The Pilot, page 4
Are You Ready to Make the Pledge?
DEGARMO & KEY
Thursday September, 21
7:30 p,m.
Edited By Noel T. Manning/ II
The high energy rock and roll
band DeGarmo & Key will invade
Boiling Springs on September
21st, appearing in the Paul
Porter Arena on the very campus
of Gardner-Webb College along
with the Christian rap of DC
Talk.
The widely-acclaimed, Grammy
and Dove nominated D&K, will
perform music from their latest
album. The Pledge, as well as
tunes spanning their eleven year
history.
On the one hand, what may be
unseen initially will prove to
be the key distinction of
DeGarmo & Key, setting them far
apart from their contemporaries.
It is more than their musical
ability. It is more than Dana
Key being the seventh generation
grandson of Francis Scott (Oh
say can you see) Key, composer
of our national anthem.
What makes D&K different is
that they are "sub-culture
missionaries" reaching thou
sands through their "self-styled
crusades," each carefully
crafted with rock 'n' roll
music, preaching, and an altar
call. That's evangelism D&K
style — and DeGarmo & key are
truly evangelists in the purest
sense of the word.
Eddie and Dana met in the
first grade in hometown Memphis,
the cradle of rhythm and blues.
They grew up in the shadow of
Graceland and Elvis, dreaming
of someday making it big in the
music business.
The fame and fortune they
sought ultimately came within
reach. During high school they
were in a band called "Globe."
An opportunity was offered to
tour with a major secular rock
group and, also, London records,
then representing the Moody
Blues and Rolling Stones,
offered them a recording
contract.
Then came a special weekend
— an experience that changed
their lives and priorities. They
were the same talented musi
cians, but they had a new orien
tation. God would come first.
Within months they left "Globe"
and formed the DeGarmo & Key
Christian rock band.
Since their debut album in
1978, "This Time Thru," DeGarmo
& Key have been described as
"cutting edge" musicians who
lead the way in rock 'n' roll
music and video. Their music
videos have appeared on MTV and
other rock video outlets. It was
the D&K "Six Six Six" video that
has been described as the
"ground-breaker" for other
Christian rock bands on MTV. The
D&K video "Every Moment" was
shot on location in Zaire,
Africa, and is part of a
promotional effort helping
support Missions Aviation
Fellowship, an international
organization transporting
essential food and medical
supplies to remote regions of
the world.
D&K are innovators — in
music and ministry. Since their
inception, the band has consis
tently been out in front setting
new standards of performance
and stretching the parameters
of acceptance for Christian
music. They still get the
secular offers. They still win
awards. More importantly, they
have remained true to their
mission as rock 'n' roll evan
gelists .
So, please join the S.E.A.
of Gardner-Webb on Thursday,
September 21 at 7:30 p.m...with
DeGarmo & Key...and make the
Pledge.
DeGarmo & Key
The Pledge/An album review
Produced by Ron W. Griffin
Power Discs
Ed DeGarmo and Dana Key
strike a new balance, reconcil
ing the hard-changing rock
assault of recent effort with
the pop anthems that gained for
them their greatest commercial
acceptance.
The Pledge achieves a hybrid
sound — organic, human, up-to-
date and well-crafted. Eddie and
Dana reportedly had written 3 5
songs in preparation for this
album; the 10 that finally made
it reflect a sober concern for
the creeping darkness of our
times.
"Boycott Hell" sets the tone
with a call to militant witness,
although one imagines it would
be rather warm on the picket
line! "Let's Get Upset" echoes
the alarm. "Aliens and
Strangers" puts a fresh twist
on the "heaven is my home"
theme, as Dana looks around at
his church and realizes, "My
closest friends/are aliens and
strangers/travelers here, living
with danger." D&K revisits "All
the Losers Win" in the song "I'm
Accepted," which comforts with
the encouragement that, "I'm
accepted by the One who matters
most."
"He died for me/I'11 live
for Him" is "The Pledge" these
songs are based upon. "Life in
the New Age" and "Who Will" rail
against the devaluation of human
life, whether through abortion
or "bad karma." "If God Is For
Us (Who Can Be Against Us) " puts
a positive spin on the record
and — a happy ending. The
Pledge is a solid effort, cross
my heart.
By Mark Eischer
DC TALK (de ce tok)
1. hip hop (see rap) 2.
street music with a Gospel
message 3. rap with a melody
line and vocals (see cutting
edge) 4. ministry to young
people that is recognized by
Dr. Jerry Falwell and Liberty
University (see shattered
stereotypes) 5. debut album
released March 1989 (see
ForeFront cassettes and CDs)
A fresh new musical sound
has come from the nation's
capitol in the form of the rap
group DC Talk. Stretching the
boundaries of both rap and
Contemporary Christian music,
Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait,
and Kevin Smith combine hip hop
(rap) with exciting vocals.
Their performance is like none
other.
DC Talk will be performing
"Heavenbound" and other songs
from their debut release on
ForeFront cassettes and CDs as
opening artists on the DeGarmo
& Key 1989 Pledge Tour.