Jimmy! Very nice start on what I can presume will be an excellent series. It's an honor to have been there with you on some of those experiences. Even though I have since lost my faith, I still greatly admire the music you and Brad introduced me to and am looking very forward to what will unfold as you progress. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort. This is truly a treat for anyone who has any taste in quality music.
Jim! Excellent work on the beginning of what I can assume will be a very cool series. I also am looking forward to what will unfold as you progress. Knock 'em dead!
We are still researching and working on this project from 1964 to 1999, so we appreciate all of your comments and input. We hope to continue the series in 2022.
Thanks for including Steve Taylor in this documentary. He broke boundaries in Christian music and exposed the truth behind the wolves in sheep's clothing that try to fit in church and the world at the same time.
I'm 55 and was first introduced to Christian rock hearing Petra and 2nd Chapter of Acts Rejoice album. At the time I was already listening to VH, Styx, Queen Zeppelin. The title track was a hit but I was into the more heavier tunes on the album. A couple years later I met someone who introduced me to Rez Band, Servant, Sweet Comfort Band and I kinda went off from there as by then I was also listening to Ratt, Motley Crue, Dokken, etc. I often wondered about the evolution of Christian Rock so this will be an interesting journey, especially since I've heard the industry is not so "Christian" anymore.
You might also be interested to know that the guy who did it is a grade A Gossip who came to my email box during discussions in rec.music.christian where you can do google groups searches to get a lot of background that might help also. I witnessed Larry receiving a long list from the movie's producer of things he had against him. Larry dealt with each on and utterly humiliated the guy. Then he waits til Larry's gone and comes out w/ this M. Moore type thing. Amazing...
I LOVE IN WHICH WAY MY LORD WORKS, ALL MYSTRIOUS AND SUCH.Been needing more CHRISTIAN rock for... knowledge, our LORD has us on a LOVE mission,my family n I. Front row seats if you will and its a splendid ride,nuthin but LOVE! til our paths meet
Wow, what an excellent video. thank you very much. I can see that there is a lot to learn about the movement. I made a small video listing rock stars who were famous in 60s /70s bands but are now Christians.
Dont forget Gospel roots. Same musical roots + Jazz as Traditional Rock. To me (who was there and as a musician) these are branches of the same tree. Dont miss 50's rock and where much of it came from. Black Gospel and Jazz . 20' 30's 40"s. We played 50's 60's rocked and branched off to Christian Rock.
Have ANY of you stopped and LISTENED to yourself? REALLY LISTENED to and pondered what your commenting about? The REBELLION AND ATTITUDE? I was raised on that " old music " the HAPPY GOODMANS ", " FLORIDA BOY'S ",etc. Was at a couple of their concerts. The difference was and is they LOVED JESUS and sought to lift HIM UP and not their EGO'S. Back then ,to play gospel music as a means of business was unthinkable. It was for the GLORY OF GOD. I'm at 66+ not so naive to believe there weren't some " ringers", but most of it was TRULY for the GLORY OF GOD. I am NOT saying there isn't some TRULY DEDICATED and Christian performer's in today's ' christian music. But lest we forget, LUCIFER was given the original gift of MUSIC. When the conversation centers around who was first or what instruments USED to be ,etc.,he's ALREADY WON.
This video this one super that good to know the history of the Christian rock since many people say that the rock is alone for the devil, this video is a good tool. God blesses you
I used to work security at the Jesus Festivals in Orlando Florida during the 1980's. I also was the personal security for Stu Hess of the Rez Band, DeGarmo & Key Band, Mylon Lefevre of Broken Heart, and Benny Hinn when they appeared and performed at the Jesus Festivals. Some people claim Christian Rock is the devil's music. Oh yeah? They said the exact same thing about the Organ and Piano when they were introduced to the church. Now you can't find a church without one.
