I’ ve taught my students over the years that there are three categories of music: Hits, Misses, and Significants. The latter is that artist or recording that is a game changer. Sometimes this significant category includes the commercially successful, and sometimes it does not. I can easily point to a couple of good examples.
When Bob Dylan went“ electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, he divided his audience. But by his act, he also empowered many folk musicians to go“ electric”. This changed pop and rock music, sceptering folk musicians and singers, and causing groups like The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield to launch into the music mainstream. Bob’ s act was significant.
And when Dave Davies slit his amplifier speaker with a razor blade to create a distorted sound for The Kinks’ recording of“ You Really Got Me”, it changed the universe for guitar players. It too was significant.
But I can also point to Chuck Girard and his bandmates, LoveSong, as game changers. As an 18-year-old new convert to Christianity, I went to a little church in Southern California called Calvary Chapel, in early 1970. And there was Chuck and LoveSong. Although I had been playing drums and percussion for five years, I did not feel“ empowered” to do so as a new Christian, even though playing music was the love of my life. Chuck and LoveSong changed all of that. Their example said to me that it was okay to play rock and roll, and drummers like John Mehler( LoveSong) and Mike Jungman( Agape) empowered me to again play drums. LoveSong also demonstrated on those Calvary Chapel nights, that it was possible for a band to play at a lower volume, and still sound great.
Pop, Rock, Blues, and Folk music were critical components of the youth culture back then, and Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, recognized that. Because of this, bands, artists, and songwriters flourished in the environment, laying the groundwork for Contemporary Christian Music( CCM) and praise and worship music.
Alexander MacDougall & Chuck Girard in February 2025
You can hear some of these groups by listening to the original Maranatha! Music release, The Everlastin’ Living Jesus Music Concert. The production was personally funded by Pastor Chuck Smith. The milestone recording included LoveSong, The Way, Selah, Blessed Hope, Gentle Faith, and others. I’ ve supplied the link here. A complete list of the artists are listed within the link’ s comments.
The Everlastin’ Living Jesus Music Concert( Full Album)
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