When I Look in Your Eyes - Nikki Amber

In the music industry, A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire

Saunders Lundahl Films and Music was a collaboration between Tony Saunders and Robert Lundahl, beginning in 2009, to bring together A&R Development, documentation of the Gospel community of Oakland, and tributes to Tony’s father, Merl Saunders, occasional Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia keyboardist and San Francisco Rock and Roll impresario. See this article in CineSource magazine.

Nikki Amber Music Video. Executive Producer Tony Saunders. Directed by Robert Lundahl and Tony Saunders. Cinematography by Robert Lundahl. Produced by Tony Saunders and DJ Toure for Magic Castle Studios. ©Copyright Tony Saunders, Robert Lundahl.

"When I Look in Your Eyes," written by Nikki Amber, Hazel Wiggs, Margo Le Duc, and DJ Toure. Published by La Porte Avenue Music BMI. © ©Copyright, La Porte Avenue Music, BMI.

Nikki Amber Music Video. “When I Look in Your Eyes,” MTV Version. Executive Producer Tony Saunders. Directed by Robert Lundahl and Tony Saunders. Cinematography by Khamisi Norwood. Edited by Robert Lundahl.

Nikki steps up and steps out with new dance routines, shot at Heiroglyphics Studio, home of Del the Funky Homosapien.

Produced by Tony Saunders and DJ Toure for Magic Castle Studios. ©Copyright Tony Saunders, Robert Lundahl.

"When I Look in Your Eyes," written by Nikki Amber, Hazel Wiggs, Margo Le Duc, and DJ Toure. Published by La Porte Avenue Music BMI. © ©Copyright, La Porte Avenue Music, BMI.

The soft thump of a bass guitar and the hum of a Hammond organ set the tone as the crowd of visitors and members settles in to the Oakland Love Center, inside a converted car dealership turned church on International Boulevard in Oakland, for the "Celebration of Life" of Bishop Walter L. Hawkins' sixtieth birthday. (From CineSource Magazine)

The Hawkins family, natives of Oakland, grew up just blocks away from the Love Center Ministries on International Blvd at 108th Street. They nurture a feeling of openness in their bustling congregation. The family is recognized for bringing Gospel music mainstream 40 years ago with their soulful adaptation of the mid-18th-century hymn "Oh Happy Day." The Hawkins family's influence has been global - a quick search on Google brings up hundreds of covers of "Oh Happy Day" (Edwin Hawkins) from around the world and an armload of movie song credits -and resulted in Grammy nominations (and at least one win). Here in Oakland, Walter Hawkins is a respected spiritual leader whose mission is to strengthen communities with a message of love through the gospel of Gospel music.

Come to Me

From the former car dealership in East Oakland that is the Love Center Ministries, Grammy and Dove Award Winners, Edwin and Walter Hawkins lead the Community Choir in this Gospel favorite, “Come to Me.”

Produced using a crane, or jib, a dolly, and 8 cameras by Saunders/Lundahl Films for the City of Oakland and Oakland Airport. Director of Photography, Hiro Narita, Technical Director David Leszinski. Commissioned by Oakland Film Commissioner Amy Zins. Written by David Kauffman (1997], from Matthew 11. "My burden is easy, my yoke is light, if you need rest, come to me. Multi–camera Direction and Editing by Robert Lundahl.

Hooked on Gospel

Hooked on Gospel was a concept for a series on Gospel music and its influence in American society.

The Worship Warriors of Love Center Ministries

Glorify the Lord

The Worship Warriors of Love Center Church are one of the top Gospel groups in the country. Comprised of members of the Love Center Ministries in Oakland, California, including Sunny Hawkins, Lynette Hawkins Stevens, Nona Brown, Brenda Roy, Sylvester Finley, and Mary Catherine Cross, the group sings in the "Praise and Worship" style.

Here the Worship Warriors sing a cappella in a "behind the scenes" rehearsal.

Deal

On the the occasion of what would have been Grateful Dead occasional keyboardist, and solo rock empresario Merl Saunders’ 75th birthday, the San Francisco music scene converged at the Great American Music Hall to celebrate the noted local.

Saunders had grown up in the city nearby to friend Johnny Mathis and was seduced into the Rock and Roll world. Son, Tony Saunders, the Dead’s Bob Weir, Dino Valente Jr., son of Quicksilver Messenger Service frontman Dino Valente Sr., and others joined up on stage to pay tribute.

