Jesus Music ( Barry McGuire)

The Archers "any day now" was my first Christian album and my first album ever.  And it didn't take long for my parents to strongly suggest that I move on regarding who I listened to.

Tim Archer, Tim Jacquette and Nancye Short "The Archer"

I was still being influenced by The Archers when they performed at the "Calvary Temple" winter retreat.  That's where Billy Masters re-vised my first song.  Don't you just "Dig" Tim Archer's pants?  Anyway, my mom cut a deal with me that she got to pick an album, a new album that wasn't the Archers, and I got to pick a new one and she'd buy them both.  She picked Jim Nabors Sings The Lord's Prayer.

And the only other Christian album that had any appeal to me was Ray Hildebrand's "He's Everything To Me".  I must say that both albums became favorites of mine.  Jim Nabor's album became my vocal warm up album and Ray Hildebrand's taught me more about song writing and I did like both of their voices too.

The next Jesus Music artist's album, other than The Archers, that I would start collecting was none other than Barry McGuire.

"Seeds" by Barry McGuire came out in 1973 when he was 38 years old.  Now, back then, at the ripe old age of 15 Barry McGuire was literally old enough to be my father.  To tell you the truth I never really did the math.  I never knew he co-wrote "Green Green" and sang with "The New Christy Minstrels".



Then he went on to write and record "Eve of Destruction".

I didn't know that he appeared in the movie "The President's Analyst" with James Coburn either.  I just knew that "Seeds" and Barry McGuire's vocal and writing style would open up my musical world even more.

"Lear Jets" and "Love Is" became my classic Barry McGuire songs.



Later, with the release of "To the Bride" in 75' songs like "Jesus People", "Walked a Mile", "Calling me home", "Doesn't that Bible say", "He's comin' back" and "Happy Road" forever embedded their lyrics in my brain.  Barry McGuires music left me unafraid to share the Gospel of Christ.  It was bold, told the story and made NO excuses.  To me the album is a classic.  Barry McGuire, The 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David".  I have a few favorite Live Christian albums that I believe are not just the Best, but are absolutely "The Best" and "To the Bride" is one of them.

Cosmic Cowboy came out in 79' and it was around that time I met Barry McGuire after watching him live in concert at a small church in Aurora Colorado.  I recall so vividly being in awe of his ability.  It was just him and his 12 string guitar and it was indeed one of the best live concerts I'd ever gone to.  I remember there weren't many people there and I thought, "What's a Christian Musical Giant doing here?  He should be singing for 10 times the amount of people."  For me the lack of people showing up was a good thing.  It was easy to get to meet him and shake his hand.  I think, at the time, I was too embarrassed to tell him I wrote Christian music though.  I wasn't embarrassed that I wrote Christian songs.  I was embarrassed because he was a "real legend" and I was only one in my mind. 

Barry McGuire turns 76 years old this October and he's still going strong.  But, now he's back with "a band called David" doing "Barry McGuire the final tour", see info here.  Say it isn't so!  I just hope the tour comes to the Seattle area because those are tickets I'm definitely getting.

Thank you Barry McGuire for all the songs you've blessed me with and the kindness you have shown.