Music has the ability of being absorbed into the spirit in a way that words cannot. While growing up and singing in my uncle's church as a child, I would watch the adults, including my own parents, as they cried during my performances. It would not be until my adult years that I would truly understand the depth and meaning of it all – especially how deeply music affects us.

My gift of music has always been used in a way to entertain others on one hand, but now my path has led me to use my gift in a deeper way, to help and heal, to educate and uplift. It's a responsibility but one I am ready for with an open heart. I look around this world and witness the confusion, despair, loss of priorities in our communities and am strongly affected by the negative messages displayed on our televisions, newspapers, online media and radios, and wonder how this is shaping our children – the endless and relentless focus on money and unabashed materialism, the recent school shootings, divided families, terrorism, violence, the current war in Iraq (which personally hits close to home as my own sister is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq in the coming months).

Over the years I've listened to and learned from the true and affecting stories of friends, loved ones and strangers who have lost their way. This has awakened a heartfelt compassion that lives deep within a part of my spirit. The people I'm talking about, and hope to reach through my music, are those who have been marginalized -- the recovering and current drug addicts, ex- and current cons, runaways, the sexually abused, the depressed, sick, homeless, and others. Their life stories are often times shunned and ignored or not talked about because of others' judgment. These lives are real and common and can happen to anyone making us all "equal to one another."

But what we as a society sometimes forget is that we all are human beings with strengths and weaknesses; we all have the need to love and be loved, to have hope, faith, to heal, and at various times in our lives provide open arms, a willing ear and heartfelt support to others.

"Listen" is an expression of open arms that I hope will reach out to embrace and touch ALL PEOPLE no matter what their circumstances may be or what situation they may currently be struggling with in their lives. I hope that these arms of love and understanding can touch even the ones who have misplaced their hope and faith and I believe you can never truly lose them because they live inside each of us, reminding each of us that we are all Beautiful Ones.

I hope my music will wipe away tears and remind people that they are unconditionally loved, and that there is a greater purpose for everyone in life no matter how things may seem.
Terry Dexter