Kenny is a Latin Percussionist performer, instructor, writer, and music songwriter. He has been blessed to perform with many internationally acclaimed musicians such as Grammy Winner Arturo Sandoval, Two Time Grammy Nominee, East St. Lousian, Russell Gunn, Internationally Acclaimed Jazz songstress, Rebecca Paris,Palmetto Recording artist, Gregory Tardy (bass player Steve Kirby (Cyrus Chestnut) and his Septet, the Rob Block Latin Jazz Septet, Webster University Professors Kim Portnoy, Paul DeMarinis, Jay Hungerford, Dan Eubanks, Randy Holmes, Kevin Gianinni,and other tremendous world class musicians.
He is best known in the E. St. Louis and St. Louis Music Scene by the name “Kenny Candela” and by His Salsa/Latin Jazz band, El Caribe Tropical with whom he co-formed with current Club Viva! Salsa Club owner Mateo Mulcahy, the late Placido Pinotoledo, Iris Concepcion Dillard, and Cuban’s Jamie Tovar and Miguel More. Other members of that group included trumpeter’s Cosimu Taylor, Danny Campbell, with bass player John Brill, Dan Cavelli trombone, Jamie Restrepo, bass, Carlos Diaz, and first cousin Eugene Alex “Bo” Deal, timbales and percussion. One of the highlights of the band was opening for Latin Jazz great Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz ensemble.
Steve Kirby, Russell Gunn, Greg Tardy, Willie Akins, and Rob Block, All Played with the Salsa band, El Caribe Tropical in 1989 -1992.The name “Kenny Candela” was given him by Cuban, Placido Pinotoledo who played aguido with the Salsa band.Placido was a political prisoner in Cuba for 13 years and was in the United States only three months when he and Kenny met in 1988, forming the salsa band shortly thereafter.
Kenny Candela, aka Bleu Campbell, also worked as comedian Steve Harvey’s Bio Writer and publicist in 1988 along with Harvey’s manager, the late Juan Hull, which is Ken’s first cousin. Russell Gunn enlisted Ken to produce the audio intro for his “Ethnomusicology 3” album as well.
Ken started his music ties with the R&B Group, “Soul Steel” in 1973, in Omaha, Nebraska while in the U.S. Air Force.Soul Steel played weekly for about 3 months at a venue called “Allen’s Showcase”.They were the opening act for the soon to be R&B icons “The Whispers”.
Ken started Good Ground Records in 2002 for the purpose of representing world class musicians and their music in the standard Jazz, Latin Jazz, Latin, and R and B music fields. He also performs on, co-writes, composes, and makes arrangements, on several of the Good Ground Records CD projects.
Good Ground Records,
East St. Louis, Illinois
Where Only Classics are Released
The Steve Kirby Sextet and the ,000 First Prize Winning Pose in the Hennessy Cognac Midwest Best Search Contest, 1991.. Pictured..Steve Kirby, Rob Block, Gary Sykes, Russell Gunn, Kim Portnoy, Ken Bleu, Willie Akins..
The statement, “What Goes Around; Comes Around is a commonly uttered thing in all of the innercity’s of America, but is usually uttered only when “somebody does somebody else wrong”.This is no more than the biblical truth of, “God is not mocked, Whatever a person “sows” that will he also reap”..(Galatians 6:7)
But if people really believed that “What goes around really does Come back around”, they would also know that this same principle can be exercised in a positive manner, on purpose, as well.
The law of reaping and sowing as recorded in Galatians 6:7 is not a threat by God for “humanity to get there act right or else” as some religions purport, but rather a principle anyone can purposely initiate to ensure that what one “puts out”, they will attract back into their lives..
This means that anyone can “sow” and “give” on purpose and expect a “return” in kind of what is given.The problem with this truth is that most people sow “accidentally” because they do not realize that there is such a law.
The simplicity of this task is that our part is to plant the “seeds” or giving and the “Universes” (Father Elohim) task is to see to it that the seeds sown grow and mature.But if the “seeds” sown and given are of a “negative” nature, these “seed” will still germinate and manifest as “weeds” and “negative” circumstances.
Due to the ignorance of this biblical truth, a great Number of people reared in the innercity have “Borrowed” the Belief, “If it were not for bad luck, I wouldn’t have "no" luck at all.” This belief has been handed down through generations and accepted as indisputable fact.Those that did not know how to “sow on purpose” became victims of the same law that is responsible for attracting only what is “sown” or given. The law is so absolute that even money and other tangible objects are subject to it.
If one desired to increase their income, for example, they would begin to give financially to ministries or other constructive, benevolent organizations.This kind of giving is similar to plantingvegetable seeds in a garden and expecting a later harvest.
