Ishmael: From Jesus music to punk to children's minister to CofE Deacon

Wednesday 20th July 2011

Tony Cummings chronicles the extraordinary musical journey of grizzled veteran ISHMAEL



Continued from page 2

"Father God I Wonder" even ministers to Ishmael himself. "If I'm going through difficult times, it brings back a few memories that cheer me up a little. Various times, various memories. Even when they sing it in a different language, it's still very special. One of the most touching things was Roy Castle, before he moved upwards and onwards, I went to one of his last concerts, and they played that in a jazz club in London, and it was beautiful the way Roy did it - a jazz feel with it. I wanted Kingsway to make an album called 'Father God I Wonder' and put all different recorded versions on it. One of the things that made it so popular is there's very few songs where you can vary the speed: you can either play it slowly, or you can play it fast. It works both ways. On the 'Revived' CD, I sung the chorus to the music of the verse, and it all fits! You can shuffle it all round and do anything you like with it really."

In 1986 the cassette 'Ishmael's Antique Collection' was released. Explained the veteran, "It had been 13 years since Ishmael & Andy had finished and I still felt that a lot of the wacky sons we sung all those years ago maybe enjoyed by a new generation. I grabbed a bunch of men (hardly choirboys) and dumped them at the studio to help me re-live the old days. It ended up like a cross between the Worzels and a rugby song ensemble." Originally released as 'Antique Collection' it was subsequently re-issued as 'A Sting In The Tale'. "It's a must for anyone with a warped sense of humour," observed Ish.

Also released in 1986 was 'Ishmael's Family Praise Favourites'. The singer, whose gruff, hoarse tones were never the most musical of instruments, described it as "the last of the best of other people's songs albums I was to do, not because I didn't like other people's songs, it was because I found them so hard to sing."

By 1987 Ish was a member of the Pioneer stream of churches founded by famed charismatic house church leader Gerald Coates. To help fund various Pioneer initiatives including ACET, an organisation to help those suffering from AIDS, Ishmael released a compilation of some of his best known recordings. The cassette was ironically called 'Subtle As A Sledgehammer'. Also released in 1987 was 'Ishmael's Scripture Praise Party'. Said Ishmael, "All good Christians believe that it's important to read the Bible, but so few know many Scriptures off by heart, me included. My memory is worse than a sieve so if the truth is know there was a bit of selfish motivation in this album as I really put tunes to Scripture verses so that I could remember them."

The growth of Ishmael's ministry to become by far the most popular Christian children's worker in Europe was phenomenal. "We were now doing large events with masses of children. One such event meant that we could have in our care up to 1000 children for six hours a day for three weeks. Sounds like Heaven, doesn't it?! We never agreed with just babysitting kids whilst their parents get taught, I believe these young ones are little soldiers who need their own training in a fun way and in a way which they can relate to. The albums 'Training Up The Troops 1 and 2' and 'Songs For Little Troopers' were part of my training programme."

Continued the singer/songwriter, "Here were songs about spiritual warfare, hurts, battles and victories. I also included some instrumental tracks where we would do some keep fit (or worship workouts as my friend Rich Hubbard would call them) to tone up the body as well as the soul, mind and spirit. That old chestnut Andy Piercy appeared back alongside me in the studio to help on the production, and there's no doubt about it, the troops albums knocked my recording ministry into another gear. My keyboard player at this time was a young, very enthusiastic, fresh faced gentleman who showed more than average interest in what Andy was doing. His name was Tim Jupp (later of course to find fame with Delirious?). Tim was a very quick learner, so much so that the production of my next six recordings were going to be left in his more than capable hands." Jupp in fact recorded the all instrumental album of Ishmael song medleys 'Hooked On Ishmael'.

In 1991 the first Ishmael Christmas CD was released, 'Ishmael's Christmas Carol Celebration', offering typically bouncy renditions of yuletide evergreens. The veteran recounted how his next album came into being. "I was going through a strange stage of life where I kept hearing something 'n' something, ie, Guns 'n' Roses, Chas 'n' Dave, Fish 'n' Chips, Ishmael 'n' Irene, so the natural progression in my mind was 'Praise 'n' Glories'. I had some friends who owned a hotel, so I hired a room for 24 hours and returned the next day with all the songs I needed. I love deadlines, they are what inspire me. 'Praise 'n' Glories' is still one of my favourite albums, fairly rocky, but packed with variety which I believe someone once wrongly claimed was the spice of life."

