In 1969 when the Jesus Movement began sweeping our country, my brother and friends started a band called the Solid Rock.  They played some of the popular music of the time including songs from the Jesus Movement.  I wanted to be a part of the band, but I was only 11 years old.  When they went on the road, I tagged along to help move equipment and set up.  They showed me how to operate the sound amplifier, which had different inputs from the instruments.  Before long I figured out how to mix the band where they sounded good.  They were invited to play for youth groups from other churches.  This a was great time that I recall with lots of fond memories.

When I was a senior in high school, an evangelist named Richard Houge had a city-wide revival in our area.  The band called Dove was part of that team.  I was attending Bay Area Christian School and we were asked to volunteer to help with the band.  I jumped at the opportunity.  They let me out of class for the week while I traveled with the band to set up at several different high schools in our area.  I got to know the band members as friends, one of whom was Bob Farrell who later left the group to team up with his wife Jane to become Farrell and Farrell.  Farrell and Farrell made a lot of hits in Christian music in those days.  During the times Dove played at the different high schools, I sat with the sound guy and watched him mix the concert. I learned a lot about live sound by being there.  Recently after the flood, I found an eight track tape that Dove had given me of their latest album. 

In college I attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.  We got word that a drummer from Paul McCartney’s band Wings was going to present a show at the school.  He was Joe English.  It was so cool to move cases from the truck to the stage with the Wings logo painted on them from Paul McCartney’s band.  Joe and his band put on a great show. 

After college I worked for an evangelist named Phil Arms. There was a band called Reborn that was part of that team.  Before I got my job with them I volunteered to help with the band as a roady.  I traveled with them all over, even to nearby states like Oklahoma and Louisiana.  What a great bunch of guys, most of whom are now gone.  Phil started filming for TV and that was when I was hired.  I was the Director for his weekly TV show that aired on local channels.  I learned a lot about live TV during those few years.  Most of them were tough lessons but there were a lot of good times too.  What I recall most is the friends I worked with.  The only one I know of who is still living is Phil, but I lost contact with him years ago.

I have not worked as a roady for a band since the early 1980s.  It was hard work with long hours.  Once we were loaded up, then it was hit the road for an almost endless drive to set up in another town.  Then we started all over again.   I have lots of good memories of those road trips but do not want to relive those days.  When I see a band, I try to talk with the roadys who helped since I know, they are the ones who work the hardest and without them the show would not go on.  Roadys are the unsung heroes of concerts.