AMAZED Album

“As we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of our first album, The Gift in May 2014, we thought it only fitting to release our next album AMAZED in May of 2024. The songs on this album cover a wide-variety of styles which spans my time serving in Youth Ministry, Social Justice Ministry, and as Director of Music Ministry at St. Michael Parish in Canton. Many songs were composed as theme songs for Diocesan Youth Conventions, several pieces were influenced by homilies delivered during Mass. Additional inspiration came from the loss of friends and coworkers.

Creating and composing this album has been a labor of love with support from both my home and church families! This album would never have come to fruition without the talents of so many musician friends who shared their talents on this project. Thank you all for your time and talents!

  • Audio Engineer: Tim Benner
  • Bass guitar: Joe Smithberger
  • Brass section: Alexandra K. Castaneda, Maggie Cushing, and Dominic Sheridan (JHS players)
  • Flute: Angela Keller
  • Guitars: Tim Benner, Mike Franzen, Michael Lane, Kirk Lombardi, and Bill Schweizer 
  • Keyboards: Jeff Fricker
  • Percussionists: Tim Benner, Quebec Gibbins, Ronnie Gillard, and Jack Street
  • St. Michael School Children’s Choir
  • Vocalists: Kaitlin Belden, Christina Benner, Hannah Fricker, Monica Harmon, Angela Keller, and Libby Saxton.

Thank you to all who participated and supported this endeavor across the past 10 years including our St. Michael office staff, Rev. Benson Okpara, Ph. D., former Pastor Rev. Donald E. King, and the late Bishop George Murray.”

~ Jeff Fricker

16 Song Album
Released May 2024
Available now on all popular streaming services, including: Deezer, iHeart Radio, and Pandora.

Amazed

Amazed was composed for the 2014 Diocese of Youngstown Youth Convention.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Guitar – Bill Schweizer, Kirk Lombardi, Mike Franzen
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker
  • Vocals – Hannah Fricker and Jeff

“This composition is based on Pope Francis’ quote to young people to go beyond a mediocre life. Pope Francis states, “Dear young people, let us not be satisfied with a mediocre life. Be amazed by what is true and beautiful, what is of God!” Originally recorded in 2014 shortly after we released The Gift album on CD and remixed with live drums in 2024. My 12 years as Youth Minister triggered many new originals through participation in our Diocesan Youth Conventions.every two years. The Holy Spirit has been good to our music ministry!” ~ Jeff

Gathered

A communion song honoring the outstanding Pastors who have served the St. Michael the Archangel community throughout the years. This song expresses our brokenness and thirst for the Eucharist, also our unity at the Eucharistic Table, and the call to justice.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Keyboards – Jeff 
  • Vocals – Hannah Fricker and Jeff

“In 2020 it was time to compose a stand alone communion song, originally written with only two verses, verses 3 and 4 were added in 2021. As many of the album songs were composed during my 4 years as Social Justice Ministry coordinator, this song in particular is filled with imagery of what we experience during our Eucharistic celebrations as one large Catholic family!”  ~ Jeff

Sing Alleluia!

Composed for Fr. Benson, our Pastor, a joyful and uplifting recessional song which Fr. Benson likes to “dance” as he processes down the aisle after Mass.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Quebec Gibbins
  • Guitar – Kirk Lombardi
  • Keyboards – Jeff 
  • Vocals – Christina Benner, Kaitlin Belden, and Jeff

“Truth be told this song came about as a band warm-up tune (jam song) 2018-2020. As the Holy Spirit moved, lyrics and a melody line were composed as we began singing this song at Mass. Kaitlin Belden and I originally recorded this song as a duet…that was until Christina Benner heard her husband Tim mixing this song in their studio….she couldn’t help herself and added this great “soulful” vocal line to what Kaitlin and I had already recorded …a nice touch and wonderful addition!” ~ Jeff

We Turn To you

Music originally composed in the mid-1980’s as a ballad for a dance band, titled That’s Not All.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Guitar – Michael Lane (acoustic guitar)
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker
  • Lead vocal, harmony and flute – Angela Keller

