singing the gospel is not a hobby, but a divine calling on his life. Pye gained notoriety in gospel music after becoming an integral part of John P. Kee’s New Life Community Choir and as a member of the group, Men of Standard.
In July, he introduced his solo-debut effort “Finally,” which presents a blend of traditional, urban contemporary, praise and worship gospel tracks that his fans have missed since his last effort was released in 2006, when he was then a member of the group Men of Standard. Root Magazine caught up with Lowell during a recent trip to Nashville to promote his album. During the interview Pye reveals the importance of gospel music in his life, industry artists that he would like to work with, and how self-love, after years of battling depression and being overweight, is helping him to be a better man, better father and better articulate his passion for God through music.
Root: Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Are you now based out of Atlanta, Georgia?
Pye: As far back as I can remember, I grew up on a street called Allenby, on Detroit’s “West Side” and then we moved to Rosemont off of Eight Mile in Southfield (suburb of Detroit). Yes, now I live in Atlanta, I’ve been there for five years.
Root: That’s a long way from First Fellowship (former church) and the “Junior Echoes.”
Pye: Wow! Yes, it is. I started singing with the Junior Echoes around the age of three. I sang with them for a long time. The in 1981, around my teenage years, my father died and we continued singing together for a few years, but then broke up. I sang with another quartet group, “The Motor City Singers,” and then in the late 1990s the professional transition started and the opportunity with John P. Kee came along. I became a member of the group, “Men of Standard,” in 1996.
Root: You were the member of a quartet, group or choir for a long time, how does it feel now that “Finally” is out, and you are on your own?
Pye: It feels good. I like it, the preparation is there. For so many years, after singing with or for other people you start developing your own ministry and your own character. To learn what I’ve learned through John P. Kee, to then take that to Men of Standard, again, and then in my own individual ministry, leading worship is one of the greatest things that I do.
I realize one of the hardest things for an artist to do is to transition from artistry to ministry. Some spend many years, trying to get the hottest song they think everyone will like, or get the performance right so everybody can cheer. In this day and time, God is just looking for people who are anointed and will set the example while setting the pace for Him to come in and do what He has to do. Taking the position at church to lead worship, prepared me for singing lead on my own. When you sing in a quartet, choir or with other people, you can rely on the next person, but when you are in the front and by yourself there is a lot of responsibility you’re given.
Root: To whom much is given…
Pye: Right, to whom much is given, much required. I’ve been saying that scripture (Luke 12:48) for the last three weeks when I’ve ministered. It takes getting into the Word of God to really become what you need to become to win souls because you cannot do it on the vocal ability, the runs or the riffs alone, those days are over. It’s about the life and the walk with Christ.
Root: What producers did you work with on this album?
Pye: On this record, I worked with Ace of War, who is a very talented and gifted man. A lot of people are familiar with the work he did with Kim Burrell, the Clark Sisters and Donnie McClurkin, he’s a phenomenal guy.
We met in Nashville at the Stellar Awards. He walked up to me and said, ‘the Lord told me to help you.’ We started working together about two years ago and came up with, “Finally.” It was a blessing. Marcus Divine wrote two songs, PJ Morton and Chip Dixon wrote songs. I wanted to work with people that are up-and-coming. There are a lot of people who know what they are doing, who know how to do it and are great writers that need to be heard. It’s good for us to bring those artists to the forefront.
Root: Who haven’t you worked with that you want to?
Pye: R. Kelly, I’ve worked with everyone in gospel, but there are some people I feel like if I were around, my presence would affect them, and influence them for the better. I like his writing ability. I really want to work with Fantasia too. There is a song on my album that features Sherri Jones, we were also trying to get Fantasia to record it; the female lead was only between those two. We were not able to get the scheduling together with Fantasia, so Sherri did a phenomenal job. I still got what I wanted.
I want to venture out, but I want to do what I do. I don’t want to change I really want to be who Lowell is and let them come do some music with me because I am not going to sing any secular music; I’m going to sing gospel.
Root: What songs on “Finally” are remnant or classic Lowell that your fans can look forward to based on the experiences they’ve had with your music with Men of Standard and John P. Kee? What are the traditional tracks? What breaks the mold? What songs will surprise your fans?
Pye: On “Typical Me” I am backed by a church choir, so when my fans hear it they will likely think of New Life. I didn’t make any songs with a Men of Standard feel, I wanted to move away from that and give people a chance to experience me. The typical Lowell track is “Jesus Never Fails,” it is more traditional. The song that will surprise them is an urban track called, “I’m Ready.”
Root: Not too many people can do a Commissioned song and get away with it, yet you performed a remake of “Running Back to You” beautifully. Whose idea was it for you to record that track?
