Funky, From Now On

by Funky

Overview

This is a story that will not leave you indifferent. You will identify with each one of the details, anecdotes and episodes in the life of Luis Marrero, better known as “Funky.” In this book you will find that behind his greatest achievements there are great stories that few people know about. In his honest way, Funky will take us to the most intimate places of his heart, his family and his dreams. “From Now On: The true story of Funky” is a book that will confront you and challenge you to understand and continue along the paths that God uses to take us to our destinies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780829763065
Publisher:	Vida
Publication date:	11/06/2012
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	15 - 18 Years

About the Author

Funky is currently known as one of the principal performers of Christian reggae music, with four albums to his credit and multiple projects as a producer. He has been nominated for several music industry awards on a global level, including the Latin Grammy. Funky currently lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife and children, and from there he directs the operations of Funkytown Music Inc. producing his own albums and those of several well-known singers in the reggae genre.

Read an Excerpt

FUNKY, FROM NOW ON

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By Funky

Zondervan

Copyright © 2012 Funky
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8297-6306-5

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Chapter One

FUNKY FROM NOW ON

My Status

Relax, Funky Was Getting Ready Like Comment Share

"Funky returns to report I know many have been asking themselves About the project and why it was falling behind Relax, Funky was getting ready!"

Have you ever tried to turn on the TV, and after a while discovered that it simply wasn't plugged in? The cord was just disconnected. There are a lot of people who live their lives that way.

It was a difficult time ... I couldn't write the lyrics for even one song. I didn't feel any inspiration. I felt an emptiness inside me. And why deny it? I felt alone. During this long "creative drought" a lot of people were asking me about my new album. "What's going on? Why is there no new material? What is taking so long?"

And my answer was always the same: "I'm preparing something special."

But one day I refused to continue being like that. I realized that I was no longer communicating with God as before, and I began to pray. This time not just to do my duty as a Christian, but because I really needed to talk with God. When I locked myself in that room and realized that I wasn't plugged in or connected, I began to feel something different that flooded my whole being. It was necessary to get plugged in again. I needed to "reconnect." That is how I came to feel "the flow" of God in me once more. It was like a river that brought new songs.

Due to my many activities, I had gradually ceased talking to God the way I used to talk to Him. Every day I connected with my friends and my family, but I had ceased connecting with my Creator, the source from which all creation flows. I had neglected the depth of that relationship, until I confessed to Him face to face how I felt. I talked to Him, and I said, "Here I am again."

Since I was young, I always tended to try to get ahead of things. I always wanted to mature faster. Grow beyond my years. And that's why I started to organize new things without consulting my Creator. I wanted to do everything. Little by little I started filling my time with other activities and put aside my communion with God and my time to write.

I had to learn to put my life in order, to dare say NO—a word that not everybody likes to hear but is necessary in order to have a healthy life. I couldn't afford to make the same mistake. I couldn't afford to leave out the important things, and I needed new priorities. I needed to focus again, but I could only do it with help and guidance from God.

During the run up to this defining moment, many friends who were singers starting up in the ministry were coming to ask me for help. They would say, "Funky, here's my album and I want to launch it. Can you help me?" And of course, since I didn't dare say no, I ended up committing myself to almost everybody.

So that's how I got involved in so many projects of "reggaetoneros" who wanted my help. And while I really wanted to help out, I wasn't ready to start a business with that purpose. But I did it anyway.

I must confess I'm not that good at being a manager. My wife, Wanda, has that gift. I'm sure that those young men and the people around them expected more from me, more than what I really could do. Perhaps they thought that through my experience and contacts in the music industry they'd be able to have the same impact, but that wasn't happening. As much as I tried pushing them, the truth is that I didn't have a magic wand. Only God can accomplish some things.

I tried with all my heart to help them. I tried with all my strength and even with my finances. My commitment and conviction led me to try even the impossible, so that they might have a chance at the success and recognition I enjoyed. I would take them on trips with me, introduce them to the music producers. I moved heaven and earth to try to help them, but I couldn't support them financially. I helped them produce their material, paid for the musical arrangements, helped them with their lyrics, but I couldn't do anything else. And I had my own family to support.

Some of them began to feel dissatisfied. When they demanded more from me ... I couldn't respond. They brought me their complaints and didn't accept my answers. They didn't understand, although I must admit that I also didn't understand Gods timing.

At the same time, my own career was on the rise. I was getting invited to more and more concerts and events. There were many trips and tours, there was success, and they thought I was making money with their material. This created a lot of conflicts and a lot of disappointment. I was thinking to myself, "They don't realize that I'm helping them, that I'm doing everything possible, but ..." I cried in front of my wife as I told her, "If only they could understand that I'm not God, that I cant do any more for them." Their work sold very poorly. Too many people were complaining, until I couldn't cope anymore. At that point, I fell into a deep depression, from around 2006 to 2007.

