I was raised in the small town of Hillsborough, NC & was taught to play at the age of 14 by my late mother, Joyce Long OBie. She rented a organ & shared her gift w/my late brother Charles & I the summer of '67. She not only shared her gifting, but also her dream for her children as she saw it happening in the future. Afterwards, there were church services, concerts & personal appearances. A book is in the works of her memories to be titled "THANKS MOM". In '71, I landed my dream job as keyboardist for Shirley Caesar which allowed me to travel all over the country (even Anchorage & Fairbanks, Alaska). A new world opened up to me as concert halls, auditoriums, hotels, churches, restaurants & gospel artists previously unknown to me became my new work environment. Needing a change, in '77, I took a break to persue an accounting degree at Durham Technical Community College. However, after graduation in '79, Shirley called and I accepted another year of work before stopping finally in '80 to write, produce and record my own music.    After a "live" session w/a choir, my family organized in '82 and released a 45 rpm entitled (I Never Shall Forget-side A & I'm Going Through-side B) was successful as it received airplay & sales that led to festivals, church concerts, television & our first album which was released in '85 on the Morada Records label of Nashville, TN entitled "Love". Weekly rehearsals fine tuned our sound.   Also during this time, I met Lettie Cohens, from Eden, NC. There are fond memories of services, recordings & going on the road w/this great woman of God. '87 proved to be the beginning of the "Fellowship Community Choir" which consisted of members from Burlington, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham & Raleigh, NC. Again, weekly rehearsals led to heightened exposure & a recording at my alma mata Orange High School in '88.   In '92, I moved to Charlotte, NC in and '96 released the cd entitled "Vision & A Message" on the Salexo Musiclabel . The production was assisted by my sister, Paula; brother Lyle, Sheryl, Teki & Joyce OBie. The later (2) are my children & the project was successful as "The Blood" & "Communion" became the featured songs. In '03, working w/another choir released the project entitled "Joyful Noise". '07 showcased the project entitled "Tragedy" (song of 9-11-01), also on Salexo & featured the favorites "Hillsborough (NC) USA" (story of my family's growing up in the '60's), "Your Love" (a smooth jazz instrumental), "Great Things" (a swinging piece featuring sax & classy background vocals), "Destiny" (story of a recent divorce & loss of a church job) & the churchy "What He's Done For Me".  Shirley Caesar recorded my ("Psalms 34")on the "He's Working It Out" project. Edwin Hawkins recorded ("Do You Know Him?", "The Blood" & "Make A Joyful Noise") w/the Seminar Mass Choir. I moved back home in '06 after the passing of my brother Charles. Union Baptist-Durham is now my church home, where I play organ weekly under the leadership of Kenneth Hammond.   '08 gave my present group of siblings (Paula, Lyle, Ricky & Ravon) the opportunity to release a long awaited project on our father, Elder Samuel B. OBie, entitled "On The Battlefield". I'm excited about music, family & life.  You can expect more music from us as we're having fun being together & sharing what we do best w/all.

We want you to get to more about Samuel, Paula, Lyle, Ricky & Ravon OBie & the heartfelt music we produce.