If your "History of Christian Rock" begins with Larry Norman - You don't know the half of it. The story REALLY begins with The Byrds' 1965 classic, "Turn, Turn, Turn". Then, Pop-Rock Super Group "Tommy James & The Shondells", with a bazillion Top-40 hits under their belt - and 110 MILLION records sold, propelled what became "Christian Rock" into The Future. Tommy James was Born Again around 1967-68, and immediately had The Shondells recording Rock 'n' Roll odes to Jesus Christ that cracked the Top-10 internationally, particularly: "Sweet Cherry Wine", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and "Ball Of Fire". If there's such a thing as a "Father of Christian Rock", that mantle can be shared by The Byrds' Roger McGuinn (himself a Born Again Christian) and The Shondells' leader, Tommy James. Tommy had to cloak his message in ethereal word pictures to get his songs played on secular radio of the day (especially on England's BBC, which was particularly anti-gospel) - but, his message DID get through. For instance, "Sweet Cherry Wine" was a metaphor for the saving blood of Jesus Christ (To save us - He gave us - Sweet Cherry Wine, so very fine) - and it shot into the Top-10. He's never sought honor for himself, and at the time, had no idea how radical his songs were. But, he opened the door that led to Christian Rock Music in churches worldwide.Tommy was followed by the Edwin Hawkins singers' Top-10 hit "Oh, Happy Day" in 1969 . . . and of course, Larry Norman. But, if I may speak on his behalf - The Lord used Tommy James & The Shondells to open up the hearts of young people to the Gospel message. Well done, Tommy James. You're a beautiful human being.
There were a lot of people in the 60s in the UK and the USA who were doing the equivalent of Christian Rock or at least more contemporary Christian music which featured guitars and often drums and a contemporary rock beat (though often soft rock) and contemporary fashion of the 60s and a lot of the counter-cultural ideals of the 60s People often say that "Jesus Music" or Christian Rock started in 1969 in the USA. I contend it started much earlier in both the UK and the USA and changed just as the other cultural lifestyles of music and fashion did of the era. Soft-rock, like the Beatles, was already happening in the UK even before Beatlemania hit the USA in 1964 (Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show). That was already being mirrored in churches with contemporary Christian singers across Europe and the USA before 1969. Even before then, black and Pentecostal music and sometimes Southern Gospel or folk, was rapidly changing to a more contemporary beat that eventually matched what was happening in rock n roll. As well, it was being more mainstreamed by people like Ralph Carmichael, Phil Kerr and Audrey Meir. Phil and Audrey had something called the Monday Night Musical and Monday Night Sing in the USA starting in 1945 that was broadcast on radio station KFSG in Los Angeles. Audrey, who took over the show in 1960 after Phil Kerr died, is the person who helped introduce Andrae Crouch to the nation. And people like Ralph Carmichael, the Paul Johnson Singers and Kurt Kaiser were doing much broader music, often with orchestras, or the inclusion of guitar and drums and young, contemporary dressed singers, or all the above, with a much more contemporary sound than the church and Christian hymn-style music was used to. Also, a lot of musical groups like the Imperials Quartet were already honing a more contemporary sound that eventually blended into the Jesus Music scene in the 1970s. By our semantics of the 21st Century they might not have been necessarily considered "Christian rock". But many of them were much more radical and counter-cultural than was the Christian music scene prior to the mid-50s. For instance, some of the same songs I would sing in church as a young kid in the 60s/70s were fine with my church and my parents. But, when they heard Elvis do the same songs, with a similar beat, they were considered evil and sinful because they were sung by an evil rocker like Elvis. Or in the songs you mentioned above, the Byrds or Tommy James.
Interesting video, although I don't see how you can neglect to mention the christian progressive rock band "SERVANT", a band which was highly successful, and actually toured internationally. Moreover, bands such as "PETRA" actually used to open for them. The cool thing about SERVANT was,- they were truly on the cutting edge" of new music!
I loved Servant and even brought them to Ohio University in 1981. We will talk about them in a future episode. We are producing 20 episodes before posting them...they take a long time to create.
I contend they are, especially based on much of what they do that follows the teachings of Jesus, especially as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Yet, there are many right-wing "evangelicals" who argue they can't possibly be a Christian group and often even cite the same actions to claim they are not Christian that I would cite to claim they are Christian. By their fruits you will know them. And even many of their songs of full of Biblical and Christian references, as well as their leader and other members of the band outwardly claiming their Christian faith and belief in the gospel of the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
Yep, you are correct about that. I was debating with a guy on the Christian Rock - USA video and he was saying it is sick music that draws people into a fall delusion of faith. He concluded that he would rather listen to music that glorifies abortion and violence rather than the rubbish that is Christian rock. He is deceived to say the least.