My tears were my greatest companions. I cried over everything. At that time I was living through the high point in my ministerial success. It was a time filled with work. But even though I was doing what I liked, when I got home I would start crying. Every time I had to take an airplane, even though I enjoyed the ministry, I didn't want to go, and I would start crying again.

The depression I was experiencing was so great, my relationship with my family began to deteriorate. They couldn't talk to me. I just wanted to be alone, locked in my house. At that point, I started being asked to submit new material, and I had nothing.

My latest Album "Running to Win" had sold very well, and my record company, Canzion, was asking me when I would have my next album ready. But I had nothing. I thought that those I had devoted so much time to would help me put together my new material, especially when everything seemed so difficult. But there was no one. Everybody had disappeared, and I had never felt so alone. After becoming a Christian, everything had gone well, but now I had to live through this time of great loneliness—despite the fact that I was surrounded by people.

Even though I was feeling terrible, I continued with my task. I didn't stop. I continued singing in front of thousands of young people. But over time I came to realize that the worst mistake a leader can make is to try to make everybody believe he has everything under control when in fact he doesn't.

One night, I started having chest pain, and I felt really awful. That's when Wanda told me: "I cant stand this anymore. We have to do something." That day she took me to see a doctor, and the doctor told me that I couldn't continue travelling, that I needed a break and that everything I was going through was due to great stress. The next step was to cancel several concerts that were already scheduled, which led to some threats of lawsuits.

Can you imagine what the quality of my prayers looked like during this time? The words coming out of my mouth were something like this: "Lord, I thank you for this day. Amen." My mind and my heart were overwhelmed by exhaustion and by the great pressure that I was experiencing.

With a lot of effort I was able to write a few songs, and they were received very well. People still sing them, even though they don't know what I was going through when I wrote them. I felt like the title of my previous album, "Running to Win." I saw myself running to win the battle, a battle within myself. Its fascinating to see it now from afar, because in truth I never stopped running.

One of the songs says, "Follow Him, don't stop." But now I've come to realize that there are times when we have to stop running in order to start walking. At the end of the song I say: "Keep running, when you cant run then walk, and when its difficult to walk, then use a cane, but don't stop."

Amid all that emotional and spiritual turmoil, Wanda phoned my mom and my dad in Puerto Rico, bought two airplane tickets for them to come to Orlando, where I live, and we took a vacation with the whole family. Wanda thought that the best way to spend time with the family and rest would be to take a nice cruise. And so it was.

The fact that my mother was nearby was very important to me. She has always been a refuge of love for me; she has always been there for me.

The beautiful cruise travelled to the Bahamas, Mexico and Jamaica. Those seven days I was completely disconnected, without medicine or pressure and stress. The first few days were difficult. It was tough for me to be able to enjoy things. My dad—my moms husband—makes me laugh a lot, and to see him play with my children was really wonderful. It brought me a lot of peace.

During the cruise I had several experiences with God. I reestablished my communication with Him. I spent time alone at the top level of the vessel, and while watching the ocean I resumed a dialogue with the Lord. During one of those moments I looked down towards the lower levels and saw people in one of the halls dancing and enjoying the trip. Then I looked outside and saw only darkness over the water. I understood suddenly that they were able to have fun, because someone else was in control of that huge vessel, guiding it through the dark seas

I realized at that moment what I needed to do with my life: Enjoy the trip and understand that there is a Captain who is in charge. I don't have to worry, He will take me to wherever I have to be. That's when new songs began to be born, with fresh lyrics that flowed and a desire to work. Gradually my prayer life began to be again as it was at the beginning. I began to connect again with The Source. I woke up to the reality of knowing that when the whole world is gone, He is the one who remains.

During the four years I wasn't recording I continued living off the concerts, the music Id already created, while I was writing new songs. During that time of reconnection new creations emerged, such as "She Wants Them to Look at Her." This was a song I co-wrote with my friend Redimi2. He knew what I was going through and wanted to help me. At that time I also wrote "I Know I Will Win," which says:

    "I have fought a thousand battles
    I have beaten the giants
    Today I continue towards the goal
    With my Boss up front
    But I know that there's much
    Territory to win, territory to win
    That there are more giants waiting
    And Ill have to knock them down

    Chorus
    But I know I will win ... I will win
    And at the end I will arrive ... I will arrive
    In the battle I will conquer ... I will conquer
    And my dream I will reach ... no one will stop me

    I know I will win I can assure you
    Even if the road gets hard
    Even if I go through the dark valley

    I can tear down the walls
    Though men don't want to give me a break
    Though they want to judge me by their law
    What I have is not sold in Ebay
    Don't forget I'm a son of a King
    I don't quit I stay in the fight
    I keep going forward cause I know who has my back
    I stay in the boat even if the tide rises
    Even if things get ugly

    In my life I've had times of sadness and joy
    Times of abundance and need
    But I understand its not my ability
    What I have is by His grace and goodness
    I've had to laugh
    I've had to cry
    I've had to seek forgiveness and forgive
    I know the mountain is high, I have to climb
    That there's a long way to go"

Its another one of the songs that reflected who I was. This song inspired me greatly, and I felt like it was my anthem. Three years later, I included it with my new material.

