the importance of evangelism is sometimes
overlooked in our Christian music and touring
bands of today?
[Eddie] I do feel like the importance
evangelism and kingdom building is overlooked
by many today. We are absolutely called to take
the Gospel to the world. The church has not
been in a season of revival in that way for a
while. We could use it. There’s nothing at all
wrong with Christian music helping us in our
walk with Jesus or worshipping him. There is
nothing wrong with social justice as one of the
goals either. But when a person meets Jesus
for the first time and dedicates their lives to Him
everything changes. Everything. That in itself
would help address many of the problems in
the world and well as showing a person eternity.
[WM] Both you and I have lost close friends
over the past several years. As Dana’s great
friend and former partner, how did you cope
with it all? Did music help you during this time?
Did worship play a role in comforting you?
that your parents gave you in pursuing music in and like many that took place during “The [Eddie] Music did help comfort me. During
the Church? Jesus Movement”. This profound occurrence that time, I was blessed to be working with
in both you and Dana’s lives was obviously artists and writers like Chris Tomlin, TobyMac,
a cornerstone of D&K. Do you ever feel that Matt Redman, Keith Getty, Hillsong, and
[Eddie] For me that came a little later. I grew
up playing in mainstream rock bands all over
the mid-south. Dana and I signed our first
mainstream record deal when we were 15
years old. After the Lord saved me, my folks
thought I was a little crazy at first playing rock
music about Jesus. That was the early 1970’s
in Memphis music. It was unheard of really.
It did get the attention of the TV preachers
though. They were pretty sure we came from
the pit of hell!
Later when we formed DeGarmo and Key, my
parents were totally supportive. They actually
had a couple of rental houses they let Dana
and I live in rent-free during the very early years.
It would have been tough for us to make it
without them.
[WM] Your conversion experience is dynamic
62
April 2019
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