Kem

 

There is an angel at my church. He can be seen singing in the church choir from time to time. His name is Kem. Kem Owens is the quintessential gospel, jazz, and R&B artist of the new millenium.

Kem takes time out of his busy schedule to give free concerts to benefit our church and the homeless. He gave a free day long event called “Kem Live at Mack and Third: A Call to Service,” which took place in August 2009. The purpose of the community service event was to gather food for the area’s homeless shelters and food banks, to provide a getaway for Detroiters from the stresses of the economy, to feed the homeless, and to encourage people to get involved with volunteerism.

Kem had a happy childhood. He told Ebony that he was raised in a “professional, middle-class family.” He left his parents’ home when he was nineteen years old. “And I left as a teenager who was lost, depressed, insecure, full of fear, and trying to mask all of that with alcohol and drugs.” Kem’s descent into homelessness was gradual.

Kem spent most of his homeless days in the Cass Corridor. “I was down in the corridor doing the shuffle,” he told the Detroit Free Press. Kem’s homelessness was a result of his addiction. He was sleeping near a newspaper printing plant next to the Detroit River when he bottomed out and turned to God.

“God was waiting on me,” the singer told Ebony. “There was no flash of light or anything. I was just tired, and I didn’t know how to fix it.” The first step in Kem’s recovery was to seek help. He joined a recovery program, and he also joined the Renaissance Unity Church in Warren, MI.

During Kem’s period of recovery, the second most important thing that Kem did was to reunite with some of his old musical friends. Kem’s ascension to national prominence was mostly due to the hard work that he put into the enterprise of self-promotion. The Kemistry album was a huge success. “With my stuff, you have to pay attention to the words,” Kem explained to the Michigan Chronicle. “There is not a lot of kick behind it, not a whole lot of driving beat.” People are drawn to Kem’s four-octave range. He is truly a magnificent talent.

Kem’s second album, Kem: Album II, was very successful as well. He is working on his third release now. The third album will be released in 2010.

Kem has come to peace with his drug addicted past. “The rough spots in our lives gives us character,” he explained to Jet. “I don’t regret the past…it’s an integral part of who I am.” He told the Detroit News, “What I’m most grateful for is that I didn’t give up. Don’t quit before your miracle happens.”

We have all been touched by an angel.

Peace and Love,

Rachel Araya