Making Your World – Making Music

Author: Eric Montgomery (Co-founder, CIO: Solid Rock Music Group, Inc.)

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In the spirit of artistic creativity and entrepreneurship, the gap between the two has often been bridged by the passion and desire to create a lasting memory that would endure for generations. The mere thought of “leaving your mark” has fueled many artists, songwriters, and producers of various kinds of performing arts to invest the time, talents and treasures in the possibility of achieving such accomplishment. Recently, I spoke with one such artist regarding her triumphant effort in the creation and submission of a song that would become the official song for the state of Iowa.

Effie Burt hails originally from the Magnolia state (also known as the great state of Mississippi). She currently resides in Waterloo, Iowa, where she has carved a very successful niche as a performer. Citing many inspirations, she gives special recognition to a younger sister (Ruby Burt Montgomery of Atlanta, Georgia – search the archives for my earlier article “Volume One – Track Three” for a Ruby mention). Effie is the fourth daughter born to the late Linder Burt and Annie Lee Burt, of Oxford. Throughout her storied life, Effie has had the occasion to perform before various local, state, and national dignitaries, yet has remained a humble and spiritually grounded person.

When Effie and I talked about her song submission to the state of Iowa, I was instantly drawn into the experience of the process she went through, as well as the help and encouragement she received along the way. Effie stated...

“There is an annual festival in Des Moines called ‘I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa’. When I first went to the festival and witnessed all the ethnic and cultural diversity that exists in Iowa, I asked the coordinators of the festival if I could write and submit a theme song for the festival. That led to the production of the song which was eventually presented to Ms. Betty Andrews, the festival director. The song’s lyrics speaks volumes about the spirit of inclusion and opportunity to “make your world” in Iowa. As I traveled across the country as a singer, I was often asked “if there were black people in Iowa”, and my static answer has always been “Yes – we’re making a world there”. Ms. Andrews was so impressed with song that she suggested that it be considered as a new official state song.”

On its own merits, the song began to take flight. As the notion of considering the song for “statehood” progressed, other state representatives joined the effort to get it before the state legislators for a vote. State Representative Deborah Berry (D) and Senator Tom Harkin (D) both joined to effort to promote the song, and gave immeasurable assistance and support to Effie. On June 19^th, 2002, Senate Resolution 162 was introduced by Harper and Redfern for the purpose of recognizing Effie’s song as “a song reflecting on the best qualities of Iowa, to remind her daughter and others that Iowa is a state in which dreams may be made and achieved”. The bill further declares the song as being “a worthy companion to the official state song “The Song of Iowa”. Effie continued…

“I was inspired by the diversity that we have in Iowa. Sometimes people feel that Iowa is an all white state. I felt that if I lived there, I too would be able to have what I wanted as well as the next person. And with the diversity we have in Iowa, if everyone felt similarly that Iowa was truly their home, they too could make them a world there as well. I would think it would make Iowa a greater state, and it would ultimately speak for itself that everyone could make them a world there.”

Effie, I thank you for the spirit of rightness that exists in you. Over the years, I have learned you to be a true, but rare, example of one who will go to great lengths to stand up for what is right, and to do so in such a manner as to draw others – even advisories – to you during the process.

Please click here to listen to the song “I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa”, and join me in applauding Effie Burt for her sincere effort at bringing the color of love to this beautiful world. Also, click here to read the senate resolution officially recognizing “I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa” as a companion state song.

As always, it has been my pleasure chatting with you. I’ll see you next month!