# Touch Jesus

> Touch Jesus is a wonderful CD of traditional African-American gospel music

By Katy Gerner · 10 February 2012 · Reviews / Music

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/touch-jesus/

## **W. Clifford Petty**

*Touch Jesus* is a wonderful CD of traditional African-American gospel music designed to be used by both Catholic and Protestant congregations. Petty describes it as a reflective of his dual spiritualities “in the merging of my traditional Pentecostal roots with a traditional European Catholic musical style”.

Besides being the lead vocal, Petty has also arranged and written some of the songs on *Touch Jesus.* In fact, the title song was composed for his brother Roderick just before he died.

Petty shows a strong interest in psalms as well. The songs he wrote include: “The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor: Psalm 34”, “I Will Praise Your Name Forever: Psalm 145”, “Let All the Nations Praise You: Psalm 67” and “Why Have You Abandoned Me: Psalm 22”.

Petty has wonderful vocal control and the musicians are top notch, particularly the drummers, pianists and the saxophonist. There is a lovely Jazz feel to some of the songs.

Petty has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Music Performance and a Master of Music Education. He currently works as a pastoral musician and a music teacher and a composer, producer and recording artist for World Library Publications.

**Katy Gerner**