Dogs of Peace Return After 20 Years

It's been 20 years since Gordon Kennedy, Jeff Balding, Blair Masters, John Hammond and Jimmie Sloas joined forces as Dogs of Peace to record Speak, a groundbreaking album that was musically inventive, lyrically insightful and both playful and poignant all at the same time.

Now the Dogs are back with Heel, a potent collection of tunes that percolate with the same passion that gave voice to Speak. "The message is just a proclamation of what we believe to be the truth and we try to tell it the best way we can. We're just trying to write the best songs and record them to the best of our ability, and hopefully that's what we've done again."

Each song is brought to life by five well-accomplished musicians.

Kennedy is a legendary guitarist and two-time Grammy winner who co-wrote Eric Clapton's Grammy winning Song of the Year "Change the World." Currently on tour with Peter Frampton, Kennedy has written songs for Don Henley, Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood among others as a player, has worked with Little Big Town, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire, Amy Grant, PFR, Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins and many more.

Sloas is a world-renowned bass player/songwriter and producer whose credits include Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Megadeth, PFR, Thomas Rhett and others.  He has performed with different artists on "Good Morning America," "The Tonight Show," "Saturday Night Live," "Conan" and the CMA Awards Show.

Blair Masters is a keyboardist/composer/producer who has recorded with Frankie Valli, Amy Grant, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Megadeth and Jeremy Camp. As a producer, he has worked with Jim Brickman, Twila Paris and Point of Grace. He has toured with Frampton, McDonald, MercyMe, Giant and Steve Wariner, and he has composed music for television shows on A&E, the Discovery Channel, ABC, NBC and CBS.

John Hammond has recorded or performed drums with Vince Gill, Jewel, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Peter Cetera, Kristin Chenoweth, Bill Gaither, Christopher Cross, Cliff Richard and many others.  He has performed on "The Today Show,"  "Pepsi Smash," "The Tonight Show," The Dove Awards and for the President as part of an In Command Performance at the White House.

Balding's credits include Taylor Swift, Don Henley, Shakira, Little Big Town, Megadeth, Keith Urban and Jewel.  Balding has held elected positions with The Recording Academy and serves on Belmont University's Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and the Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School Academy Advisory Board.

In recording Heel, the Dogs enlisted special friends to lend their talents. Michael Omartian plays piano on "Friend of the Groom." Skaggs lends his mandolin to "Only the Gold" and Frampton puts his signature guitar licks on "Healed." PFR's Joel Hanson, Whiteheart alum Rick Florian and the McCrary Sisters provide guests vocals on "He's the Light of the World."  As much as they enjoyed having friends add to their musical offerings, for the Dogs of Peace, the biggest reward was just in being back together and getting a chance to howl once again. "This was a passion project for us all," says Masters. "We didn't go, 'Let's make a record that has a hit song!' It was really, 'Let's make some music that we love making.' That's what inspired everybody and there's a quote from Gordon that we all embrace: 'If nothing else happens with this other than it being an offering, then that alone is enough reason to do it.' That's the heart behind the record.  If it's an offering we put at His feet, then that's enough and is the reason for this record."

Jimi Hendrix and the Greatest Guitar Player Ever: Phil Keaggy

World Magazine recently interviewed Phil Keaggy.

There is an urban legend that either Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix was asked what it felt like to be the greatest guitar player in the world to which they replied, “I don’t know. Go ask Phil Keaggy.”

I’ve heard that story before. Actually, the myth is more popular than I am, the urban legend that it is. No, it was never said by either of them. There are echelons of artists up there. Just like there are classic movies. Then you have “B” movies or you have unusual documentaries over there to the side. I’m kind of like an unusual documentary when it comes to my contribution because I’m just what I am, and I try to do the best I can at what I do. I want to thank God. I want to thank the people who have enjoyed and loved what I’ve done musically, artistically, and, hopefully, in a ministry sense, too.

The myth has nonetheless persisted and I think the reason is it’s one of those stories that could be true. Your fans hear your guitar playing and say, “It’s possible that Phil Keaggy might be the best guitar player in the world.”

