Musicians/Entertainers that became Christians

Frank Badfinger

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Musicians/Entertainers that became Christians is a spin off of the Alice Cooper thread.

Lou Gramm, the former lead vocalist for Foreigner became a Christian. He said it was hard to be a Christian in a rock band with all its indulgences; and it caused friction for him and the band as he opted out of various activities.

How Lou Gramm came to accept Jesus Christ


Beautiful Christian song from Lou Gramm
 

Lisa

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Musicians/Entertainers that became Christians is a spin off of the Alice Cooper thread.

Lou Gramm, the former lead vocalist for Foreigner became a Christian. He said it was hard to be a Christian in a rock band with all its indulgences; and it caused friction for him and the band as he opted out of various activities.

How Lou Gramm came to accept Jesus Christ


Beautiful Christian song from Lou Gramm
Guess he found out what love is...good for him!
 

Frank Badfinger

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Guess he found out what love is...good for him!
One thing I really like about Lou Gramm was that he was so open about it. A lot of entertainers would be afraid to admit that they have accepted Christ, for fear of getting black listed or shunned by the industry Lou didn't care. He just put it out there and a lot of fans respected him for that. He also made a really good "Rock" album for a Christian album.
 

Lisa

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One thing I really like about Lou Gramm was that he was so open about it. A lot of entertainers would be afraid to admit that they have accepted Christ, for fear of getting black listed or shunned by the industry Lou didn't care. He just put it out there and a lot of fans respected him for that. He also made a really good "Rock" album for a Christian album.
God does help you live for Him...sometimes it comes out better than you hoped and sometimes it doesn’t. He probably lost some fans but he did the right thing.
 

Red Sky at Morning

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Barry McGuire was perhaps one of the original “truthers” in the music industry, perhaps most famous for the following song:-


And the original version of “California Dreamin” in which the cynicism and disappointment of his character at that time really comes over...


What many people don’t know is that shortly after, Barry became a Christian and started seeing the world through fresh eyes:-


Now, I’m not sure if any of his subsequent material captured the raw anger of “Eve of Destruction”, but the spirit that comes through his music has a fresh quality of it’s own.

 
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Frank Badfinger

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Barry McGuire was perhaps one of the original “truthers” in the music industry, perhaps most famous for the following song:-


And the original version of “California Dreamin” in which the cynicism and disappointment of his character at that time really comes over...


What many people don’t know is that shortly after, Barry became a Christian and started seeing the world through fresh eyes:-


Now, I’m not sure if any of his subsequent material captured the raw anger of “Eve of Destruction”, but the spirit that comes through his music has a fresh quality of it’s own.

What a great testimony! He was searching for the truth all that time, and found it on a whim by picking up the New Testement.
 

Frank Badfinger

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The Mamas and Papas version of California Dreaming sounds so close to Barrys , then I read its the same backing track, just re-recorded.

According to wikipedia -

They earned their first record contract after being introduced to Lou Adler, the head of Dunhill Records, by Barry McGuire. In thanks to Adler, they sang the backing vocals to "California Dreamin'" with members of the session band The Wrecking Crew[13] on McGuire's album This Precious Time.

The Mamas and the Papas then recorded their own version using the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks, to which they added new vocals[14] and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank. The guitar introduction was performed by P. F. Sloan.[15] McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased.[16]
 
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Red Sky at Morning

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The Mamas and Papas version of California Dreaming sounds so close to Barrys , then I read its the same backing track, just re-recorded.

According to wikipedia -

They earned their first record contract after being introduced to Lou Adler, the head of Dunhill Records, by Barry McGuire. In thanks to Adler, they sang the backing vocals to "California Dreamin'" with members of the session band The Wrecking Crew[13] on McGuire's album This Precious Time.

The Mamas and the Papas then recorded their own version using the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks, to which they added new vocals[14] and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank. The guitar introduction was performed by P. F. Sloan.[15] McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased.[16]
I used to like that song a lot, and I like it better knowing it was part of Barry’s story. He also did a real 70’s number I had on an old cassette that told his conversion experience in an allegory...

 

Frank Badfinger

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I used to like that song a lot, and I like it better knowing it was part of Barry’s story. He also did a real 70’s number I had on an old cassette that told his conversion experience in an allegory...

I just watch a live version and Barry said he wrote the song the way he did because he wanted people to hear about this character he was singing about before they realized it was Jesus. Interesting, cause to me It has a new age appeal with the cosmic aspect. I think thats what Barry was trying to do. Draw in the the new age hippy crowd to Jesus. Sort of a bait and switch.

