Danniebelle Hall , Randy Stonehill , Michael & Stormie Omartian and so many others . They ’ re not all about music people , but they ’ re all about God and the people who formed my persona and my life .
As I look back , I see that my grandmother was the one who first deposited the power of story in me . And that ’ s what the Fireflies are : true stories , memories , that took me from grandmother ’ s kitchen to the great cathedrals and arenas of the world .
These stories are like fireflies that flicker up in the twilight years of my very long and eventful life . They are memories of people — friends — with holy vision and incredible courage ; people who have seen angels and battled demons ; suffered devastating tragedies and kept the faith . I ’ ve written about people who have followed Jesus and impacted the nations with their witness . And with their music !
Now those last words sound a lot like Jimmy Owens ! After Jesus , he has been the most important person in my life . Without his love , talent , and partnership , I don ’ t want to think what my life might have been like . Together with our friends , we ’ ve helped shape the way the contemporary church worships and prays .
[ Jimmy ] In the early 1950s , as a young recently converted jazz musician , I was offered a job directing the choir at a large church in the Bay Area of Northern California .
One night while driving I was spinning across the radio dial . I heard all sorts of music — pop , country , classical , jazz , etc . ( Rock was not invented yet .) All of it was well done till I came to the only representation of Christ on the entire San Francisco Bay Area radio spectrum . It made Christians sound so out of touch with our culture . I was shocked , embarrassed ! I almost had to pull the car over . It was a life changing moment . I vowed to do all I could as far as God allowed my influence to reach to make Christian music attractive to ordinary people of our time . Most Christian radio music mirrored church
music — organ , piano , choir , some soloists with enough training to be dangerous .
Our church allowed me to experiment . In the early 1960s , I brought in drums and — gasp !— electric guitars — something that just wasn ’ t done in those days . I made some mistakes . An elder complained to our pastor “ It sounds like a night club in here .” In my youthful zeal I had overstepped my bounds . I had to learn something about appropriateness .
Other young musicians joined the fray . Over the years we have seen the fulfillment of my vision , some for better , some for worse . We have tried , and we hope ONE DAY our fruit will prove its worth . But what I have done I couldn ’ t have done alone , so the Lord gave me Carol . He maneuvered us into each other ’ s orbit to fulfill our place in His plan , and what a wonderful
The Witness - The Easter Musical ( Barry McGuire ) adventure it has been . Carol tells about it far more eloquently in her memoir , Chasing Fireflies in the Twilight .
[ WM ] And what are your thoughts about the dynamics of commerce meeting ministry ?
[ Jimmy ] That ’ s a great question , Alex . As for the commercial aspect of worship music , I would say this : So much contemporary worship music today was born from the 70s Jesus Music . These early worshipers sang on the streets , in the parks , on the beaches , wherever they could whip out their guitars and draw a crowd to hear about Jesus . They weren ’ t trying to make money , but when their efforts started making an impact , the publishers showed up to help spread this contemporary sound that would attract a young crowd to the churches . They were a mixed blessing , because sometimes they , and the musicians , got their motives confused .
Of course , it costs a lot to get music and books — even Bibles — printed , distributed , and publicized . But I think heart-motivation is what counts . And it counts a lot ! Money is a great temptation in the writing , performing , and publishing camps . But I know most of those early Jesus People singers would go right back out on the streets if they were young again and the times called for it . And do it for free . They are Bible-believers who know their reward is waiting for them in an untroubled glorious place .
[ Carol ] As for Jimmy and me , we never charged admission to any of our own productions . We took up offerings . Those and our album sales went to support the concerts . On more than one occasion , when the sponsors didn ’ t come through , we made up the deficit ourselves . There is little more important to us than integrity . Walking as close to God as you can , will avoid a lot of confusion . Prayer and the Word . Consistently . The vital , winning formula .
As for Chasing Fireflies in the Twilight : It cost a lot to produce and of course we hope to