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He Blends Love Of God, Music

Tribune photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Harold Brewer is the organist at First Baptist Church of College Hill. He plays for nearly all of the choirs at the church.

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By JOINVILLE MICHEL and JOSEPH BROWN III

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2008

TAMPA - For Harold Brewer, conversation flows much like his fluid strokes on the organ he plays at First Baptist Church of College Hill.

If his life were a song, it would center on the touch points of his life: God, the organ and his days at what was then Bethune-Cookman College.

At Bethune-Cookman, Brewer, 61, mastered his craft. But it was his mother, who played the piano by ear and passed on that "gift of God," who inspired his passion for music.

"She got me started when I was 4 years old," Brewer said.

His mother was his inspiration, but renowned jazz organist Jimmy Smith was his musical role model.

Like Smith, Brewer plays using both his hands and his feet to create an orchestral sound that complements the choir.

"I love playing in the church. There's nothing else like it," Brewer said. And when he gets into the groove of a particularly poignant tune with his afro bobbing to and fro, he's not afraid to show his emotions.

"I'll tear up in a moment."

TO SEE HIM IN ACTION

If you want to check Harold Brewer out live, First Baptist Church of College Hill has services at 7:50 and 10:50 a.m. Sundays. The church is at 3838 N. 29th St., Tampa. For information, call (813) 248-6600 or go to www.fbcch.org.

DO YOU KNOW AN AWESOME MUSICIAN?

We'd like to hear about it. Go to TBO.com, Keyword: Organist, to share stories of your favorite local musician for future profiles.

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