Yeah i think u got a good point there bro. Becoz of their prejudices they would prefer that some very famous preacher in a 3 piece suit brought people to God, (not saying there's anything wrong with the suit.)
Someone on here keeps drilling what Jesus said about "pick up your cross and follow me"... What exactly does that mean? To me, my "cross" is my guitar, so picking up my cross and following Jesus IS playing Christian Rock on my guitar wherever I am, even if it hurts, even if it's uncomfortable, even if it doesn't fit your cookie-cutter shape for religion. Lately I've been playing Worship at church, and it sounds just like Rock. "Hard Rock for hard hearts."
Also Kings X never claimed to be a Christian band esp. since Doug Pinnick was a closet Homosexual. although allot of there early music had a Biblical theme to it. One of the Musicians was a believer. Just a friendly F.Y.I.
Just because Doug is gay does not mean he wasn't or can't be a Christian. That is an insinuation based on human works that people can look on outwardly to judge. But, to be a Christian, all one has to do is to have faith and believe in the gospel of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. PERIOD. End of story. If anyone tries to discount Christian music based on individuals being gay or lesbian or transgender, they are going to be losing out on a whole lot of music. A HUGE portion of Christian musicians, singers, instrumentalists, writers, or members of groups are gay and have been gay. Many of them have been very public about it. Many of them have not been because of the kinds of judgment that Christian "evangelical" culture tries to heap on them. And many have had their ministries taken away because of the outward judgments of the Christian church and its leaders. Yet, these same people make excuses for all the people who are living sins that are openly condemned in the Bible, like being divorced and remarried while their prior spouse is still living. Or the Christian church celebrates and lusts after the fame and fortunes many of their favorite artists have greedily obtained. When you look at homosexuality in the Bible in the context Scripture is written or in the original languages it was written, there is that condemns loving and responsible same-gender relationships, or gay marriages as we know them today. NOTHING. Nor did Christ ever have a single negative thing to say about gay or transgender people. NOTHING. But, there are plenty of Scripture and even by Christ, that condemns divorce and remarriage, or condemns lust and greed and idolatrous worship like we often do of Christian artists, or it condemns the strife and division the church often purposely creates over these kinds of legalistic, pharisaic teachings of the far right extremists in the church.
Larry Norman was not the Grandfather of Christian Rock... MindGarage was the first known rock band that sang about Jesus. Larry was allot more Popular.
Actually I think it all depends on how you define the word "rock". Many bands were making Beatles style Christian rock in the UK even earlier. And if you count rockabilly tinted gospel then it goes back to the late 1950s.
The Ecumenical Movement in the church actually started in the 1800s. I would contend, that the ecumenical movement within the church actually helped create a more fertile ground for church and Christian music to thrive to match the lifestyles, fashion and musical trends of each generation -- not just of today but of the 19th and 20th centuries.
its not my point bro. Jesus made the point he wrote it I didnt. wealth is whatever you put B4 Christ. Mustain's wealth is metal music and the lifestyle that comes with it. thats why Jesus said "If anyone wishes to be my disciple. Let them deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow me". He said it. His point. Love u bro as Jesus Loved me first be blessed and have a very merry Christmas to you and your family.
Jimmy! Very nice start on what I can presume will be an excellent series. It's an honor to have been there with you on some of those experiences. Even though I have since lost my faith, I still greatly admire the music you and Brad introduced me to and am looking very forward to what will unfold as you progress. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort. This is truly a treat for anyone who has any taste in quality music.
Jim! Excellent work on the beginning of what I can assume will be a very cool series. I also am looking forward to what will unfold as you progress. Knock 'em dead!
Great beginning! I was at some of the places you pictured and have loved all the artists named!! I look forward to the series!
We are still researching and working on this project from 1964 to 1999, so we appreciate all of your comments and input. We hope to continue the series in 2022.
Thanks for including Steve Taylor in this documentary. He broke boundaries in Christian music and exposed the truth behind the wolves in sheep's clothing that try to fit in church and the world at the same time.