By applying this powerful principle in the area of attracting Love and Friendships, one need only to “give” (plant first) what one desires in return (later harvest).This principle never fails to multiply the exact “kind” and “spiritual level” of all actions, words, deeds, and thinking patterns “sown”.Ask yourself this question.Am I sowing on purpose by accident? Luke 6:38
Eric Rhodes is first cousin to Renowned Minister Jack Hayford, Travels and Performs with Television Evangelist Joyce Meyer's Ministry Praise Band and is director of Giant Killer Productions, a Gospel oriented media production ministry based in St. Louis, Missouri.Eric has performed extensively with world class musicians including Steve Kirby, Two Time Grammy Nominee, Russell Gunn, Greg Tardy, Willie Akins, Rob Block, and others.He was a featured trumpet performer in the Salsa/Latin Jazz band, El Caribe Tropical with Ken Bleu Campbell. Eric also performed with Ken Bleu's Latin Jazz Groups Paquette Latina and The Bleeds Street Rally Band, as well as other popular music groups and musicians in the St. Louis metro area.Eric is the Mixing Engineer for Good Ground Records, East St. Louis Jazz From the Vault, Volume1 Music CD..
Eric Rhodes SHOUT!
Eric’s free and easy accompanying trumpet playing style in Jazz, Salsa, Pop, Blues, or Funk, made him a snug fit with the El Caribe Tropical horn section.His saxophone playing is just as satisfying and melodic in his production of the CD entitled Shout! The CD contains 12 songs including excellent renditions of Amazing Grace, Show Me Your Ways, That My Soul Knows Very Well, Shout, and Sing Unto the Lord.If you enjoy the smooth jazz saxophone sounds, you can’t go wrong adding this CD to your collection.
Eric is the Author of the Following bio paper for his Theological Class at Missouri Baptist College in St. Louis, Mo., 1991.He received the grade of "A" for the Paper......
Many of the inner-cities in the United States have become nothing short of a war zone. The enemy has declared war on these areas and isn't holding back, attacking the family, children, and specifically the youth, both spiritually and naturally with unemployment, alcoholism, hopelessness, gang, and drug activities. However, the devil already lost this war when Jesus Christ died on the Cross-at Calvary by taking the sins of the world, and rising triumphantly from the dead after three days. One ministry that is uncompromisingly committed to proclaiming the victory of Jesus to the hurting and the lost in the innercity is the ministry ofKen 'Brother Bleu' Campbell of Good Ground Ministries, formally known as Innercity Dynamics Outreach Ministries, Incorporated. The ministry based in East St. Louis, Illinois, is called by many, the 'I'm Tired of TrippingCenter”.
Throughout my association with Ken, I have found him to be committed to the restoration of all things back unto God by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in an unorthodox, non-traditional, yet powerfully unique, culturally palatable, anointed way. "Brother True Bleu" as he is affectionately called by many, is a vibrant and compelling minister of the Gospel with a heart for the hurting, not only for those of his own ethnicity but for all those whom he may encounter. He has mentored many brothers and sisters in the community who have continued in his footsteps and now have their own similar outreach ministries. With an extraordinary command of God's Word, Ken ministers the Grace of God to the 'hardhearted' with acumen that is culturally palatable and uniquely expressive.
Because of his overwhelming burden to see people succeed and souls saved, Ken started Inner-city Dynamics Outreach Ministries, Incorporating as a non-profit charitable organization, in the state of Illinois, in 1991. Subsequently, the ministry became known and reorganized as Good Ground Ministries, East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1997.
One of the most noticeable and strong points of Brother Bleu's ministry in particular is that it disciples the new believers so that they can develop ministries of their own for the purpose of reaching those with whom they have associations, most of which will never be reached by the church. Ken's house was frequented so much by those who were hurting, saved, or edified, that it was labeled The I'm Tired of Tripping' Center, a colloquial term that essentially means "A Place to Find Peace”. Those that were hurting, hopeless, depressed, hungry, addicted to drugs, or confused about life, always seemed to find out about the ministry through someone else that was helped.
There were also several people from other countries that were ministered to in this house, many of which spoke no English! Some of the countries include Columbia, South America, Honduras, Cuba, and Panama. Only God knows how so many different ethnicities came to this home that is essentially in the middle of the Inner-city, also called the 'hood' (neighborhood). His vision has remained the same over the years and that is to continue an outworking of the Gospel that touches people’s lives, that they may be equipped to be a living testimony in their communities and in their journeys outside of them.Changed lives are an indisputable witness to the power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.Ken Bleu Campbell Ministries, a.k.a. Good Ground Ministries, is bearing much fruit to the Glory (manifested presence) of God by making a difference through the Word of God, the anointing, and leading of the Holy Spirit, one life at a time.
Another way in which this ministry has been affecting its community is through Good Ground Videos, which formerly operated out of a store front establishment in downtown, East St. Louis. This is an outreach in which Christian, family, educational, business, instructional, Black History, and Gospel music videos, Books on Cassette Tape, and Teaching Cassettes are made available to the public on a rental basis. The operation known as Good Ground Rentals compiled about 150 regular members monthly. The ministry alsobranched out internationally with display advertising in the popular Christian magazines, Charisma, Ministries Today, and NewMan. A tremendous response has been experienced and the lives that could be and have been touched by these efforts is impossible to calculate.
