The Duse is gone.

I was shocked to learn that legendary ad executive Phil Dusenberry passed away last week at the age of 71. When I was on staff with Hummingbird Productions in the 1980s, I composed and produced several radio spots for Phil's agency, BBDO. He always had the best people working on his projects and some of my friends in the business were a little fearful of him. But he inspired me.

Years later I created a scenario to help me order my world. Phil Dusenberry is the central figure in this imaginary scenario and it still exists on my "to do" list:

"Invite The Duse to my studio to hear my reel (an audio sampling of my ad music work) and then have lunch at my condo that would include a tour of our home."

The idea was to lift me out of the murkiness of mediocrity to do the more excellent thing.

So what does Phil Dusenberry have to do with worship? If I knew Phil was going to be attending services where I was directing music I would want to do an extraordinarily stellar job. I know. That is totally bogus. I'm already working in the Presence of Greatness Himself who calls His musicians to play skillfully with a loud noise. But God Himself wants us to encourage and inspire one another. Phil Dusenberry's reputation for excellence did that for me.

May his soul rest in peace.