Jesus Music (The Archers)

Summer camp 1972 in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  I was 13 years old back then and I have 4 or 5 pictures remaining from that summer camp.  I recall the memory of my mother playing music from the Ol' Time Gospel Hour radio show.  Songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and the like.  I don't recall listing to any secular music back then.  It was my parents stereo so what we listened to was just the music my mother played.  Then, in one weeks time, everything musical for me changed.

In the picture above you'll notice someone jumping up high to shoot a basket.  I'm 97% sure that's Steve Archer and the one in front of him trying to block the shot is Tim Jaquette, of that I'm 100% sure.  I had no idea that Steve Archer, at that time, was only 19 years old.  Here was a band, some of them still teenagers and a few in their early 20's on their way to Gospel Music History.

I became a Christian at that summer camp and the impact The Archers had on my life is still in my heart today.  Billy "Rush" Masters, who I believe was the old man of the group at 22 years old lead me to the Lord that week.

Billy "Rush" Masters

Billy seemed to be a kind person with a love for Christ that appeared to shine from and through him.  He was kind to me when I needed kindness.  I had been adopted when I was around 3 years old and always felt out of place.  I had a fear of rejection that followed me like a dark shadow back then.  It still rears it's ugly head from time to time but back then it was terrible.

Billy, and of course The Archers, introduced me to someone who would never reject me.  Someone who would always be there through the happy times and the darkest times.  Christ became my Savior that week and he became my friend too.

I recall so well how I watched Billy play the guitar so effortlessly.  As a boy who didn't play an instrument at the time it was fascinating to me that he could even play with his eyes closed.

Pastor Dave Koser, our youth pastor at Calvary Temple, announced we would be gathering at the camp music hall to listen to a group that played Christian music.  I remember thinking, "Oh great, more How Great Thou Art!"  It turned out they were no Gospel Group, they were a Jesus Music Band.

Nancye Short (Tsaparalis)

Then came the time when Nancye Short introduced a song she wrote called "As Long As I Know".  My mind seemed to explode when I thought of that concept.  You have to understand that back then I really thought that all the songs that had been written were written years ago.  I had no idea that new songs were being written and recorded every day.  They introduced other songs that Billy had written too.  It was all so exciting I had to get their album.

Front Cover

This is not only the first Archer's album but it was my first album ever, and get this, it's now 39 years old.  Everyone signed and it's stayed with me all these years. 

Back Cover

I can't tell you what songs like "God's Love", "Put on Jesus", "As Long As I Know", "Basically Roamin'" and "For Me, For You" mean to me.  Included on this album is "It Won't Be Long" & "Jesus Is The Answer" by Andrae Crouch.  I was blessed to have this album as my musical guide and introduction to Jesus Music.  The album was re-released with a more hip album cover when The Archers signed with Impact Records.

A few years later, in the 90's, I discovered that one of Billy's songs was published by "Guardian Angel Music".  It was his last recorded song and released around the time he passed away in July of 81'.  I discovered the publishing company was owned and operated by his widow and I was able to send her a recording of the song Billy helped me write and arrange a year or so after I first met The Archers.  It was my first song and you could easily tell Billy's influence in the writing.

Through Judy Spees, Billy's widow, I discovered that Nancye Short lived and worked right in Tacoma.  I was able to arrange a meeting with her and took all of my Archers albums to show her.  A lot of years had passed and when I asked her to sign the other Albums she was on before she left the band, she was hesitant.  I think she may have thought me a NUT.  Most people do of course.  Seriously, she was very shy and almost embarrassed about the whole thing.  We only talked for perhaps 10 or 15 minutes and I haven't seen her since.  She never did sign the other albums.

I have learned through the years that many songwriters and artists have a hard time accepting how their contribution to a song effects people.  For many of us we simply look back and say, "It's just a song."  But, it's not just a song.  Just as my first Archers album isn't just an album.  For me it's a moment in time where everything seemed to change.  Having A.D.H.D. music could calm me.  It helped me to focus.  As I heard the music, listened to the words and later sang them repeatedly I entered a new life.  It was a new life as a Christian but also a new life in so many other ways.

I am sure that this experience is not inclusive to me.  I have no doubt there are countless others who have experienced the same thing with artists and bands they've listened to.