Bishop Paul S. Morton latest CD project, “Legacy: Live in New Orleans” is both a homecoming and a farewell - of sorts.
It’s Morton’s last solo project. Note, the word “solo” here.
The award-winning Morton has left the door open to collaborate with other artists, perhaps adding the name “Bishop Paul S. Morton presents…”
Here’s the homecoming part - “Legacy” was recorded live in his beloved New Orleans, where he and wife, Pastor Debra Morton, co-pastor Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church.
Simply, he wanted to close where he started. He started a new ministry in Atlanta after Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.
Bringing the old and the new together, he’s backed up by a combination of choirs from St. Stephen and Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he serves as senior pastor.
“God has been good to me these last 40 years,” said Morton. “I don’t want to keep singing until I can’t sing. I want to end strong. Twelve tracks is a lot you have to learn and lay down. I thank God for a good run.”
The 15-track CD also includes performances by Pastor Shirley Caesar, Rance Allen, Tasha Cobbs Lisa Knowles and Zacardi Cortez. His son, PJ Morton, also appears on the CD.
Longtime friend and producer Trent Phillips and Morton perhaps considered at as many 100 songs before narrowing it down to 15 that would bring his legacy album full circle.
“I just have so many favorites there,” he said. Some of the standouts include “Keeping Me Alive”, “Bow To The Name” and “God Has Been Good.”
Making its way up the charts is the uptempo, New Orleans-flavored “Watching Over Me’, which not only acknowledges the presence of God but angelic protection.
Morton is also looking beyond the music. He plans to retire as a pastor in 2020 when he is 70.
He retired last year as the presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, which he founded over two decades ago.
He’s also working on another book, but doesn’t plan to give up preaching. “People think when you retire it’s over,” he said. “It’s not. It’s just God has other things for you to do. I’m going to continue to preach. Preaching is the easiest part of pastoring. You don’t have to deal with budgets and all that. I can preach all day long. I can preach to two or three people. I’m going to continue to preach until I can’t preach no more.” “
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