Reminds me how George Harrison wrote My Sweet Lord. He carefully constructed the song in a way that most listeners thought he was singing about Jesus until the "Hare Krishna" part started but by then as Harrison says "They were hooked"
 
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I can’t seem to find the comment now, and while I understand it’s not about turning to Christianity per se, but when I posted this awesome '80s song in the “What are you listening to?” thread, I read a comment on YT that this song was actually about the Heavenly Father. If you replace “she” with “He”, I realized they were right. As well, and not surprisingly, they said that David Pack wasn’t too keen of the music scene and sort of went his own way once this song became a hit. He still makes music and the online radio station I listen to plays them, but he’s sort of been doing his own thing and has been rather obscure from the music scene Ambrosia:

here's a new sun arisin'
(In your eyes) I can see a new horizon
(Realize) That will keep me realizin'
You're the biggest part of me

Need your lovin' here beside me
(Shine the light) Need it close enough to guide me
(All my life) I've been hoppin' you would find me
You're the biggest part of me

Well, make a wish, baby
And I will make it come true
Make a list baby, of the things I'll do for you
Ain't no risk in lettin' my love rain down on you
So we can wash away the past so that we may start anew

Risin' over my shoulder
(Love flows) Gettin' better as we're older
(All I know) All I wanna do is hold her
She's the life that breathes in me

Got a feelin' that forever
Together) We are gonna stay together
(Forever) For me there's nothing better
You're the biggest part of me

Well, make a wish, baby
And I will make it come true
Make a list baby, of the things I'll do for you
Ain't no risk in lettin' my love rain down on you
So we can wash away the past so that we may start anew

More than an easy feelin'
She brings joy to me
How can I tell you what it means to me
Flow like a lazy river
For an eternity
I finally found someone who believes in me
And I'll never leave
(Now I've found all I need)

Need your lovin' here beside me
(To guide me) Keep it close enough to guide me
(Inside of me) From the fears that are inside of me
You're the biggest part of me

Got a feelin' that forever
(Together) We are gonna stay together
(Forever) From now until forever
You're the biggest part or me
You're the life that breathes in me
You're the biggest part of me

You changed my life
You made it bright
And I'll be a savior to you
For the rest of my life
Oh, the biggest part of me

 

Frank Badfinger

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I can’t find the comment now, and it may have been deleted by now, but when I posted this awesome '80s song in the “What are you listening to?” thread, someone posted on YT stated that it was actually about the Heavenly Father but changed it for for obvious reasons. If you replace “she” with “He”, I realized they were right. As well, and not surprisingly, they said that David Pack wasn’t too keen of the music scene and sort of went his own way once this song became a hit. He still makes music and the radio station I listen to plays them, but he’s sort of been doing his own thing since Ambrosia:

I really like that song. I do however question David Pack's friends and business partners. He has worked very close with Alan Parsons, Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign twice, Rick Warren and others. He also has a section on his web page dedicated to the light with a rainbow. This video shows him singing in church that has the Masonic pillars Boaz and Jachin in the background. I suspect the light shining/Sun rising references are most likely referring to the other bringer of light.
 
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I really like that song. I do however question David Pack's friends and business partners. He has worked very close with Alan Parsons, Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign twice, Rick Warren and others. He also has a section on his web page dedicated to the light with a rainbow. This video shows him singing in church that has the Masonic pillars Boaz and Jachin in the background. I suspect the light shining/Sun rising references are most likely referring to the other bringer of light.
Yeah, I knew about him working with Alan Parsons, but didn't know about him being the musical director of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. I also see that he's involved with Rick Warren and Saddleback Church, which appear to be fundamentalist's views in the US. Should I have the time or energy, I'll try and find the YT to find out what it exactly stated.

That said, I'm with you and still think it's a cool song and probably won't take it off my MP3 player. :)
 

Lisa

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So, there is only one musician that we know about that became a Christian?
 

Frank Badfinger

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Kerry Livgren of Kansas

I always thought Kansas was different from most bands, Their lyrics were very deep and personal. Turns out Kerry Livgren who wrote "Dust In The Wind" and "Carry On Wayward Son" was a deep thinker. He says he had two goals in life, 1) to be a rock star and 2) to figure out the meaning of life. Kerry says he was searching and studying all kinds of religions but knew for sure he didn't want to be a Christian until....


 

Stephania

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I'm just curious.. why do ppl here put entertainers that believe in God or religion in the religion/spirituality section, and not in the entertainment section like other artists? Satanism/illuminati is spirituality and religion too, technically.
 
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