Tankard said the title comes from the many nick-names his wife has given him over the years.

"We've been married for 26 years," he said sincerely.

Ben is also celebrating 25 years of his ministry and launch of The Destiny Center.

"We got married and started Bible study," Tankard said when I asked about the 26 years of marriage and the 25 years of the launch of his church. "I never wanted to be a pastor. My parents were pastors and we were poor! The Bible study grew to 40 people...my wife said 40 people are using my bathroom! That's when we launched the Center."

However, this was after Ben Tankard became a multi-millionaire.

"I wanted to be a basketball player, but I got hurt. I played for five minutes...I was so depressed," he told me when I asked how he made his millions. "I went back to my roots...the church. Then....the minister prayed over my hands."

Tankard said his minister said that the piano was his gift and to go play it.

"I didn't know anything about Jazz...I never played piano," Ben continued. "I sat down and started playing Jazz...what you hear from me now."

Since then, his music has made him millions in revenue and has garnered him 16 Stellar Awards, three Grammy Award nominations, and eight Dove Awards. He is considered the Godfather of Gospel Jazz and has released 18 albums. "Tall, Dark and Jazzy" is his 19th. Ben debuted in 1989

"When I first made it, the first thing I brought was a mansion and an airplane," he said as if he still cannot believe the results to the miracle that happen to his hands that day.

Ben said that at his Bible studies he would tell them about how God did this for him.

"Part of my teachings is that you don't need a mega church to get rich," he stressed.

The Destiny Center, in celebration of 25 years, has moved into a new facility at Murfreesboro Airport where Ben has a fleet of aircraft and where his international headquarters for Ben Tankard Music is located.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, you have to learn patience," he said.

"Though I was kind of questioning Him (God)," Ben said with a slight laugh.

He was questioning God because of his career change from basketball playing to playing Gospel Jazz on the keyboard.

Aside from the new "Tall, Dark and Jazzy" album, Ben Tankard has relaunched his "Thicker Than Water" reality show as "Thicker Than Water: Empty Nest," and season two of his Podcast, "The Full Tank" which has had such guests as Dorinda Clark-Cole, hitmaker Mr. Talkbox and industry executive Benita Bellamy Kelley (The Bellamy Group).

"My door is a swinging door," Ben laughed when we talked about the meaning to the new name of his reality show, indicating the children are no longer living at home. "We had to assemble them for twelve weeks!"

So, they are not in the nest, but you might just see them on the Ben Tankard reality show.

Not only did God give Ben Tankard the ability to play piano, but he plays the drums (as a child), tuba (in high school), trumpet and guitar!  www.BenTankard.me www.DestinyCenterTN.com

And as they said the rest is history. Now, you will often see them together working on the same projects.

"I know the director," Angela said when I asked why she selected this project. "It's his (Michael) mother. So, it landed in my lap...and the theme...we need God in our relationships."

Before my interview Angela Maria was telling me about her co-star Michael's extensive acting career. I told him about all the good things she said about him in her email to me and he said, "She's a big supporter. Very beautiful person, beautiful heart...talented and extremely faith based and she has done a lot of film and stage. Her range...!"

I agree. I met her many years-ago because of her singing abilities and watched and supported her as she expanded into acting, adding on credits that include starring alongside Katt Williams in Internet Dating and then Mo-Nique in "The Parkers." Her role in "The Parkers" is an example of her range because her character is an aspiring singer who can't sing! However, Angela has a superstar voice.

"We are the two leading actors," Michael said as we discussed the "1+1=3..." stage-play written by Rodney Allen and directed by Deborah Arnold-Franklin, his mother. "My mother is the director, a friend of Rodney and Monique."

Monique Allen and Ahmed Mwanza Butler narrate the stage-play. Tyler Sandberg is the stage manager and production assistant. Also starring in "1+1=3 with God Leading the Way" are LaRay McDaniels, Nathaniel Mitchell, Johnathan Postell, Cadienne Obeng, and Jospeh Taylor.

"I've been a professional actor for 20 years...since I was 12 years-old," Patterson told me when I complimented him on his long list of credits that include "Law & Order."

I asked which he prefers theatre, film or television Michael said, "A little bit of all three. It depends on the project. I love theatre, I love film and television. With plays the monologue is challenging. I always want it to be challenging."

Patterson said a challenging project is one where he is the only character, like Matt Damon in The Martian.

"That would be really difficult," he pointed out about a one character project.

I asked the two co-stars what the most challenging thing about the "1+1=3..." play, according to their rehearsals, and they both replied at the same time, "remembering the lines!"

"You have to be bigger on stage," Michael also pointed out.

"Yes, on the set (film and television) you're speaking low," Angela added. "(Not on stage) The director kept having to tell me, ‘raise your voice!'."

"It can be stressful...keeping the audience engaged," Patterson pointed out. "And you get nervous on stage, but I love it! I love the challenge. I always want it to be a challenge."

"I get more nervous on set...it's all in your face...(gets) intense with the camera," Angela Maria added. "On stage everyone is (way) back."

I asked Michael about his mother the stage-play director and he said, "She does this on the side, but she has a long history as an actress when she isn't working. She is even in a couple of films with me."

I asked Angela if she still sings and she said, "Yes, I sing all the time! Sometimes I sing and act in conjunction. At first, I couldn't figure out which, but I enjoy acting and can incorporate my singing."

Angela Maria, a SAG/AFTRA actress and a Baltimore native, also appears in the movie Hair Show with Mo'Nique; Gods & Generals with Robert Duval, "The Wire" and has hosted Cover Girls' "Model Quest". Michael J. Patterson, also a SAG/AFTRA actor and a native of Washington, DC, also appears in Netflix's The Forge, Amazon Prime's Imposter Pastor, the movies Million to One, Heaven Sent, Ice man: Book One, and Undefiled, for which he won "Best Supporting Actor" at the International Christian Film Festival.

Produced by Rodney and Monique Allen, the "1+1=3 with God Leading the Way" stage-play takes a comedic look at the spiritual connection needed in relationships.  RodneyAllens1+1=3WithGodLeadingTheWayatEventBrite

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million for her column The Pulse of Entertainment. She is the publisher of the digital magazine www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com, which has an estimated 160,000 visitors a month. An entrepreneur, Dr. Moseley’s company, Freelance Associates, is a business management/public relations strategic planning and consulting firm that is celebrating 32 years in 2025. Dr. Eunice also serves as professor for the School of Business at Stanton University in Anaheim, California and serves as promotions director (at-large)/journalist and business consultant for The Baltimore Times. Dr. Moseley founded the Uplifting Minds II Foundation (www.UpliftingMinds.com) in 2023, a 501 C3 with a mission to empower the underserved through three major programs – One Stop Business Shop, the ULMII Professional Conference and the ULMII Academy (business management and public relations). EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), was launched by Dr. Eunice in 1999, to educate aspiring artists/musicians about the business of entertainment – www.UpliftingMinds2.com. Next ULMII Entertainment Conferences for Baltimore on Saturday April 18, 2026, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and for Los Angeles on Saturday, November 7, 2026, presented by The Pulse of Entertainment and the ULMII Foundation. The ULMII conferences are free with virtual access via Zoom. ULMII entertainment conference offers a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and International Talent Competition where the top three scored acts receive the ULMII Best Act Award and over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services and cash!