Growing up the son of a Gospel Singer, ultimately, helped shape my love for the music. I remember early in life writing or “making up” songs from time to time and singing them for the family. It wasn’t until 2002 around 19 yrs. old that I really felt the desire to write. At the time I was traveling with Phil Cross & Poet Voices. Mr. Phil didn’t realize it at the time but he was tutoring me in songwriting. Every so often he’d ask me to listen to a new song he’d written to get my opinion (as if I had an opinion! He wrote “Champion of Love”, When I get carried away”, etc) but I would let it all soak in; the changes he would make and why he was making those lyrical changes to the songs. Those moments were priceless and I’m thankful to have had them.

When Triumphant formed in late 2002 I wanted to write songs that we could sing. Many of my heroes, at the time, were doing that in their own groups such as; Rodney Griffin, Phil Cross, Mark Bishop, etc… So, me being 20 & ambitious… I went for it! Folks like Dianne Wilkinson, Rodney Griffin, Sue Smith, & Kenna Turner West have helped me greatly along the way.

Needless to say, at 20 years old, my biggest hurdle was the lack of life experiences… And still is. I’m not saying young people can’t write great gospel songs but I do believe that with life-lived experiences come even greater songs.

Many of the biggest songs in gospel music were birthed from a writer’s dark situations or pain. However, many come from the triumphs of overcoming those obstacles. Now, I’m not praying for terrible things to happen so a song will come from it but what I do pray is that God will use me, wherever I am in life, to the fullest.

I love this music, and I plan on writing and singing it, until the door closes.

Thanks to Scotty Inman for sharing a little bit of himself with us today! I certainly appreciate the gift he uses to inspire us all with the music God lays on his heart.