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Entertainment

'Voices of Fire' Judge Dishes on the Infectious New Series

"Voices of Fire" is what 2020 needed. The new gospel musical documentary, executive produced by Pharell Williams, is an incredibly joyful competition. Anyone who likes "American Idol" will enjoy this new infectious series which highlights not only the singers' instruments, but their inspiring stories that got them to the stage. Just like "Idol" and "The Voice," both the contestants and the judges make the show a hit. Oh, and did I mention that the voices they found are heavenly? 

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In the show Bishop Ezekiel Williams, Pharrell's uncle, is out to create a 75-person gospel choir in Hampton Roads, VA. One of the judges is Patrick Riddick, but the gospel community knows him better as "The Prince of Choirs." The current choir leader of D’vyne Worship, Riddick was one of the most infectious parts about "Voices of Fire." He recently sat down to talk with Townhall via Zoom about his love for music, and the role it must play in church.

Riddick said he fell in love with gospel music as a child. His grandma would get an LP every pay period and come home with the latest gospel release, such as the latest record from gospel great Tom Whitfield. 

"She had a hifi system and open the lid and play it and I would find myself dragging my piano or getting my microphone and wanting to perform with the songs and it just created a thirst that consumed me and I never could get away from it," he explained.

That thirst was evident throughout the audition process for "Voices of Fire." Every time a competitor hit a high note – or a low note for that matter – Riddick was in the pews cheering. And in some cases he was even singing along. In the premiere Riddick can't resist jumping up on the altar with a contestant who was singing an opera song that he performed years ago for his senior recital.

"I hadn't sung opera in close to 20 years and they pushed me to go up there and that was definitely one of those gifts that came back out," Riddick explained.

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Throughout the show you can sense a camaraderie between not only the judges and contestants, but among the contestants themselves. Riddick said that was the case behind the scenes too.

"It was one of those things where no one wanted anybody to be left behind," he said. 

Riddick admits the pressure did get to some of the talented singers. But for most contenders it only pushed them to reach their full potential.

"The vast majority of those singers - they were thirsty, they were hungry, they wanted it," he recalled. "When they knew it was game time...they were bringing their A, B,C, game and D, E, and F. They were bringing every game they could because they did not want to go home."

"I wanted to buy a ticket to my own rehearsals," he added.

I asked Riddick to name a song that he would audition with if he was in their shoes. But he was reluctant.

"It wouldn't have been one," he laughed. "Believe it or not I'm very, very shy...but to play fair with your question it may have been 'Blessed Assurance'...My safety net would have been out of the hymn book."

"You're putting too much faith in me now!" he roared when I told him he could crush any song on his playlist.

I've heard a few of his musical runs during the show. He was being humble.

In the show Bishop Ezekiel Williams explains that while he can't always convince people to sit down and listen to a sermon, he finds that they're much more engaged when it comes to the music.

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"Music in the church is important because what it does is it causes the aspect of fellowship and corporate worship," Riddick explained. "Without music what it does is it just has you sitting there just listening to the preachers. But when you have music it causes everybody to clap, it causes everybody to smile and to participate and to sing. You've got to have that music."

Pharrell Williams wasn't exaggerating when he says in the teaser that this is going to be "the most awesome choir ever."

"Voices of Fire" is streaming on Netflix now.

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