Musical Influences Part 3:James Taylor

I remember the first time that I heard James Taylor (or at least knew that it was him). When I traveled with 180 Degree Ministries several people would come up and say, “you sound a lot like James Taylor”. Of course, it seemed like everybody would tell you that you sounded like somebody so at first I just chalked it up to…..whatever you would call that. But after about the third time I had determined to find out who this guy was. I had actually heard several of his songs but didn’t realize that it was him. I caught a commercial on CMT about a blended concert of James Taylor and The Dixie Chicks. I made arrangements to watch it. I didn’t get to see much of it for some reason. But the first song I heard was “Carolina in my Mind”. All I could think was, “I have got to have a copy of that song.” I had a tendency towards folk, storyteller type music to begin with and when I heard this song, I became a James Taylor fan for life. Contrary to what I had been told, I don’t think I sound like James Taylor. In fact, his voice has a pure quality to it that I don’t think I have heard in anybody in any genre. Needless to say, as an acoustic player I have learned several of his songs. It’s just good music. If I were stranded on an island with a cd player and could take only 3 cds one of them would be James Taylor’s greates hits. Since these posts are about musical influences I guess I should talk about how he has influenced me. I think the influence is found in songs that we do as a band that are just my guitar and the vocalists. Songs like “What I couldn’t do” and “Mexico Breeze”. I’ve got a new one called “Sweetest Taste” that is definately being shaped by the doctor of acousticology. Here’s a clip. I hope you enjoy.

Musical Influences Part 2: Steven Curtis Chapman

If you have had any conversations with me about who I think the top songwriters of our day are, then you have heard me talk about Steven Curtis Chapman. When I was in my teens, Steven Curtis Chapman was the first contemporary Christian singer that I had listened to. All of the youth kept referring to this new song that they called, “Saddle up your Horses”. Come to find out, the title was “The Great Adventure”. This was a watershed moment for me musically. I had only been familiar with southern gospel music as far as christian music goes and this was something I was attracted to immediately. Contemporary music was still considered “heathen” in the rural areas in which I lived but this heathen was going to have more impact on me than I realized. Obviously I am not alone when I say that he writes music that relates to people. I am not the only person who thinks so. Steven Curtis Chapman has won so many Dove Awards that they have been jokingly called “The Stevies”. I have patterned much of my songwriting after this guy. The way that he takes thoughts and phrases them. Some of them are elaborate and others very plain and powerful. I think our words, whether common or colorful, need not get in the way of the message. This guy excels at both. I have never talked to Steven Curtis Chapman but if I had the opportunity, I would thank him for the hours of thoughtful phrasing that have made the gospel clear and made the glory of God central. Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the most overlooked guitarists in the music industry. His playing has been overshadowed by his writing and singing. But he is a fine musician. If you arent’ convinced, try playing his stuff like it is suppose to be played. It’s not your common 1’s, 4’s, 5’s, and 6 minors. You have to know your instrument well. Here's a clip I like.

Musical Influences Part 1: The Roots

No, “The Roots” is not referring to a new age “earth” band. I simply mean where my love for music began. I grew up in a home where Southern Gospel Music was heard almost nightly. My parents sang in a gospel group known as “The Franklins” for about 20 years and then my father went on to sing with a group called “The Noblemen”. He now sings with a group called “The Garry Polston Family”. My home church in those days would have southern gospel concerts every couple of months and I got to meet a lot of up-and-coming singers and musicians. Several of them sing on those Gaither videos now. If I wasn’t hearing it live, I was hearing it on tapes, 8 tracks, or records. That’s right, records! But to be honest with you, I hated it for much of my childhood. That is no surpise to me now. Before I became a Christian, my heart was at odds with the Creator and his Gospel. It would have been strange to like hearing such messages in song. But as the Lord began to convict me of sin and change my heart I learned to love some of the things that I would hear in those songs. I came to love a song called “First Day in Heaven”. Not the fast one, but the slow one. Some of it went like this: “And God’s own hand shall wipe Away the tears from every eye And death itself shall lay down and die” I went through a spell where I thought that Southern Gospel music only sang about heaven and it bothered me that the songs were so consumed with it. I thought that they should be about more than that. There are a lot of SG songs about heaven. But when I compare them to what I hear on contemporary christian radio these days, I think that theologically, SG has the edge. I never thought I would say that but it’s true. Specifically talking about the radio and specifically in the last 4 or 5 years. The good, the bad, and the ugly exist in any genre of music. But while thinking about my muscial influences, I have noticed I like people from a little bit of everywhere. At age 16 I began to play bass guitar with a southern gospel duo (later trio) called “Willing Heart”. I have also sang in a gospel quartet known as “The Captial City Boys”. So my love for those rich harmonies has influenced what I write greatly. Many songs in the Josh Martin Band lend themselves to SG harmony. It makes for a unique sound. Rock guitars and SG harmony–can they work together? I think so. We’re doing it either way! One group in particular that I have grown to love and have influenced my music is the SG group “Gold City”. You need to go hear "It's Still the Cross". Best SG song in 10 years!

Musical Influences: Prelude

I have been thinking a lot lately about who I listen to and how it affects my own writing. It has gotten me listening to some old CD's that I haven't heard in a long time. Some of these CD's are the first CD's ever made by an artist in the early 90's. Yes, that's right, I'm getting old! But not as old as Doug and Danny. Anyway, I will be posting a little about some of my musical influences here in the next few weeks so stay tuned (no pun intended).

Together For The Gospel

This week I was fortunate to attend the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY. This conference is the best conference I have ever been to. They have only had 2 of them and I have been able to attend both. This last one was especially cool from a JMB standpoint because I was able to give one of our DVDs to John Piper. I have been a long time fan of his writings and have written several songs after having read his books. Songs like "Get up to a high Mountain", "Not so easily pleased", and "Wrap me in your cross". I don't know if he will ever listen to it. He may be thinking, "What kind of freak is this guy!" But either way, if someone had written a song after something that I had written, I would at minimum be curious. I don't really expect to hear from him or anything because he is a very, very busy guy. But I felt like he should at least be aware of it. If not here, he will be aware of his impact on folks like me in eternity. God has really used Dr. Piper to show me that I have way to small of an image of God. By His grace that is changing.