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Great Music/Comedy LinksLast update Aug 31, 2025

This page is a tribute to those musicians, comedians and bands who have influenced and impacted my life. Most of these musicians, comedians or bands were pioneers in what they did, communicating a message with a foundation of a Christian worldview that was not present in the commercial music or entertainment industry at the time.

Keith GreenLast update Aug 31, 2025

Keith Green's music came into my life during my college years. I remember when he played at ORU, and at one point in the evening was under the piano - praying - as God's presence was evident, at least to me and those who had come to the event from East Texas. Seeing and hearing him offstage in a Bible Study at the Brown's home in Lindale, TX on many occasions, and having friends that were a part of his ministry team amplified his humanity and endeared him, his music and his passion for Jesus to me and many of my friends at the time. I have two of his albums: Songs for the Shepherd (1982) and The Prodigal Son (1983). Keith's untimely death and those of the Smalley family were a shock to those of us who were a little more acquainted with Keith and Melody. But his love for Jesus was and continues to be a source of encouragement in my trust and faith in Jesus. As I've talked to those who were closer to Keith and Melody, I've learned more about the unique, sometimes flawed, yet gifted person he was. He gave a glimpse of Jesus to anyone with ears to hear in his music and his concerts. I highly encourage heading over to the ministry website that Keith and Melody started - Last Days Ministry if you have never heard of Keith Green, his music and his life or just to catch up on where the ministry is now.

Michael CardLast update May 2, 2025

Michael Card's music and books have set a foundation of Jesus Christ in our lives. His ability to ask questions in his songs that we asked about Christian beliefs, to explore the richness of Christian thought and discourse since the time that Christ lived here on earth has been a gateway to understanding the nature and extent of God's Truth for us through his music. His website links to his books and other resources that provide much to explore for years to come. What is interesting is the number of podcasts we have listened to that mention Michael Card as influential in their thinking. On his website he states that he writes articles and books on topics that captured his imagination through conversations with Bible teachers, friends and contemporaries in both Christian music and the academic community, and continues to write to this day. The music is just a small sample of the 38 albums he has produced over the years. Oh, and he has a weekly podcast if you have the time!

PetraLast update Aug 31, 2025

Petra captured my imagination, I listened to them often, amazed at the talent that sang truth about Jesus. This was a band that influenced me away from bands that were great music, but the lyrics and "spirit" of those musicians and bands seemed like a caustic substance to my soul and my conscience. Petra was like a refreshing shower, music that was interesting and filled that longing for something creative with sounds never heard before, but lyrics to bridge the beliefs and values within me that formed my conscience and faith in God. Crosswind may have happened without the influence of Petra, but our sense of "calling" would not have had a "map" to get to where we went with our music without them. They are on the web, and still rockin' for Jesus, which I think is great!

I have 4 of their albums: Petra (1974), Washes Whiter Than (1979), Not Of This World (1983) and Beat The System (1984).

2nd Chapter Of ActsLast update Aug 31, 2025

I became aware of the 2nd Chapter of Acts in High School with their 1974 release of Easter Song. I remember listening to their music and sensing a humility and a difference that I couldn't quite understand at the time. Something at that time was communicated to me in that music that would impact me further when I moved to Texas in 1976. I met others at LeTourneau in Longview that also loved the music and songs of Annie, Nellie and Matthew. I "met" Annie, Nellie and Matthew in person at a bible study in Texas, and experienced their humility, their love for Jesus and recognized that they weren't singing to become well known, they were together playing music that was and is uplifting and memorable because of the work of God in their lives. If you know their story, you know what I'm talking about. I encourage you to read their About Us page on their website for the details. This humility, yet profound creativity with the musicians they worked with and heard in their music spoke to my heart. Their music and brief encounters with them began the process of turning my heart from wanting affirmation from audiences and people to wanting to serve God by how I relate to people. I attribute the process of recognizing my own selfishness and pride to God through their music and their lives. The music created in me a desire to seek God's leading in whatever music I played and whatever musicians I would partner with in music. I have three of their albums: Mansion Builder (1978), Second Chapter of Acts & Michael & Stormie Omartian (1983) and Night Light (1985).

Annie came to the church I attended some years ago and I met her in one of the hallways of the church after she had arrived a few hours before the concert was scheduled to begin. This was when she was performing solo at different churches. The sense of her grace and humility was evident as before as we briefly conversed. I am thankful for their influence in the music industry, and for their faithfulness to follow God where He has led them since that time. God revealed himself to people in the special way that Annie, Nellie and Matthew used their musical giftings. I am grateful that God made a way in their lives for the richness and depth of His love to be revealed in a way that helped establish faith in God's grace and love for many of us that were aware of their music. They have a website that you can visit to find out more about them and their music.

Various Musicians & BandsLast update Apr 9, 2026

These are some of the other bands and musicians I remember fondly from the albums I purchased during the 70's and 80's (and still have!), the peak of the 33 1/3 music album production. I did see most all of them in concerts and events. If you wonder why I skipped so much of the non-Christian music scene, this is why - I was feeding my soul with great music that talked about God unashamedly with encouragement, conviction and creativity. It was a time when the foundation of my faith in God was being stabilized and deepened by evidences, reasoning and an exposure to the rich history of Christian theology. Each musician and band played a part in providing a framework for the faith I have in the God who created me and the human race. I so much appreciate those who went beyond the clichés and the "pat" answers to hard questions in their concerts. I appreciate the musicianship of them all, but even more their ability to navigate their faith in God with conviction and tenacity, especially in later years as various questions arose that challenged their faith and trust in God. It is great to see the children of some of these musicians, like Alissa Childers contending for faith in God. For those musicians that did not have lyrics, their lifestyle and concerts spoke of their love for God, and their music was and is uplifting to my soul!

