Not Forgotten
So many musicians and friends from the Jesus Movement and the aftermath of that movement are getting up in years. Many have already left this earth and hopefully have entered that ultimate communion with the Lord.
Some were known as fiery “Prophets” like the late Keith Green who one moment would seem like a Paul or Peter and the next would be wrestling with his own shortcomings of being human. Larry Norman was called the Father or Grandfather of a movement that was short lived but impacted the world and Christianity greatly. Larry was as much of an enigma as Bob Dylan and till he died of heart failure on Feb. 24th of this year, Larry still seemed shrouded in mystery. No one can deny the impact he had on a movement that brought us so much in terms of music and ministries into the 21st Century.
Lonnie Frisbee not a musician that I know of but definitely an influence for those that came to Calvary Chapel looking to be disciples, many of course were musicians and Calvary Chapel took them in an Lonnie was one of the leaders to help them. Lonnie’s struggles would also become more evident and there is even a documentary done about Lonnie.
Calvary Chapel was a beehive of new ideas and struggles for a batch of many new converts with long hair and rowdy music. Coming to Jesus was usually a simple prayer followed by Bible studies and worship and baptisms. People that have left us early on like Bill Sprouse from The Road Home were one of the popular country rock bands from Calvary Chapel at the time.
California was a hub for Jesus Freaks spreading to other churches and opening new ones like The Vineyard. Keith Green started to attend here in 1973 with his girlfriend Melody who soon married at The Vineyard Church. Keith started his own Intentional Community and Ministry soon after, called Last Day’s Ministries. In the Early 80’s while taking off in a small plane to look over Last Day’s Property Keith and others including two of his children died when the plane crashed during take off. Keith really made us aware of Missions and making Jesus Lord of our lives and was and still is greatly missed.
Later on others that came along like Mark Heard, Denny Correll and Rich Mullins would leave us. Rich came after the Jesus Movement but many felt he brought the principles of that Jesus Movement back to the Christian Music industry. Many were affected by Rich in deep ways with his worship music and life the same way Keith Green or Larry Norman touched someone.
Mark Heard was a great producer, songwriter, and engineer that would be praised by Bruce Cockburn, Phil Keaggy and many others. Mark’s poetic lyrics and intelligent music sent tremors through the whole church and beyond.
Gene Eugene of Adam Again and other groups like the Lost Dogs died all of a sudden in his sleep at a young age (40), like Mark, Gene was amazing in the studio or on stage. Gene was responsible for Christian Music turning more alternative in the 80’s and 90’s.
Roby Duke, Mister “Blue Eyed Soul.” Roby wrote moving lyrics and music in the R&B and Pop Jazz genre. He left us with some of the most compelling lyrics, many written during his own turmoil’s in life. His last video of him singing “I Shall See God” shot just a few days before his passing, seemed to foreshadow history. Roby left us with the simple but profound words “I’m older so much older but I still believe.”
In the Midwest, Jesus People Milwaukee Separated into different traveling groups, one of these groups ended up being The Highway Missionary Society eventually settling in Oregon. the band Servant came from HMS and had a great guitar player named Bruce Wright who ended up Going to be with Lord in 1993 from cancer. Another guitar player that left us was Jon Linn in 1989? Larry Norman’s lead guitarist. Jon “Wonder fingers” and Bruce sure could play those blues!
Many have left us and are going to in the future. It amazes me how I looked up to all these “heroes” as a kid and realizing the only true hero is Jesus Christ. I learned so much from them and it was usually heart changing. Many of these early Pioneers had earth shattering experiences of Love and Grace and true struggles that many are not aware of. Hopefully through the pages of all their lives and ours, Jesus will somehow be glorified. Even if it means to show us how human we are without Him. -MP
Denny Correll – http://www.dennycorrell.com/
Keith Green – http://www.lastdaysministries.org
Larry Norman – http://larrynormanpages.ning.com/
Rich Mullins – http://legacyministry.org/
Lonnie Frisbee – http://www.lonniefrisbee.com/
Gene Eugene – http://www.danielamos.com/articles/ggfuneral.html
Mark Heard – http://www.markheard.net/
