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 in the music business. Afterwards, there were church services, concerts & personal appearances as her vision began to manifest. My book is finished of her memories to be titled "THNX MOM". This was quite an experience as the process caused me to relive life as we saw it from her perspective and what she desired for her children. There's also a News of Orange County article that I was interviewed for in 2005 by staff writer Phillip Scott about my song "Hillsborough (NC) USA". When this song came, I knew it was time to leave Charlotte, NC and move back home. 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. It was exciting working with James Cleveland, Walter Hawkins & the Family, Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Caravans, Willie Neal Johnson & the Gospel Keynotes, the Angelics & many other national & local artists. Charles & I had the opportunity to play "The Apollo Theatre" on two occasions.  Those were special nights.  President Jimmy Carter had "Gospel On The East Lawn". There's a beautiful photo on my wall of that day w/a line & signature from President Carter that says "best wishes to Samuel OBie..Jimmy Carter.  Charles did a movie with Shirley, traveled w/her to Germany & Israel. Moms vision was in high gear. 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) which was successful as it received airplay from local dj Alton Sumner & sales that led to festivals, church concerts, television & our first album release in '85 on the Morada Records label of Nashville, TN entitled "Love". We opened for Bobby Jones & New Life @Durham High School auditorium, Thomas Whitfield & Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Bobby Jones invited us to Nashville in '91 where we made our first national television appearance. Weekly rehearsals fine tuned our sound.   Also during this time, I met Pastor Lettie Cohen, 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 our Salexo Music label .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. Mebane's Chapel UHC is now my church home.  '08 gave my present group of siblings (Paula, Lyle, Ricky & Ravon) the opportunity to release a long awaited cd project on our father, Elder Samuel B. OBie, entitled "On The Battlefield". You may hear me on the Hammond Organ each Sunday @St Paul AME, downtown Raleigh. "The Voice", about the Hammond organ & "Things My Mom Said" r 2 columns written recently. I'm excited about music, family & life.