Here's the selection of Christian musicians and bands from my collection of albums through those years:

Amy Grant (Age to Age - 1982) NOTE: Amy's faith journey has been one where hard choices were made in difficult circumstances, I pray that her faith in God would continue to be affirmed in her and her family)

Arkangel (Warrior - 1980) NOTE: There are several bands, at least one existing today that go by the same name. This group had only one album before they disbanded.

Benny Hester (Benny Hester - 1978)

Daniel Amos (Daniel Amos - 1976, Alarma - 1981)

DeGarmo & Key (This Time Thru - 1978, This Ain't Hollywood - 1980, Communication - 1984)

Farrell & Farrell (Farrell & Farrell - 1978)

Fletch Wiley (Ballade - 1977) NOTE: Instrumental

Glad (Glad - 1978, Captured In Time - 1982)

Greg X Volz (The River Is Rising - 1986)

Honeytree (The Melodies in Me - 1978)

Hope of Glory (Be Ready - 1978, Which Side Are You On - 1980) NOTE: The band later shortened their name to The Hope

Jamie Owens-Collins (Straight Ahead - 1980, Love Eyes - 1981)

John Mehler (Bow & Arrow - 1982)

John Michael Talbot (Troubadour of the Great King - 1981, Light Eternal - 1982, Be Exalted - 1986)

Kathy Troccoli (Stubborn Love - 1982)

Keith Thomas (Instrumental Appetite - 1983) NOTE: Instrumental

Koinonia (More Than A Feeling - 1983, Celebrate - 1985, Frontline - 1986) NOTE: Instrumental - Members have been Alex Acuña, Justo Almario, Hadley Hockensmith, Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Dean Parks, John Phillips, Harlan Rogers. Other musicians also played on their albums.

Larry Norman (Stop This Flight - 1984)

Leslie (Sam) Phillips (Beyond Saturday Night - 1983, Dancing With Danger - 1984, Black And White In A Grey World - 1985) NOTE: Leslie changed her public name to Sam Phillips to expand her music expression beyond the Christian contemporary label. Her faith journey has led her to ask questions and seek answers to the experiences she had as a musician. May God continue to reveal His love and truth to Sam in a way that deepens her faith and trust in God.

Mark Heard (Stop The Dominoes - 1981, Victims of the Age - 1982)

Mehler & Nash (Jazz Praise - 1985) NOTE: Instrumental

Michael & Stormie Omartian (Seasons of the Soul - 1978, The Builder - 1980, Mainstream - 1982)

Michael W. Smith (Michael W. Smith Project - 1983, Friends Medley - 1985)

Michael W. Smith/Kathy Troccoli (Friends Medley - 1985)

Michelle Pillar/Erick Nelson (The Misfit - 1979, Michelle Pillar - 1982) The Misfit album had a very significant effect on me at the time (1979), a time when so many changes were happening around me and I felt pulled in many directions.

Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart (Live Forever - 1983)

Nedra Ross (Full Circle - 1978)

Phil Keaggy (Love Broke Thru - 1976, Emerging - 1977, Song In the Air - 1977, The Master & The Musician - 1978, Ph'lip Side - 1980, Town to Town - 1981, Play Thru Me - 1982, Underground - 1983, Wind & The Wheat - 1987)

Randy Stonehill (Welcome to Paradise - 1976, Celebrate This Heartbeat - 1984)

Resurrection Band (Awaiting Your Reply - 1978, Colors - 1980, DMZ - 1982)

Servant (Shallow Waters - 1979)

Silverwind (Silverwind - 1981, A Song in the Night - 1982)

Steve & Annie Chapman (Steve & Annie Chapman - 1981)

Steve Camp (Sayin' It With Love - 1978)

Steve Taylor (I Want to be a Clone - 1982, Meltdown - 1983, Meltdown Remixes - 1984, On The Fritz - 1985)

Sweet Comfort Band (Hearts of Fire - 1981)

Terry Talbot (On Wings of the Wind - 1982)

White Heart (White Heart - 1985)

Honorable Mentions: Chuck Girard, Love Song NOTE: I never did purchase their albums, but I listened to their albums at friends homes where we were influenced by the lyrics, music and spirit of the music.

As you can see through my musical selections, these six years between 1979 through 1985 were the epi-center of my musical journey and exposure to the wide variety of Christian musicians and artists. While my life journey took me away from this musical culture for a 39 year career as a defense contractor software engineer, I am grateful for those years. Now with retirement there is time to once again pick up the guitar and keyboards and sing a new song that expresses God's love, His mercy and coming judgement of our choices and beliefs. My desire is to continue to participate in the expression of His kingdom here on earth prior to the time "...when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord".

Christian ComedyLast update Aug 31, 2025

Christian comedians produced albums during the late 70's and early 80's that were sold at their concerts and in Christian bookstores. Christian comedy was non existent before this time, I'm not aware of any comedians that were public with their Christian faith growing up into my teen years. The first Christian comedian I remember was Mike Warnke. There was a public controversy with his ministry in 1992, but since then more has come to light that has provided Mike and his wife Susan a place to minister that is valid and authentic. In college I was introduced to Isaac Air Freight. I have four of their albums: (Fun In The Son - 1978, In The Air- On The Air - 1979, Foolish Guys To Confound The Wise - 1980, My Kingdom Come, They Kingdom Come - 1982). There is a YouTube video where they reminisce of how Isaac Air Freight came to be and some of the comedic moments that were memorable that is worth viewing!

Since that time there have been many that have put out great comedic material. Names such as Tim Conway, Tim Hawkins, Mark Lowry and Chonda Pierce come to mind, but there are many others that are well worth hearing, enjoying and supporting!