In 1992 Ish's 'Children's Hymn Celebration' was released. Commented Ish, "There will always be discussion about old hymns; are they relevant, etc, to today's society. My answer is of course they are. it's just the way they are played and a few olde English words that date them. I dug up some very old songs I used to sing when I was a kid which for the most part had very good lyrics, then we gave them the same treatment that the Christmas carols had received a year earlier."

Ishmael: From Jesus music to punk to children's minister to CofE Deacon

Ishmael spoke about the background to his next album, 'Ishmael USA'. "There has always been something about America that has fascinated me. Irene and our children Joseph, Daniel and Suzy often encouraged me to go there for a holiday, but I refused. The reason was I did not want to relax there till I had worked there. Then the Lord opened the way for many visits and also for a USA album. The music was recorded in the UK with Tim Jupp producing. Then a little band of us began our pilgrimage to the heat and tropical storms of Florida with massive great reels of tape under our arms to Malcolm Wild's church to let the American children do the vocals. It worked a treat, and again proved to be a hot seller in the UK. But they never released it in America!"

The USA might have resisted the veteran's gruff voiced charms but in the UK Christian bookshops the albums continued unabated. Alongside Ishmael's 'Joyful Noise For Girls And Boys' (1994), 'Ish's Bible Belters' (1996), 'Wakey Wakey, Sleepy Sleepy' (1997) there were the handsome double CD compilation 'Ishmael 25 Years On' and even re-issues of Ishmael United/Rev Counta & The Speedoze and Ishmael & Andy.

By the dawn of the new millennium a new series of albums '12 New Children's Praise Songs' showcased the Praise Party veteran singing alongside such acts as Dave Bilbrough, Aaron Frith (of Sabio), T-Girl, Andy Bromley, Geraldine Latty and Noel Richards (Ish and Noel releasing two albums - one a Christmas project). These coupled with a stream of compilations including two 'Ish In The Box' box sets, rather flooded the marketplace. Then in 2007, the same year that his book of Bible readings A Year According To Ishmael was published, the tireless troubadour experienced an unexpected crisis. He recounted, "I got leukaemia. I'd been touring a lot, very tired, but apart from that fine. I did a radio interview down in Brighton, and I came back and saw black spots on my tongue; I felt embarrassed. I thought I'd better go and see a doctor. The following day I saw a nurse, and the nurse said, 'I think you should see a doctor', then he said, 'I think you should go to the hospital.' This all happened within half an hour. I said, 'I'll walk, it's okay. I'm fine, I'm fit.' I went to the hospital; they gave me a blood test and found I had five white blood cells left. They explained to me that I was dying, and could die within a day. I didn't know I was ill. The shocking thing was when the consultant said to me, 'You've got to cancel your diary for a year'. That's what shocked me, not that I was dying, but that I had to cancel my diary. I thought, I can't do that, I've got Spring Harvest next week! It didn't hit me for a little while."

In hospital the enormity of what had befallen him suddenly hit home. "Lying in hospital changing my blood over I started thinking. I came to the decision was I willing to die. I'd preached all the time, I believe in Heaven, I'm going to be with Jesus, but I had to check myself - did I believe that? Then suddenly it all came - yes I do believe that. But then came the bigger question, am I willing to live? The point was, for the next two or three years it was going to be hell, because I was going to be packed with chemotherapy, and chemotherapy's horrible. It's a leveller, you don't get excited, mouth dry, all sorts; I've had that for two and a half years now. Was I willing to live, or would it be easier just to go and live with Jesus now? You can give in. These wonderful memories: I've got a wonderful family, wonderful ministry, people to pray for me, and all these great things going on, I thought, no I don't want to die yet! I've been fighting it ever since, and praise God. I'm off the chemo now and in remission but of course the cancer could return, that's why I make the most of every day."

Ish continued, "We've heard all these Holy Spirit songs, and up until then I've always believed the way God heals is through supernatural means; I've never had to be in hospital before. But then I suddenly saw how God uses medicines, science, doctors, nurses - and he still performs miracles through using these wonderful people. That's changed my thinking."

In 2008 the independent album 'Revived' clearly demonstrated that there was still a lot of rock 'n' roll fire left in the veteran. Containing punchy new versions of oldies like "Bartemaus", "I Am Just A Charismatic" and "Little Troopers" and a recasting of "Father God I Wonder".

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Reader Comments

Posted by Dave griffiths in Bournemouth @ 14:25 on Jul 21 2011

What a great article honouring a man whose legacy is huge. Thanks Tony, and thank you Ishy for all you've invested across many generations. Big love to you mate.



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