-
Here’s a lil story all about how…
This story begins at age twelve. I was at a Billy Graham crusade at the Lane County fairgrounds in Eugene, Oregon sitting next to the girl of my dreams. She was cute and we talked a lot. When they asked if anyone would like to come forward to make a decision in their faith she did. I stayed behind tentatively watching still sitting legs crossed on the floor. Then I saw her hugging people that also came up so I stood to my feet rubbing my eyes making sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. When I realized it was really real I did a sprint walk straight towards her and got a hug. It was middle school so she was taller than me and had to reach down. I sill remember that awkward but beautiful moment. I know a hug is pretty silly but so is a twelve year old in love. What I didn’t know is God was walking a fast sprint towards me at the same time writing out his love story for me.
Later that week I was up all night and I couldn’t sleep. I just kept envisioning myself hugging her. Jk. What I did see was myself on stage in front of thousands singing, which was weird because I was too timid to sing. Once again I stood up pacing in my room at the wee hours of the morning rubbing my eyes making sure I wasn’t seeing things. My sister and mom were always singing and very good at it so I let them do the singing in the house. I played sports.
However, I was really inspired by my newfound faith and the music I was listening to. One of those ‘tapes’ was DC Talk and I took their lyrics to heart and started writing rap songs. Fast forward several years, schools, notebooks of raps and bands later and I’m a college graduate without a job living at my moms house recording a demo with Christopher Stevens in Springfield, Oregon.
I was fortunate enough to know someone that worked at a record company in Nashville (thanks Jeff Jackson) and he gave my demo to Toby Mac - the lead singer of DC Talk. I got to meet up with Toby while I was in Nashville recording on a project that my buddy Mat Kearney had help hook up. I was pretty excited to recite some old school DC Talk lyrics to Toby since he was the one who inspired me back when I was 12! He offered me a record deal that night.
I feel very blessed and fortunate to have been able to do this for a living since 2003. I’ve learned a lot and I’ve traveled a tons playing in every state in the U.S. I’ve gotten a chance to meet so many people (maybe even you) and try so much good food all over the country. Mmm so much good food.
I am grateful for my experience writing and recording Christian music. The Church has been and continues to be so supportive. There’s another part of me that feels like there are a lot of people who aren’t necessarily “Christian” who would enjoy the songs if they heard them.
In 2007 I moved “home” from San Diego and started a band called ROOTDOWN. We didn’t know what we were doing when we first started but it was fun to be on a team again and travel with my buddies. It reminded me of my time in college playing basketball.
We played a lot of dive places when we first started and made just enough to at least eat dinner that night. Eventually we wrote better songs and got better gigs. I still feel like we are a small boat in a large ocean but I’m grateful for the impact we are having. Right now I’m in a season of waiting as our band presses forward hoping for a bigger break. I’m writing a lot both with the band and myself. I’m considering doing another solo record. It’s been four or five years since my last one. I got a chance to play some acoustic shows while I was in Hawaii and I really enjoyed them. I’ve missed that connection as a songwriter.
I don’t really have an end to this story and I hope that’s because there’s a lot more to be written. So to wrap things up for now I guess I’m just grateful someone listened… so thank you! Hugs.
To be continued…
- Paul -