Yes. They are in my research and I hope to note their contribution during the 70s.
This is awesome! These are some blasts from the past!
I'm 55 and was first introduced to Christian rock hearing Petra and 2nd Chapter of Acts Rejoice album. At the time I was already listening to VH, Styx, Queen Zeppelin. The title track was a hit but I was into the more heavier tunes on the album. A couple years later I met someone who introduced me to Rez Band, Servant, Sweet Comfort Band and I kinda went off from there as by then I was also listening to Ratt, Motley Crue, Dokken, etc. I often wondered about the evolution of Christian Rock so this will be an interesting journey, especially since I've heard the industry is not so "Christian" anymore.
Amen to that! Psalms says to bring your stringed instruments & make a LOUD noise unto the Lord!
hello
have you ever heard of Liberation Suite. i think they were on that tree at 1:38 ?
You might also be interested to know that the guy who did it is a grade A Gossip who came to my email box during discussions in rec.music.christian where you can do google groups searches to get a lot of background that might help also. I witnessed Larry receiving a long list from the movie's producer of things he had against him. Larry dealt with each on and utterly humiliated the guy. Then he waits til Larry's gone and comes out w/ this M. Moore type thing. Amazing...
I LOVE IN WHICH WAY MY LORD WORKS, ALL MYSTRIOUS AND SUCH.Been needing more CHRISTIAN rock for... knowledge, our LORD has us on a LOVE mission,my family n I. Front row seats if you will and its a splendid ride,nuthin but LOVE! til our paths meet
Wow, what an excellent video. thank you very much. I can see that there is a lot to learn about the movement. I made a small video listing rock stars who were famous in 60s /70s bands but are now Christians.
Dont forget Gospel roots. Same musical roots + Jazz as Traditional Rock. To me (who was there and as a musician) these are branches of the same tree. Dont miss 50's rock and where much of it came from. Black Gospel and Jazz . 20' 30's 40"s. We played 50's 60's rocked and branched off to Christian Rock.
You need to do some research on The Mind Garage, who presented live rock liturgies beginning in 1968.
Thanks! We will definitely talk about them in an upcoming episode.
Have ANY of you stopped and LISTENED to yourself? REALLY LISTENED to and pondered what your commenting about? The REBELLION AND ATTITUDE? I was raised on that " old music " the HAPPY GOODMANS ", " FLORIDA BOY'S ",etc. Was at a couple of their concerts. The difference was and is they LOVED JESUS and sought to lift HIM UP and not their EGO'S. Back then ,to play gospel music as a means of business was unthinkable. It was for the GLORY OF GOD. I'm at 66+ not so naive to believe there weren't some " ringers", but most of it was TRULY for the GLORY OF GOD. I am NOT saying there isn't some TRULY DEDICATED and Christian performer's in today's ' christian music. But lest we forget, LUCIFER was given the original gift of MUSIC. When the conversation centers around who was first or what instruments USED to be ,etc.,he's ALREADY WON.
Thank You. I will do the best I can.
The first song was redone by guardian. They made it kinda grunge sounding
I love the grunge version.
1:41 far left off the folk-rock tree was liberation suite. my dad was in that historic band.
I wanted to point out that CCM artist Rick Cua stemmed from The Outlaws after he became a Christian in the late 70's.
This video this one super that good to know the history of the Christian rock since many people say that the rock is alone for the devil, this video is a good tool.
God blesses you
I used to work security at the Jesus Festivals in Orlando Florida during the 1980's. I also was the personal security for Stu Hess of the Rez Band, DeGarmo & Key Band, Mylon Lefevre of Broken Heart, and Benny Hinn when they appeared and performed at the Jesus Festivals. Some people claim Christian Rock is the devil's music. Oh yeah? They said the exact same thing about the Organ and Piano when they were introduced to the church. Now you can't find a church without one.
If your "History of Christian Rock" begins with Larry Norman - You don't know the half of it. The story REALLY begins with The Byrds' 1965 classic, "Turn, Turn, Turn". Then, Pop-Rock Super Group "Tommy James & The Shondells", with a bazillion Top-40 hits under their belt - and 110 MILLION records sold, propelled what became "Christian Rock" into The Future.