Ken received over 200 responses during this campaign including 45 responses from other countries worldwide.Many were supplied with Christian and Educational Videos, Books, and other assistance. This list includes Jerusalem, Tuhgben West Africa, SenegalWest Africa, Germany, India, Pago Pago, and MauritiusIndian Ocean.Christian, Children's, Educational, and Instructional Videos, and even money were sent to several of these countries requesting charity and help with their Ministries.
One of the ministers that teamed with Ken is Pastor Ron Haynes, labeled by many prominent national ministers, "the Billy Graham of inner-city evangelism". Ron was a 20 year veteran of street and inner-city evangelism when he and Ken met in 1987 at a Sunday evening church service. The were Introduced by Rev. Henry Phillips, (Power of Change Ministries, Cahokia, Illinois) just prior to Ken's Assistant Pastoral position at the 15th Baptist Church in East St.Louis, the two found out that they shared a compassion for the hurting in the inner-city.
During this partnership many were saved and the newly saved were being refreshed and edified.Some of the cities that street and indoor rallies were conducted by the team with great success were Chicago, Alton, Jacksonville, Atlanta, St. Louis, East St. Louis, and Cahokia, Illinois.The ministry has been effective in evangelism through street rallies as well as one on one personal prophetic ministry and counseling at it's domestic residence, church fellowships, Ministry Conferences, or randomly on the streets. In the street rallies, one of which I have been blessed to personally participate in, Ken sets up his conga drums with his Latin Jazz Band or by playing to up tempo contemporary Christian music over the P.A. system on the street. As the music is going forth, Dr. Ron Haynes follows by preach/'rapping' and attracts a crowd that is both amused and curios.
As the street rally winds down, Apostle Ron passes the microphone to Ken and people are coming from the corner or out of the housing projects cracks and crevices to see what's going on. As the people come nearer to the festivities, they will find out that the words being rapped about and sung are an "Afro centric" style of presenting Jesus Christ. As the ministry thrusts forward people are excepting Christ and being saved and delivered right there in the streets!
An important element in this technique is that it is culturally palatable and relevant to the times through Rap, Jazz, Latin, and R&B music styles, together with colloquial lingo being used. Yet, this method of ministering retains the essence of the eternal and unchanging message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
Holding a typical church or tent meeting wouldn't gather or attract the attention of those thatknow absolutely nothing about the gospel.Many , however, will respond to this kind of evangelism.As the anointing of Grace (enabling power) is released through the preaching of the street ministers, it is common to see tears streaming down many faces, as people both intoxicated and sober, end up praying in sincerity and accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
The ministry of Brother Bleu and associates has not kept itself hidden within the four walls of a church building or behind a desk and out of touch with the hurting. Many who don't attend any kind of church except during a funeral or wedding were reached through conducting the outdoor street rallies. This is a ministry with a burden for the lost hopeless, spiritually unfilled, untutored, and is presenting the Gospel through culturally relevant, yet, powerfully anointed innovative formats. Ken Bleu's zealous pursuit of the purpose of God within his own life has caused a refreshing river of blessing to flow out from him and into the spiritually aris and sin-wearied lives of those who live in the 'hood'. The thirsty are being satisfied through the sincere and powerful proclamation of the Word of God and prophetic gifts that Ken compassionately applies like a healing salve one life at a time.
Inner-city Dynamics, currently Good Ground Ministries, and through the work of it's founder Kenneth "Brother Bleu" Campbell and the mentoring and support of minister friends like Apostle Ron Haynes, Apostle Jefferson Edwards, Minister's Gary Nobles, Richard and John Sanford, Doris Morrow, Stu Ottolini, Mike Van Britzin and other associated 'Bleeds', have effectively reached out to it's community and abroad through the power of the Gospel
I have seen these street rally ministers in action, have participated with them, and can conclude that street rallies are an extremely effective method in reaching the lost, not only in the inner-city but any location where the Gospel of Christ is boldly proclaimed. Ken should be commended and supported for his unique, unceasing and uncompromising efforts to establish the Kingdom of God within his nation. He is the original B.L.E.E.D., going forth with the power of an indwelling Holy Spirit and enabling ability of Grace, to disciple a new generation of BLEEDS to keep the torch burning in the name (authority) of the “Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ.
The former Good Ground Rentals emerged as the C.E.L.L. Outreach (Community Educational Lending Library) and is housed within the Topaz Black Bookstore in East St. Louis, Illinois
Other ministry associates during this time include Stuart Ottollini, John and Richard Sanford, The late Cynthia Dean Hillsman (sister), Gary Nobles, the late Roger White, Zachary Haywood, Pastor Phillita Carney, Rev. Sam Haziez, Pastor Mike Van Britzin, Pastor Steve Ottollini, Doris Morrow, Craig Scott, Eva Potts, Daneen Turner, Eugene “Bo” Deal, and later Curtis Tisdale, Pastor Marcus Lee, Adriel Harris, Terry Scott, Dr. Jefferson Edwards... Ken Would Like to Thank all that were a part of sowing their resources, prayers, and time into the ministry............
Thank You “B.L.E.E.D.S.! Brothers (and Sisters) Living Eternal Everlasting Destinies (Successfully, Saved)
Thanks for your continued support of this important, effective, ongoing innercity ministry. Luke 6:38
