Xavier Eikerenkoetter is the son of American minister, prosperity preacher, and first black televangelist, Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, better known as Reverend Ike.[1][2] Eikerenkoetter was formerly the President of the United Palace, a theatre in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. He was also the Spiritual Director of the United Palace House of Inspiration, formerly the United Church or Palace Cathedral, founded by Rev. Ike;[3] and is the founder of the United Palace of Cultural Arts.[4]
Xavier Eikerenkoetter | |
|---|---|
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| Nationality | American |
| Website | https://xaviersoulstreams.com/about |
Education
editOrdained at 18,[5] Eikerenkoetter spent three years at the Center for Personal Transformation in the study of deep meditative techniques, received a BA in philosophy from Columbia University, and a master's in counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, focusing on Jungian and depth psychology.[citation needed]
Eikerenkoetter's musical studies include four years at the Harrison School of Music. He also studied shamanic training and healing and initiatory drumming techniques with Quechua (Peru), Dagara (Burkina Faso), and Sangoma (Zimbabwe) medicine men, and with the Masai tribe in Kenya. He learned the art of djembe, dunun, and Mandingue drumming from Mamady Keïta and Malinke.[6]
Career
editSince 1983, Eikerenkoetter has served as a minister and, since 2009 when his father, Rev. Ike, died, spiritual leader of the congregation housed at the United Palace, formerly known as United Palace Cathedral, and now the United Palace House of Inspiration (UPHI), a non-denominational spiritual community.[7] He founded two non-profit organizations. One was the United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) in New York City. UPCA is an organization that works with inner city youth in New York.[8] The other is the Rhythm Arts Alliance (RAA) in Los Angeles. RAA works with gang affiliated youth and teaches cooperation through mentorship and traditional West African drumming.[9]
As a musician, Eikerenkoetter's three albums recorded to date are Mystic Journey (1998), Global Soul (2001) and Re-Enchantment: Music to Conceive By (2015).
Xavier lives in Napa Valley, California, growing organic and biodynamic cabernet grapes with his wife, Annette.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Obituary: The Reverend Ike". The Telegraph. July 30, 2009.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (July 31, 2009). "Reverend Ike dies at 74; minister preached gospel of prosperity". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Joe, Holley (July 31, 2009). "F.J. Eikerenkoetter II Dies; 'Rev. Ike' Preached Gospel of Capitalism". The Washington Post.
- ^ Barron, James (June 21, 2013). "Working to Revive a Movie House That Lived in a Palace". The New York Times.
- ^ "Spiritual Director". United Palace House of Inspiration.
- ^ Black, Led (March 26, 2013). "Spa For The Soul: A Q&A With Xavier Eikerenkoetter". The Uptown Collective.
- ^ Feeney, Michael J. (2013-02-11). "'In the Heights' comes 'home' for one night only". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (January 11, 2013). "United Palace Begins New Role as Uptown Arts Center". The Uptowner.
- ^ "Our Story". Rhythm Arts Alliance. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ "About". Xavier. Retrieved 2021-07-29.