Tommy James was Born Again around 1967-68, and immediately had The Shondells recording Rock 'n' Roll odes to Jesus Christ that cracked the Top-10 internationally, particularly: "Sweet Cherry Wine", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and "Ball Of Fire". If there's such a thing as a "Father of Christian Rock", that mantle can be shared by The Byrds' Roger McGuinn (himself a Born Again Christian) and The Shondells' leader, Tommy James.
Tommy had to cloak his message in ethereal word pictures to get his songs played on secular radio of the day (especially on England's BBC, which was particularly anti-gospel) - but, his message DID get through. For instance, "Sweet Cherry Wine" was a metaphor for the saving blood of Jesus Christ (To save us - He gave us - Sweet Cherry Wine, so very fine) - and it shot into the Top-10. He's never sought honor for himself, and at the time, had no idea how radical his songs were. But, he opened the door that led to Christian Rock Music in churches worldwide.Tommy was followed by the Edwin Hawkins singers' Top-10 hit "Oh, Happy Day" in 1969 . . . and of course, Larry Norman. But, if I may speak on his behalf - The Lord used Tommy James & The Shondells to open up the hearts of young people to the Gospel message. Well done, Tommy James. You're a beautiful human being.
There were a lot of people in the 60s in the UK and the USA who were doing the equivalent of Christian Rock or at least more contemporary Christian music which featured guitars and often drums and a contemporary rock beat (though often soft rock) and contemporary fashion of the 60s and a lot of the counter-cultural ideals of the 60s
People often say that "Jesus Music" or Christian Rock started in 1969 in the USA. I contend it started much earlier in both the UK and the USA and changed just as the other cultural lifestyles of music and fashion did of the era. Soft-rock, like the Beatles, was already happening in the UK even before Beatlemania hit the USA in 1964 (Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show). That was already being mirrored in churches with contemporary Christian singers across Europe and the USA before 1969.
Even before then, black and Pentecostal music and sometimes Southern Gospel or folk, was rapidly changing to a more contemporary beat that eventually matched what was happening in rock n roll. As well, it was being more mainstreamed by people like Ralph Carmichael, Phil Kerr and Audrey Meir. Phil and Audrey had something called the Monday Night Musical and Monday Night Sing in the USA starting in 1945 that was broadcast on radio station KFSG in Los Angeles. Audrey, who took over the show in 1960 after Phil Kerr died, is the person who helped introduce Andrae Crouch to the nation. And people like Ralph Carmichael, the Paul Johnson Singers and Kurt Kaiser were doing much broader music, often with orchestras, or the inclusion of guitar and drums and young, contemporary dressed singers, or all the above, with a much more contemporary sound than the church and Christian hymn-style music was used to.
Also, a lot of musical groups like the Imperials Quartet were already honing a more contemporary sound that eventually blended into the Jesus Music scene in the 1970s. By our semantics of the 21st Century they might not have been necessarily considered "Christian rock". But many of them were much more radical and counter-cultural than was the Christian music scene prior to the mid-50s. For instance, some of the same songs I would sing in church as a young kid in the 60s/70s were fine with my church and my parents. But, when they heard Elvis do the same songs, with a similar beat, they were considered evil and sinful because they were sung by an evil rocker like Elvis. Or in the songs you mentioned above, the Byrds or Tommy James.
Turn Turn Turn was written and originally performed by Pete Seeger!
Thank you. The future videos should get better.
Interesting video, although I don't see how you can neglect to mention the christian progressive rock band "SERVANT", a band which was highly successful, and actually toured internationally. Moreover, bands such as "PETRA" actually used to open for them. The cool thing about SERVANT was,- they were truly on the cutting edge" of new music!
I loved Servant and even brought them to Ohio University in 1981. We will talk about them in a future episode. We are producing 20 episodes before posting them...they take a long time to create.
well thank you my dad was the lead guitarist for them.
whats the dfrnce btween wordly andchristian? the spirit behind it. so if wordly music tells you to get high would you?
Respond to this video... Good call i never thought of that.
rez = awesome!
@STRUTTER777U Is U2 a christian group?
I contend they are, especially based on much of what they do that follows the teachings of Jesus, especially as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Yet, there are many right-wing "evangelicals" who argue they can't possibly be a Christian group and often even cite the same actions to claim they are not Christian that I would cite to claim they are Christian.
