Screencaps by Abrra from 8throwcenter’s videos

I had a delightful lunch on Saturday, Feb 21, with Dayzee and Tawna21. I finally got brave enough to “get acquainted”. For any of you who haven’t met them, they are such a delight to spend time with. That experience has emboldened me to take another step and say a few words about David’s Roots Tech appearance. I have relied on second hand news from others so many times that I shouldn’t hesitate to do my own recap. From having been there, I know how much it means to his fandom to get any little drop of news.

I felt the excitement in the air….it was electric. Something BIG was going down here today! I told my friend, she could go do anything she cared to do. All I needed was to find Hall D and sit down. I was content to stay there til his 5:30 show now that I had my bright green wrist band. (I guess I became one of those “campers” I read about later).

What a delightful day! About every hour there was a new program. Each one planned to inspire and motivate us to want to search for our families. I enjoyed it so much that I decided I’d come again next year and try to take classes all three days. If any of you have ever attended an “Education Week”, it was the same sort of rich experience. If I’m physically able, I still plan to come again for all of it, although it will be like David’s “overload”. I always end up with a headache from cramming so much information into my noggin’.

I’m not good at guesstimating, but to me the room was like 4 football fields in width and 2 football fields in depth—I mean HUGE! They had at least eight jumbotrons that enlarged the action on stage and it seemed to us that we’d see just as good or better by finding one of those big things to watch it on. So we moved to the South section and were very satisfied with our decision. We missed out on much of the confusion over the center seating and fortunately stayed within the room. I understand many were turned away. That was sad to hear. When David is concerned, they should never overbook the room. Can’t help but hurt for those who may have traveled just for this and were unable to get in.

So, the Studio C came on stage and performed their little skit about talking to their grandmother about her history. She had lived a colorful life. When they discovered funny illegal activities she had been involved in, they quickly brought the interview with her to a close. Short and Sweet. From the applause we could tell there were many young fans there just for Studio C. I must admit the applause for Studio C was greater than for David at one point. You had to be young to appreciate them I think.

Studio C began some lip syncing and clowning around, then BANG out of nowhere came this…this…CRAZY person….I was lost. I’ve never heard “Jump” before. The character looked something like David, but then again it wasn’t him, was it? I had to ask my friend if THAT was David! She smiled and said yes. Then I understood the lip syncing and all fell into place. As I marveled at this character and what he was doing that I’ve never seen or heard David do, I thought to myself, “And this is someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention”????? Sure fooled me.

I struggle some as David talks. I so want to help him succeed and find the right words to fit the occasion. But I’ve realized his unique use of the English language helps identify him and sets him apart. He searched for truth in every word he uttered as he visited with us about his music.

First there was the video, “Nunca Pense” BEAUTIFUL. I can feel and hear the rumble of those drums that struck to my very core. Even now I yearn for them to pound louder and louder. So haunting. The actors were outstanding. The music, the facial expressions that had been “handed down” from generation to generation—like “Go ahead, pick up that guitar and play with me”. The little chin nudges a couple of times to encourage the person to “Continue trying, don’t give up”. “Good Job”. I’ve thought it would be wonderful and justifiable for David to receive some Latino recognition for his work on it, but if it does nothing but touch the hearts of children and turns them to their fathers it will have accomplished what it was meant to do.

“Glorious”, is just glorious. All of the melodies come together to create a symphony. (A similar theme as in “Nunca Pense” as each progenitor brings his piece to the puzzle, the symphony is completed).  “Mirror”, what an undertaking. So many words at such a pace. David did a masterful job. He always owns the covers he undertakes. We will all have a copy of that song in our own collections one day, too. “Don’t Run Away” finally sounds complete now that he has picked it up again. (It was good to see Kendra there on the piano and as a back up singer).

The live performance of the song “Nunca Pense” was the frosting on the cake and on the week of family searching. I have searched for my family for years. I work a bit, then let it rest, then pick it up again. Each time I begin again, new pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I have relatives dead and gone who help me in my search. I believe it to be true. They are as much a part of me as my own mother and father and I love learning about them. That’s what David’s music was about and what Roots Tech was about and “Ohhhhhhhh, It’s Glorious”!

Thanks to everyone on The Voice for your friendship and for loving and sharing David.