Another song I recorded was titled "Don't Talk to Me About Problems." This one emerged during an economic crisis and several other situations that brought adversity to my life. Part of the lyrics say:

    "Don't talk to me about problems
    About crisis or recession
    Because I will not listen
    I don't want these things to distract me
    And cause me frustration
    I have to move on
    Cause my life's not based on money
    But on conviction
    That's why I must ignore
    The comments that speak of defeat
    The world is in crisis
    But God is never broke

    My identity is not in what I own
    I have security in the things I don't see
    I only put my faith in the Almighty
    And they can take my car
    But they cant take my joy
    They can take everything
    Even take me out of my house
    But I remain calm
    Cause I wont fall behind"

Through all these situations, I realized that God was always with me. I remember that I changed the title of my album several times. One title was "Plugged In." That is how I felt. Then lots of things started happening, like when someone stole my computer and I lost a lot of songs Id already written. And I said, "Lord, what is happening to me?" I didn't understand what was happening. My life was full of struggles, but in my inner self I didn't lose my desire to sing. Quite the contrary, I was able to see all those things as material to write about. It was like I had a reset button.

When I felt that I had enough material to tell my story during those four years, we launched the album called "Reset." Those who heard it know that this work reveals who I am and all the valleys I had to cross. On this CD there is a very special song titled "Only You," in which I sing to the Lord with these words:

    "I learned that the concept I had
    Of what it means to be a friend
    Was mistaken
    A real friend is he who comes
    When all the fake ones have already left
    Its not he who comes because of what you have
    And stabs you in the back as I've experienced
    But he who stands ready to sacrifice himself
    And stays forever at your side

    He who asks me how I'm doing
    If I'm well, if something's wrong
    If I feel like laughing
    If I feel like crying
    He who helped me stand up
    When I was troubled

    He who extended his hand
    And not to point
    He who explains if I don't understand
    Who helps me walk
    Only you have remained
    And its good that you've not forsaken me"

When I recorded this song, I did it to get it out of my system, because I don't feel sad anymore. I'm not fighting any battles. Right now I feel very happy. I went through these struggles and they helped me mature. That's why when I sing this song I remember my experiences and my truth. Now I say, "This is truly the album I wanted to sing."

During that time I bought a piano, and I put it in my living room at home. That's where the chords of some new songs were born, including "Just in Time," "Only You," and "I Need You," which goes like this:

    "A look at the floor, a couple of tears
    Delay my flight towards happiness
    So today I look at the heavens
    And I receive peace along with comfort
    And security

    CHORUS
    //I need you to reach what I cant see
    And what will come
    I need your hand
    Great Sovereign with your peace
    I will dare fly//

    Over all evil I rise
    Over the wind that disturbs the peace I rise
    Over all trials and storms I rise
    Over all strife and anxiety I rise
    I dream about wings, I don't dream about capes
    Reality teaches you, fantasy traps you
    I don't want to fantasize while life escapes me
    I chose to fly over all that the sun covers"

These wonderful lyrics were written by Alex Zurdo. One day I called him and told him what I was going through. "I feel like this, but at the same time I feel like this and this. I want a song that says that I can dare to fly over everything that's happening to me." My friend interpreted all that I felt and wrote this wonderful song. Some friends have always been there, I must admit. People like Redimi2, Alex Zurdo and Vico C, who wrote "Today."

    "Today I'll walk in a different direction towards a new location
    I will guide my steps where its worthwhile
    And I will follow the one they call the great I AM
    Today I'll discover what's suffocating me
    I'll crush the giant who's been killing me
    And I'll choose the best road to travel

    CHORUS
    Today I'll know who my enemy is
    And those who don't tell the truth
    I'll discover who is the friend
    Who keeps me from evil
    Today I'll know my destiny
    And what belongs to me
    I'll discover if along the road
    There's living water to keep me from dying

    Here I am today

    Today I have power, I have light, I have a new day
    I have a new direction, I have wisdom
    More than ever, I realize where I am
    Today a new life is being built in me
    The veil has been removed from my eyes so I can understand
    Now instead of taking from others I give my own life"

With this song I discovered that what matters is not what I haven't done, but what I'll do from now on, because now I look at where I'm going.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from FUNKY, FROM NOW ON by Funky Copyright © 2012 by Funky. Excerpted by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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