My favorite pianist and one of my heroes, Roger Bennett, left this earth Saturday morning for his true home in heaven after a decade-plus long battle with leukemia. I watched the funeral live online as songs were sung, stories told, and tears shed.I first heard Roger play with the Cathedral Quartet when I was about three years old. I was hooked on Southern Gospel music from that day on. I wanted to sing in a gospel quartet and I wanted to play the piano just like Roger. I would listen to him play a line and work hard at getting it to sound just like he played it. When I decided to get a refresher course and took some piano lessons again in high school, the first lesson I had I brought in the sheet music to Roger’s arrangement of “Goodbye, World Goodbye” and told my instructor that I want to learn this song. I’ve played that arrangement all across the Southwest now proud to be playing a song that Roger played. His piano skills were still far superior to mine but I’m practicing hard and will continue to learn from Roger as I become better at my piano playing.
As I said, Roger was diagnosed with leukemia about 12 years ago. From the start, he wasn’t about to shy away from telling the stories that went along with treatments including the highs and lows. He wrote some of the most powerful songs during these years of his life. I followed every update reading his weblog daily. I prayed just like thousands of others around the world for him. He was one of the most optimistic people I knew and His faith was strong. Truthfully, when I had days that were not exactly great, I would remember Roger and how if he could go through his hard times trusting God, so can I. He really is a hero to me. After chemotherapy, radiation, three bone-marrow transplants, dialysis, and other medications, his body was just too weak to continue. He went home peacefully at age 48 and though I’m sad to no longer have this mentor, pianist, singer, humorist, and songwriter around, I thank God that he is home, free from pain and cancer and hospitals.
Roger, thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the laughter and tears. Thank you for helping me truly see how we are always in God’s grip! Thank you for the songs. Thank you for your time with the Cathedrals and Legacy Five. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me after the concerts you performed at. Most of all, thank you for loving Jesus and sharing His message so freely. As the song you loved to sing says, “At the ultimate healing, you are home free!”