Pye: It was my idea. It was the first song we recorded. I wanted to do that song because I feel where we are in our lives, that we need to get back to God. He’s our source, he’s the reason that we live, move and have our being. He tells us, ‘though I’m with you always to the end of age, I will never leave you nor forsake you. I’m with you.’
Whether we are going through or on the top of the world, He’s there and He’s not going anywhere. We may leave, but He stands there waiting to receive us whenever we’re ready to come back. I wanted to get that back out in the atmosphere. When Fred [Hammond] did it, it was before it’s time. It is a great song, when he wrote it, he must have heard from God, and it is needed now.
Root: What is the importance of Gospel music in your life?
Pye: Gospel music is all I know. It is all I have ever done and I am forty years old. I’ve been singing for thirty-seven years of my life, nothing but gospel; I’ve never even sang secular music in the studio. It means so much to me because my mother reared me in the church. In my youth, it‘s all I knew, I didn’t know anything about the streets. I played ball chased girls and went to church.
Root: Who do you admire? Who inspires you?
Pye: My mother. She reared me all of my life, my father was there but he didn’t stay in the home with me, but I would see him every day. He died when I was eleven year old. I remember going to a private school and they told me I was going to be put out because my mother was behind on tuition. My mother told me she had already paid the tuition, but would do whatever she needed to keep me in school. She asked people for assistance and did what she could to come up with the funds. That incident let me know how much she cared for me and was willing to go to bat for me. It was discovered that she had indeed already paid, but she was willing to give up everything so I could go to school. She is a great inspiration to me and we are very close. Marvin Winans is also my mentor.
Root: Thirty-seven years, how has your music evolved?
Pye: My music has matured. I suffered with depression for a long time. I was a big guy and I didn’t like who I was. I would do things for people to try and get them to like me. One day something clicked in me, it was the Spirit of the Lord and the lesson came through my son and I playing football. I was so big; I couldn’t play with him or stand. He was crying because he doesn’t live me, he lives in Los Angeles and comes to stay with me in Atlanta for the summer. When he’s with me, he naturally wants to do the things he dreams of when he is away. I asked him to give me a minute and went in my room. I cried out to the Lord and told him I was ready to make the step.
After I did that, I started taking better care of myself and started loving me. You can’t do anything in life, especially when it comes to weight, building character or developing confidence until you love who you are, where you are. I had to love myself before I lost weight. When I started doing it, God started intervening for me. I’m still big, but I think I’m the finest dude in the world and you can’t tell me any different. That attitude is reflected in my music and how passionate I am about God. When you listen to my music, you hear the passion and the stuff that I went through to get to this place.
Root: What has been your biggest challenge as an artist? How would you advise those coming behind you and want to be involved in the gospel music industry?
Pye: The biggest challenge for me was learning about the business. Many times we want to sing and don’t realize this is a business. People are willing and want to make money off of you; if you don’t know, they will capitalize on the opportunity, especially if you’re good. I had to read books, ask questions of people that really knew about the business. When I started doing that, I was able to help people.
Don’t just be a singer; singing is only 10 percent, but it’s the 90 percent where people fail. Some don’t like people, don’t want to shake hands or smile, but want to have that star mentality. The days of the ‘gospel celebrity’ are over, that doesn’t work anymore. God is looking for people with lifestyles that are transparent. They can say, ‘hey, I’ve fallen and I die to my flesh daily because I know me. I know what I do when only God is watching.’ Be a part of your local church, pay your tithes and offering, and learn how to be a servant.
Root: What do you want the world to know about Lowell Pye?
Pye: I’m cool, down-to-Earth and I love to have fun. I don’t have to be in the light. I don’t have a start mentality in that sense, I just want to take care of the people that I have to take care of and chill out. I’ll sign an autograph, but I’m more laid back. I’m just like the next man, but I’ve been able to go through some things and God said, ‘I’m going to anoint you for such a time as this so you can help build the Kingdom.’
At the end of the day, we are all grinding to make ends meet. I don’t have to act like I’m better than you and I keep people around me that keep me grounded and love me for me
Root: Is there anyone you want to thank or anything you want fans to know?
Pye: I want to thank my fans, family and friends for supporting my music. If you haven’t already go out and get “Finally” it will bless you. It’s an album everyone can listen to with traditional, urban contemporary, praise and worship songs. Fans can keep up with me on Facebook at the “Lowell Pye Fan Page” or on Twitter @LowellPye.
My God bless you Lowell is my prayer. You are something special and Gods gift and anointing is upon your life. I will support you and your music. I met you years ago in Fort Pierce Fla, when John P. Kee and his choir was in our city in a concert. Be Blessed Bro! Keep it real..
Much Love to you and your family!
Pastor John Robinson III