“As lyricist for this song our friend Roxana Rish was given the challenge of creating the text for this piece in 2018-2019…. She did a great job as she always has across our many years of collaboration! Angela’s voice was the perfect fit for this song, her vocal interpretation and harmony parts are spot on as she brought to life this song about blessing, gifts, praise and grateful hearts… ” ~ Jeff

Chalice of Hope

This praise song was inspired by a homily given by Monsignor Jay Clarke in 2020 during a Mass at St. Michael’s.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Quebec Gibbins
  • Guitars – Kirk Lombardi and Tim Benner
  • Keyboards and vocals- Jeff Fricker

“During Fr. Jay’s homily he used the phrase Chalice of Hope, a Holy Spirit moment for sure as I jotted down those words. Chalice of Hope, eucharistic empowerment to spread the Good News as we pray with both our hands and our feet at Catholics! Lamb of God you reign forever, you are salvation, our Chalice of Hope!” ~ Jeff

Set Us Free

Originally composed under a different title for the funeral of a friend. Our team of musicians and parish staffers really liked the melody so we made the appropriate text changes and created a preparation or communion song.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Keyboards and lead vocals- Jeff Fricker
  • Backup vocals – Hannah Fricker

“Composed in 2020 during the Covid pandemic which took the lives of so many of our friends and parishioners. But oh what a beautiful sight, Your glory shining oh so bright. This line was originally in the funeral Mass version of this song… we had to keep it. The Holy Spirit was speaking and listening we did!” ~ Jeff

With All Your Heart

Theme song composed for the 2018 Diocese of Youngstown Youth Convention.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Ronnie Gillard
  • Guitar – Kirk Lombardi 
  • Keyboards and lead vocals- Jeff Fricker
  • Backup vocals – Monica Harmon

“The 2018 Diocesan Youth Convention was our last convention prior to the passing of our beloved bishop who served the Diocese of Youngstown from 2007 to 2020. His Excellency, The Most Reverend. George Vance Murry. S.J.. Bishop of Youngstown passed in June of 2020. Covid reared its ugly head during this timeframe which also hindered our ability to continue this every other year gathering of our youth.” ~ Jeff

Holy, Holy, Holy

Original text by Reginald Heber (1826). John B. Dykes wrote the hymn tune NICAEA specifically for “Holy, Holy, Holy” in 1861. The tune was fittingly named after the Council of Nicaea, the fourth century council at which the Trinity was upheld as an essential doctrine of Christianity.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Lead and vocal harmonies – Monica Harmon
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker

“A Grayson Warren Brown influenced composition written during the Covid years. The melody and text are true to form. Tonal movement from the original key of D major to its relative minor allowed for these interesting chord changes and harmonies. Monica did a great job with the lead and harmony parts as we recorded her vocals off site at our home on Meyers Lake. This piece takes me right back to those strange days of Covid times…” ~ Jeff

Happy Jam

Nothing better than creating music on the spot with your band-mates…a little slice of heaven on earth!

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Quebec Gibbines
  • Guitar – Kirk Lombardi
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker

“….here are the chords and structure fellas…..Let’s play! Three or four passes later we hit the record button and had ourselves this fun little jam song. A happy place in our hearts, with fond memories of this recording session and the following production!” ~ Jeff

Angie’s Angels

A song composed for the funeral of Angie Vitale Conley on July 22, 2014.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Vocals and Keyboards – Jeff Fricker

“The Vitale family continues to carry on Angie’s Legacy through the Little Pink Ribbon Girl Foundation, by giving hope to those battling cancer in Stark County. Text for this song was written through all the stories told by her loved ones, the angels. Originally composed with an Elton John style piano part (that copy is still floating through our community) but revamped into what we have here. A solitary recording, originally composed on Fr. Brad’s Steinway.”  ~ Jeff

