Angela’s…”Prayer”

 

Angela’s…"Prayer"

Angela Freeman’s smile rarely takes a break.

Angela has a job she enjoys and is the bass player for Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band, a local group gaining momentum with each weekend gig. The group performed last weekend at Finlay Park for the Chords for Kids Benefit. The band’s new album, "World Unknown" is a success.

Angela won the job in an audition last September and fell in love with the rock star lifestyle immediately. She likes playing, practicing, and especially benefit concerts. "That’s why God gave me talent. To help others."

She is engaged to her "soul mate" Cory Plaugh, a local musician, sound engineer, and music producer whose talent is definitely surfacing.

They were friends in junior high before Angela’s family moved to Pelion. After coming back to Columbia as an adult, Angela saw Cory’s My Space account, and the couple became reacquainted.

After Angela went to hear Cory’s band one night, she has been his constant companion since. Now the two play guitar for the Folk Hop band.

But Angela’s life has also had sadness. Last summer, after a friend of Angela’s lost her husband and Chris Conner succumbed to his battle with cancer, Angela started putting some words together to express the sadness she was feeling.

Dodie Teasley is the long time partner to Richard Freeman, Angela’s dad. Angela’s parents divorced when she was eight, and Dodie has been like a second mother. In March of this year a car accident killed three young people. One of those was Laura Ashley Boone, Dodie’s 19- yearold daughter.

Angela and Cory worked around the clock to finish the song "Prayer" before the funeral, only two days away. A CD was delivered in the early morning of the funeral, finished, and recorded.

After hearing the song at Ashley’s funeral, friends and members of her family called Angela asking for a copy. She gave the song to anyone who wanted it and is currently working to get "Prayer" on iTunes. As she says, helping others with their bad days is why she is here.

An excerpt from "Prayer"

I know you don’t want
me to cry,
But I don’t want you to
be just a memory.
Honey you know you
did everything right,
I hope you are saving
a place for me.

"Prayer" is available on Songs for the Spirit, the Musicians and Songwriter’s Guild’s new CD. Check scsongwriters.com for more information. World Unknown, and other Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band CDs are available at local music stores and the internet.

Visit www.folkhopband.com for more information.