Ever since Father Ed Graves, pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne, became a priest 16 years ago, he has considered himself a “minstrel of God’s love.”
Often he sings and plays guitar during Mass, usually as meditations after the homily or the Eucharist.
“Music has always been a part of my ministry,” said Father Graves, who also serves as the pastor of St. Mary Church in McCrory.
In addition to performing, he has written his own songs. Five years ago he decided to record some of these songs for a CD.
The result is “The Minstrel — A Celebration of Praise,” a collection of 13 songs with spoken reflections between songs. The CD contains 22 tracks total, all written by Father Graves.
“The first songs I wrote in the early ’80s,” he said.
The collection begins with songs of praise, includes devotions to Mary, and closes with a song called “Together.”
The theme of the last song is “We all come together as God’s body — we’ll always be together in the love Christ gives us,” he said.
He chose the title for the CD because he likes the image of a medieval minstrel, singing and playing music for others.
“Jesus is the original minstrel, he calls people to continue his song,” he said. “We’re called to be minstrels of God’s love.”
St. Peter parishioner Millie Lace performs the harmonies on the CD.
“She has got a beautiful voice,” Father Graves said. “I brought her and her husband into the Church. He plays the bass, she plays the keyboard and sings. They both have a gift for music.”
Father Graves and Lace recorded the vocals in May at Raney Recording Studio in Drasco, near Heber Springs. Jon Raney, owner of the studio, produced and mixed the recording.
Tim Crouch, a professional musician who works through the studio, plays accompaniment on five instruments — violin, drums, mandolin, bass and guitar.
“(Recording the CD) was exciting,” Lace said. “But it was meticulous. You have to be very precise — that’s a challenge.”
Father Graves first became interested in music during the mid-1980s.
“I belonged to a prayer group, and we lost our guitarist,” he said. “Someone told me I could learn three chords and play.”
“When I could play ’Heartbreak Hotel,’ I was hooked,” he said.
In addition to Elvis, Father Graves considers John Michael Talbot as an influence, particularly his finger-picking style of guitar.
“But I’m not near as good,” he said.
Lace, a licensed professional counselor at Concepts of Truth, a pregnancy care and professional counseling center in Wynne, said she has always loved music.
Before converting to Catholicism, she and her husband both served in the music ministry of their former church.
“When we started attending St. Peter’s, I thought, ’This music is so different from what I’m used to,’” she said.
After praying about it and getting a response from the Holy Spirit, she and her husband decided to convert despite the difference, she said.
“The next weekend, Father Ed called,” she said. Even though Lace “had not told a soul” they played, Father Graves asked them to play with him after the homily, and they have played with him since then, she said.
Father Graves describes his music as having a strong Irish influence, but he’s not sure where it comes from.
“I’m a poet as well,” he said. “There’s a lot of poetic imagery in my songs.”
Lace said two of the songs, “I Believe in Summer” and “Sally,” sound more light-hearted.
“I Believe in Summer” compares the flow of God’s love to sailing or riding on a lake, and “Sally” is about a girl in New Orleans who chooses life for her baby, Lace said.
When Father Graves and Lace sang “Sally,” they would always put the accent on the second syllable, “Sall-y’,” even though they tried to put it on the first, she said. They ended up recording it with the unusual accent. Then a parishioner at St. Peter Church who has a doctorate in music told them she was so impressed they got the Cajun pronunciation of “Sally” right.
“It was supposed to be that way,” Lace said.
During his priesthood Father Graves has performed music at many different churches and events, including Farmfest in Wynne and the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival in Helena.
“Ever since I was in Helena (seven years before he came to Wynne), I sing a song during the Bluesfest on the radio,” he said.
He enjoys singing his own music, but adds “people love me most for my Elvis impersonation,” which includes “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog.” He even had the opportunity to perform in costume, for Bishop J. Peter Sartain, a Memphis native.
“It’s such a novelty for a priest to sing, especially an Elvis song,” he said. “It’s a way for me to relate to people outside church.”
He has also performed at the federal prison in Forrest City, where he serves as a chaplain.
“I did one concert there last year. The men had heard me play at Mass, so they were very excited. It went off very well,” he said.
He and Lace sang selections from the CD at the Arkansas Charismatic Conference, which was held Aug. 8-10, and at St. Peter and St. Mary churches.
The pair already has fans, with audience members buying CDs, requesting autographs and even writing “fan letters.”
“One guy wrote us a note and left it on his seat about how uplifting (the music) was,” Lace said. “We had had a lot of verbal response, but it was great that the guy took the time to write an encouraging note.”
Father Graves sees the collection as a “unified prayer service” and would like to be able to do performances of it in its entirety.
“I think it’s a worship experience with his meditations scattered throughout,” Lace said.
Father Graves does not charge for performances, but he does like to have CDs available for sale so he can cover the $5,000 it cost to record.
“After I recoup the cost (of recording), I want to use the proceeds to help the poor in parishes up here,” he said.
CDs of “The Minstrel — A Celebration of Praise” are $12, which includes shipping. To order or to schedule a performance, contact Father Graves by phone at (870) 208-7767 or 238-2613 (the St. Peter Church office), by mail at P.O. Box 517, Wynne, AR 72396, or by e-mail at fathered@sbcglobal.net.