We Praise You Lord

Composed after a homily given by  Fr. Tom Bishop during one of the Wednesday morning school liturgies, pre-covid days, 2018.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Keyboards – Jeff 
  • Percussion – Jack Street
  • Vocals – Hannah Fricker and Jeff

“During his homily, Fr. Tom Bishop had the students repeat the phrase, “We Praise You, Lord, We Bless You, Lord, We Thank You, Lord,” which continued throughout the Mass. I was instantly drawn to the idea of composing a song with this text. The Holy Spirit drove me down the path of a reggae feel with a little “jazz” thrown in, and bingo…. We praise you Lord! Hannah provided back-up vocals, which she created on the spot, the night we recorded those parts.”  ~ Jeff

Faithful Servant

Inspired by the passing of two special friends of St. Michael the Archangel.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Keyboards – Jeff 
  • Vocals – Libby Saxton and Jeff 
  • Lyrics – Libby and Jeff

“Mary German, Administrator for St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, and Jim Krammes, our drummer in the church band for over 10 years, passed away in the fall of 2016. Both “faithful servants” to our parish community and still dearly missed by all who knew them. Libby Saxton, our former music director and friend, was collaborating with me from the beginning on this song. In 2019, as Fr. Don King celebrated his 45th Anniversary Mass, we revamped the text to honor his many years of priesthood. We continue to use this song during funeral liturgies as requested.” ~ Jeff

Mercy Begins With Me

Theme song composed  the 2016 Diocese of Youngstown Youth Convention. Pope Francis called an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 to focus on reconciliation, healing, and forgiveness. It is a call to every Christian to personally offer mercy to all those around them.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Tim Benner
  • Guitar –  Kirk Lombardi
  • Keyboards and Vocals – Jeff Fricker

“Reconciliation, healing and forgiveness…that is Mercy! The Diocesan Youth Conventions were very gratifying, but were always in time-crunch mode to get theme songs out to the youth of our diocese, prior to the actual convention. Many great friendships were made during these Youth Ministry years. Recorded in 2016 on a Boss BR-1600 Digital Recording Studio. Tim added live drums to this tune as he was putting final touches on the mix.” ~ Jeff

Mission of Love

Theme song written and recorded for our St Michael the Archangel Parish 70th Anniversary, August 2022. Full video found on Youtube.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Quebec Gibbins
  • Guitars – Bill Schweizer and Michael Lane
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker
  • Lead/Back-up vocal – Kaitlin Belden
  • Back-up vocal – Hanah Fricker

“Our Parish Council offered their thoughts for thematic material for this song via written prayers and historical facts , thank you Jesus. I now had a starting place to put together lyrics and compose melodies for a tribute to all the friends and families, who across our 70 years built up St. Michael’s Parish as a pillar of our Youngstown Diocese. This song was introduced at the outdoor Mass during our church picnic August of 2022 celebrated by our very own Bishop David Bonnar, Fr Benson Okpara and many of our local priests.” ~ Jeff

Go Now In Peace

Composed in 2017 as our “sending” song for each Mass during Lent.

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Bass – Joe Smithberger
  • Drums – Quebec Gibbins
  • Guitar – Kirk Lombardi (electric guitar)
  • Guitar – Michael Lane (acoustic guitar)
  • Keyboards and lead vocals- Jeff Fricker
  • Backup vocals – Hannah Fricker

“As we recorded this piece I asked the guitarists to give this song a Tom Petty feel, they responded well to this request. Once again this song reminds us of Jesus’ command to go out into the world and BE His hands and feet. This is our charge as Catholic Christians.” ~Jeff

Amazed (Kids Reprise)

The angelic voices of our youth!

Musicians and vocalists:

  • Choirs – St. Michael Youth and the Archangel Ensemble Adult Choirs 
  • Keyboards – Jeff Fricker

“From the get-go we had always discussed a reprise of the opening song on this album, which happens to be the title of this album of (16) songs. Our portable digital-recording studio was transported to and from the church and class room on many occasions to record this refrain, separately for both choirs. This challenge was worth every minute of time spent!” ~ Jeff