By their fruits you will know them. And even many of their songs of full of Biblical and Christian references, as well as their leader and other members of the band outwardly claiming their Christian faith and belief in the gospel of the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
Yep, you are correct about that. I was debating with a guy on the Christian Rock - USA video and he was saying it is sick music that draws people into a fall delusion of faith. He concluded that he would rather listen to music that glorifies abortion and violence rather than the rubbish that is Christian rock. He is deceived to say the least.
Yeah i think u got a good point there bro. Becoz of their prejudices they would prefer that some very famous preacher in a 3 piece suit brought people to God, (not saying there's anything wrong with the suit.)
Someone on here keeps drilling what Jesus said about "pick up your cross and follow me"... What exactly does that mean? To me, my "cross" is my guitar, so picking up my cross and following Jesus IS playing Christian Rock on my guitar wherever I am, even if it hurts, even if it's uncomfortable, even if it doesn't fit your cookie-cutter shape for religion. Lately I've been playing Worship at church, and it sounds just like Rock. "Hard Rock for hard hearts."
Also Kings X never claimed to be a Christian band esp. since Doug Pinnick was a closet Homosexual. although allot of there early music had a Biblical theme to it. One of the Musicians was a believer. Just a friendly F.Y.I.
Just because Doug is gay does not mean he wasn't or can't be a Christian. That is an insinuation based on human works that people can look on outwardly to judge. But, to be a Christian, all one has to do is to have faith and believe in the gospel of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. PERIOD. End of story.
If anyone tries to discount Christian music based on individuals being gay or lesbian or transgender, they are going to be losing out on a whole lot of music. A HUGE portion of Christian musicians, singers, instrumentalists, writers, or members of groups are gay and have been gay. Many of them have been very public about it. Many of them have not been because of the kinds of judgment that Christian "evangelical" culture tries to heap on them. And many have had their ministries taken away because of the outward judgments of the Christian church and its leaders. Yet, these same people make excuses for all the people who are living sins that are openly condemned in the Bible, like being divorced and remarried while their prior spouse is still living. Or the Christian church celebrates and lusts after the fame and fortunes many of their favorite artists have greedily obtained.
When you look at homosexuality in the Bible in the context Scripture is written or in the original languages it was written, there is that condemns loving and responsible same-gender relationships, or gay marriages as we know them today. NOTHING. Nor did Christ ever have a single negative thing to say about gay or transgender people. NOTHING.
But, there are plenty of Scripture and even by Christ, that condemns divorce and remarriage, or condemns lust and greed and idolatrous worship like we often do of Christian artists, or it condemns the strife and division the church often purposely creates over these kinds of legalistic, pharisaic teachings of the far right extremists in the church.
U2 was a pioneer in Christian alternative rock, that they try to dodge in between getting into a secular label
Larry Norman was not the Grandfather of Christian Rock... MindGarage was the first known rock band that sang about Jesus. Larry was allot more Popular.
Actually I think it all depends on how you define the word "rock". Many bands were making Beatles style Christian rock in the UK even earlier. And if you count rockabilly tinted gospel then it goes back to the late 1950s.
They evolved into the echuminicle movement .
The Ecumenical Movement in the church actually started in the 1800s. I would contend, that the ecumenical movement within the church actually helped create a more fertile ground for church and Christian music to thrive to match the lifestyles, fashion and musical trends of each generation -- not just of today but of the 19th and 20th centuries.
@FelipeBest7 Jesus is real.
i stand in agreement
Trite.
its not my point bro. Jesus made the point he wrote it I didnt. wealth is whatever you put B4 Christ. Mustain's wealth is metal music and the lifestyle that comes with it. thats why Jesus said "If anyone wishes to be my disciple. Let them deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow me". He said it. His point. Love u bro as Jesus Loved me first be blessed and have a very merry Christmas to you and your family.
ralph ventrella It sounds like someone jealous of u2 and dave mustain you should worry about yourself and be more born again bro
Dum comment.
you cannot worship God & wealth. if they proclaim 2b christian they shouldwalk away from their wordly situations pick up their cross and follow Christ