Before he was born, Howard R. Anderson IV's mother asked God to make Anderson a talented pianist.

She got her wish, but he started playing drums first and then banged away at the piano and everything else, including pots and pans.

Anderson, 46, has been minister of music at Bethlehem Baptist Church for the past eight years and he oversees the church's seven choirs: men's, women's, praise worship, youth, senior, E.L. Mitchell Gospel and mass.

Oddly enough, Anderson isn't great at reading music, but he has the gift of playing by ear. He's also the only member of the family without the ability to sing.
"I can't hold a note in a bucket; can't sing a bit," Anderson said, laughing.

Anderson said it's been humbling following in the footsteps of past ministers of music, R.L. Clements and Raymond Hammonds.

Bethlehem Baptist is having its annual Christmas concert from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature the mass choir and dance team from Bethlehem Baptist, as well as the mass choir of the Union Institutional Baptist Church in Atlanta and the dance team from Faith of Jesus Ministries.