Tony Saunders (on bass) had scored the soundtrack to Robert Lundahl’s film, Unconquering the Last Frontier, along with members of Oakland’s Tower of Power, in a remarkable testament to the musicianship and range of styles and capabilities of the Saunders extended family.

This live recorded music video, shot by Lundahl from the crowd was created under the auspices of Saunders Lundahl Films, documenting the remarkable scene along with the Grammy and Dove Award winning “rock and roll meets West Coast Gospel” legacy of Edwin and Walter Hawkins across the Bay in East Oakland at Love Center Ministries.

When All Else Fails

From the “Hooked on Gospel” Television Series. Edwin Hawkins conducts the Love Center Ministries Community Choir, Oakland, California.

"When All Else Fails", directed and edited by Robert Lundahl, uses soaring crane shots to express the emotion in this Gospel Music classic. Filmed in collaboration with the Oakland Film Center and the Oakland Film Commission, Film Coordinator, Amy Zins. Crew includes Hiro Narita, D. P., Jimmy Dunn, Crane/Camera Operator, John Behrens, Camera Operator (Dolly), David Lezynski, Associate Producer. ©2009 Saunders Lundahl Films and Music,

Saunders Lundahl Films.

Soloists Sylvester Finley and Brenda Roy sing “Holy,” with the members of the “Worship Warriors” before the Sunday congregation at Love Center Ministries, Oakland, California.

Sylvester Finley and Brenda Roy blow the roof off Love Center Ministries, as the Worship Warriors perform this poignantly beautiful and brilliant rendition of "Holy." From "Hooked on Gospel" series. ©2009 Tony Saunders and Robert Lundahl.

The Worship Warriors of Love Center Church are one of the top Gospel groups in the country. Comprised of members of the Love Center Ministries in Oakland, California, including Sunny Hawkins, Lynette Hawkins Stevens, Nona Brown, Brenda Roy, Sylvester Finley, and Mary Catherine Cross, with Edwin Hawkins and Walter Hawkins, the group sings in the "Praise and Worship" style.

Saunders Lundahl Films.

What a Mighty God We Serve from Hooked On Gospel Television Series. Love Center Ministries, conducted by Walter Hawkins, Oakland, California.

"What a Mighty God We Serve" produced by Tony Saunders and Robert Lundahl, and directed and edited by Robert Lundahl, uses complex intercutting to support the "call and response" between soloist Katrina Watts McFarland and the 60 person choir. Filmed in collaboration with the Oakland Film Center and the Oakland Film Commission, Film Coordinator, Amy Zins.

Saunders Lundahl Films

He's a Keeper Soloist Antoine Timmons fronts the Love Center Ministries Choir one Sunday to a packed house. Choir Director Rusty Watson.

The Love Center Ministries Choir takes center stage in this rousing rendition of "He's a Keeper," featuring Antoine Timmons, from the "Hooked on Gospel" series. ©2009, Tony Saunders and Robert Lundahl. Executive Producer, Producer Tony Saunders, Producer, Director Robert Lundahl. Cinematography by Robert Lundahl. Sound recording by David Lezynski.

Saunders Lundahl Films

Remembering Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins Obituary, New York Times

Walter Hawkins, a Grammy-winning gospel composer and singer whose songs brought a sense of contemporary rhythm to the howling, pleading, God-praising tradition of churchly ecstasy, died on Sunday at the home he shared with a brother and three sisters in Ripon, Calif. He was 61.

Obituary New York Times

God Will Take are of You

Lynette Hawkins Stevens performs with the Love Center Choir in African dress. Love Center Ministries, Oakland, California. Choir Director Randy Watson.

Minister of Music, Lynette Hawkins Stevens of Love Center Ministries lets it rip in this wonderful version of "God Will Take Care of You," backed by the Love Center Ministries Choir, music director, Rusty Watson. Most members are wearing African garb. From "Hooked on Gospel" series ©2009, Tony Saunders and Robert Lundahl. Executive Producer, Producer, Tony Saunders. Producer, Director, Robert Lundahl. Cinematography by Robert Lundahl. Sound Recording by David Lezynski.

Saunders Lundahl Films

Heartsong

Misa and Tony music video featuring Misa Malone and Tony Saunders. Executive Producer, Tony Saunders, Producer and Director, Robert Lundahl. Cinematography by Robert Lundahl. Arrangement and music production by Tony Saunders, Magic Castle Studios. Video ©2009 Tony Saunders, Robert Lundahl. Written by Tony Saunders and Tonnie Harvey, filmed at Yoshi's San Francisco. Music published by La Porte Avenue Music, BMI. ©2009.