I’m certainly one of the guitar players in the world, that’s for sure. When Jimi Hendrix was asked the question, “How does it feel to be the greatest player in the world?” He goes, “Let’s just say I’m the greatest guitar player in this chair.” He was pretty modest and humble about his own assessment of himself. Anybody who is a true musician knows they’re not the greatest at anything. ... The closer you are to the Lord, the more you realize what a sinner you might really, truly be. The closer you get to the light or the closer you get to becoming a great writer, the more you realize how little you know. I’ve always had a pretty realistic assessment of my own gifts and talents. I also know my limitations. I’m limited immediately. I have nine fingers, but I’ve learned how to do some finger style. I have my own picking style but I have a melodic style that I’m really grateful for. There have been times where I might have been driving or I’ll be walking the trails in the park. When I got the iPod on and I listen to books sometimes, and then I’ll let it shuffle into some music. Maybe an old song of mine will come up, maybe an instrumental piece. I’ll go, “Wow! Did I really do that?” I’m some kind of humbled by the gift of music by God. The gift to be able to make music, especially when you draw from a beautiful source. There’s all kinds of music and there’s music that shouldn’t be called music, but we don’t need to go there. Everybody has their tastes. I just know what I like, and I know what I love, and I know what I’m capable of. I don’t try to venture off into places I’m not at least experienced at.

Having been in the Christian music industry for more than 40 years, what’s different today than when you started? 

I’ll tell you what is consistent and what is not different today is the hearts of the artists. I’d rather talk about them than the people that have run the business of Christian music. … Back in the beginning, we didn’t set out to be “CCM artists.” The term didn’t even come until the late ’70s. I guess I would say the artists who love God and devote their music to Him and develop their music and are investing in that, those are the people that I really love. I think that’s what stayed consistent. I know artists who are really big names, and they’re some of the humblest people I know. Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, these guys are very successful—Amy Grant—just incredibly humble people. I can go down the list from those who are from the earliest days to those who I’ve gotten to know who are now popular. The main thing is the message because no one can really bank on a career in this. We were called to be proclaimers whether we do it with words or without words. We’re planted on this Earth to love God, to worship Him, to proclaim Him, and to love one another well. To me, that’s life right there. Love your families, love your husbands, your wives, your children, and if you’re blessed with grandchildren, which someday I’m looking forward to, someday, go for it. Love your neighbor. 

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From Gospel With Elvis to Drugs with Rock Stars

Mylon Le Fevre, the GRAMMY and Dove Award winner, is telling his own story for the very first time, in his autobiography, "Live Forever." .

"When I was 17, Elvis Presley recorded a song I wrote and from then on my life was a whirlwind ride of a rock and roll fantasy that you couldn't make up if you tried," says Le Fevre. "This is my story. From playing stadiums, coliseums and getting high with some of the biggest rock stars in the world to being strung out on heroin and cocaine and trapped in a seemingly hopeless pit of depression and loneliness, it's all here, the good, bad and the ugly. I did finally find what I was looking for, but it wasn't in drugs, money or fame. I found God."

Le Fevre was just 17 years old and in the Army when he wrote his first song, "Without Him." He was performing that song on stage at a Gospel convention in Memphis, when unbeknownst to him, Elvis Presley was there. Shortly thereafter, Presley recorded the song for his Grammy-winning, multi-platinum album, "How Great Thou Art," making Le Fevre a wealthy and famous teenager, nearly overnight. Le Fevre embarked on a rock and roll journey that he documents in "Live Forever" with more than 100 photos, many which have never been seen before.

Mylon Le Fevre was born into the pioneering Southern Gospel family, The Le Fevre's, and he spent some time as a member of the famed Stamps Quartet (1966-1968). He released a series of solo projects (1964-2003) for Columbia Records, Skylite Records, Atlantic Records and Star Song Records, and has recorded and performed with Eric Clapton, Elton John, Billy Joel, Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Little Richard, Steve Winwood, Mick Fleetwood and The Who, among others. In 2005, Le Fevre was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, and in 2007, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

White Heart Announces Reunion Tour

White Heart, one of the seminal and most popular Christian bands in the 80s has announced a reunion tour beginning in October 2013 with details forthcoming. 

According to their Facebook page, band members on this tour include: Rick Florian, Mark Gersmehl, Billy Smiley, Jon Knox, Anthony Sallee and Gordon Kennedy. 

Kennedy’s name became nationally recognized when he won Song of the Year at the 1997 Grammys for Eric Clapton’s No. 1 hit, “Change the World,” which he co-wrote with Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims, another White Heart alum.

Eric Clapton's "Change the World" Wins Grammy for Song of the Year

Eric Clapton's "Change the World"written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick has won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year (for the songwriters), as well as Best Male Pop Vocal performance. The song was chosen by the RIAA as one of the Songs of the Century, ranked at #270.

Gordon Kennedy and Tommy Simms were previously best known for being in the band White Heart.