The End of an Era

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.." Eph. 5:19 (NIV)

In the fall of 1990, I was a young Youth Pastor at Redwater First Baptist Church. The church held a youth rally and I invited the youth praise band from FBC Texarkana (Moores Lane) to lead out in worship. We met in the high school cafetorium (yes, that is a word:) and they did a great job. It was the Solid Rock Band and its fearless leader was David Crowder. He looked much like he does now, minus the audacious gotee, and his music was a little rough around the edges. Nevertheless, he played the set with wholehearted joy and enthusiasm. Honestly I didn't even fathom the idea that he would be a Christian music superstar someday, but I knew his heart was in it.

In 2012, the David Crowder Band will call it quits after releasing its seventh project (the number of perfection by the way) entitled Give Us Rest or (a requiem mass in c [the happiest of all keys]). The band will definitely end on a high note and give us a collection that music lovers will not soon forget. My daughter Mauri had the opportunity recently to attend the last DCB concert at the 2012 Passion Worship Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I have to admit I was slightly jealous.

David Crowder Band will undoubtedly go down as one the best Christian worship bands of this generation. In my opinion, their recording A Collision will also go down as one of the best recordings ever, not only in Christian music but in all music genres. I am confident it is not the last we will see of David and the members of his band, and I look forward to hearing their individual projects. I am happy that I was able to be a part of history and enjoy, along with so many others, their amazing music. I will be ordering my copy of Give Us Rest as soon as possible.

My thanks go out to David and his band for being this generation's worship band and challenging the Christian music industry to produce better music. Whether it was giving us amazing albums with unique themes and cover designs, leading youth and worship conferences, playing in Blues clubs, or leading out in worship at University Baptist Church in Waco, DCB reached millions with the Gospel while creating unique and inspired music. We are all the better for their legacy.