Kickstarter

As a boy I loved to travel with my dad to rural and small-town churches around eastern Kentucky as he spoke for the Gideons. This probably was the beginning of my deep and abiding love for hymns and gospel music, one that has come along with me in my music and in my work as an ordained minister.

When I moved to Indiana a few years ago, I became friends with a retired pastor and guitar picker who showed me the thumbpicking style of guitar that Merle Travis carried out of western Kentucky and introduced to the world. I have played guitar for over 40 years, but learning the thumbpicking style was like falling in love with my guitar all over again.

My new CD project, Picking the Faith, brings together those two loves and taps deeply into my Kentucky music roots. Picking the Faith will contain 15 tracks of hymns and other songs of faith. It includes songs like Merle Travis' "Preacher Lane," Thomas A. Dorsey's "Old Ship of Zion," and hymns like "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "When We All Get to Heaven," along with a new original song, "Play On, Pauline."  

I've been recording Picking the Faith with Eddie Prather at Minor Prophet Studio in Avon, Indiana. We've been able to bring together some good friends and extremely talented musicians to play and sing on the record. It's shaping up very nicely, and I am planning an August 2012 release for the album.

I'm using Kickstarter so that you can join me in finishing the project. I'm raising $2,000 to help cover some of the final production costs. Your contribution will go toward the expenses of mixing, mastering, and designing the artwork, with anything raised above the $2,000 goal going toward production of the discs and promotion expenses.

I'm also using Kickstarter so that I can give something back to you. From pre-release digital downloads to free concerts, I've created a variety of ways to show my appreciation for your support.

It's been four years since the release of my last album, Give Us a Song. A few of my friends have been getting onto me that it's about time I got to working on a new one. I'll appreciate anything you can do to help!

Thank you for joining the fun!