Ken Medema

Ken Medema (born on December 7, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a composer/singer/songwriter who has been performing in the United States and in Europe for more than 30 years.

Ken Medema was born almost blind; his eyes let him tell light from shadow and look at outlines of major objects. As soon as he was five years old, he began trying to play the piano. Three years later, a private teacher taught him classics with braille music, to play by ear and to improvise in different styles.

Later, in 1969, he majored in music therapy at Michigan State University in Lansing, where he could improve his performance in piano and voice. Then, he worked as a music therapist in Fort Wayne, Indiana and later at Essex County Hospital in New Jersey.

In 1973, he began performing and recording his own songs which mainly dealt with his own Christian life. So far, he prefers making justice, hunger, poverty, the homeless, and previously unaccepted people a topic when composing and setting up lyrics. Each and every aspect of the human experience is important for him when creating music, though he emphasizes spirituality. Meanwhile he has had 26 albums published, the first of which he recorded for Word and Shawnee Press, before he founded "Brier Patch Music" in 1985. Brier Patch Music is his own publishing and recording company, which serves him to organize and schedule each of his events.

He is able to create songs on the spot, which means that sermons, people's stories or even singular words can inspire him to write and perform a song within minutes.

He performs in a wide range of events, national and world wide (church) congregations, campuses, youth gathering, annual assemblies. He often contributes to worship services. He lives in San Francisco, California.

References

* [http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/111802/tp8ew2.htm?date=111802&story=tp8ew2.htm Sun Herald]
* [http://www.baptiststandard.com/2001/4_23/pages/medema.html Baptist Standard]

Information given in this article refers to the links mentioned above as well as to the artist's webpage [http://www.kenmedema.com]

External links

* [http://graphics.christianbook.com/g/cms/5/1457575/STAFF_KEN_SM.jpgPhoto of the artist]
* [http://www.kenmedema.com/ Ken Medema's Official web site]
* [http://www.kenmedema.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=29 Selection of his albums as shown at his webpage]
* [http://www.kenmedema.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=189 Content of his album "Sea Change" released in 2007]
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sea+Change.-a0176374267 Review of SEA CHANGE]
* [http://www.kenmedema.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=181 Content of his album "25 to Life" released in 2006]
* [http://www.kenmedema.com/picturethis.asp Video file as shown at the artist´s webpage]
* [http://www.youtube.com/posmon99 artist´s appearances at youtube]

"2008"

* [http://blog.al.com/breaking/2008/05/video_record_crowd_at_huntsvil.html MAY 1ST, 2008: Video recording 20th annual Madison County/Huntsville prayer breakfast]
* [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/NEWS10/805100360 2008 Northwest Ohio Synod conference]
* [http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1209719716312840.xml&coll=1 Ken Medema receives CANDL Light Award 2008]
* [http://www.newburyportnews.com/pulife/local_story_106175723.html Review of his performance in Newburyport, April 2008]
* [http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_8859843 Review of his performance at Kurn Hattin Homes, Westminster, VT, April 9th, 2008]
* [http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=TyENZEbM3v4 "Jesus For President" You Tube, March 13th, 2008.]

"2007"

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Si4qJhCk4o "Speak out" You Tube, October 21st, 2007.]
* [http://media.elca.org/gracematters/gm070722.mp3 Radio interview at Gracematters, the Radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (July 22nd, 2007)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhtsB8SHHos Video file (recorded June 24th, 2007) as available at YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI6o7H1gF9U Video file (recorded July 28th, 2007) as available at YouTube]
* [http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item5738 Fund-raising activities for Evangelical Covenant Church in 2007]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzMPkt3iiqA Video file as available at YouTube, Artist´s song: "Come To This House"]

"Ken Medema singing at an Elementary School in San Francisco as can be watched on You Tube (November 29th,2007)"

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgcoEtAb9lQ Color A House]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iKqqnvE-s4 Wash My Hair]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL0-vfUiKHM Yes I am]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o86X7Lfn31c Rocking Chair]