In a humorous and engaging style, songwriter Randy Thomas gives us a subjective first-person history of the past half-century of the Christian music movement. He was there at its countercultural birth in southern California in the early ’70s when young people turned to faith in significant numbers, bringing their music with them. As teenagers playing in garage rock bands, Randy and his peers came to faith and formed Christian rock groups. They began to write and sing songs about their newly discovered spiritual experiences, and performed in churches and other venues. Randy was an original member of the bands Sunrise, Psalm 150, Sweet Comfort Band, and ALLIES, performing guitar and vocals—and writing many of their original songs.

Songstory is a true insider’s account of the music world, filled with Randy’s subtle humor. Behind the glamour of the onstage performances, we get an honest look at the joys and travails of life on the road. The bands traveled in an amazing menagerie of vehicles (many of them not very reliable). Their composing and recording sessions in various studios around L.A. were lively and unpredictable. They encountered people of great virtue who helped and encouraged them along the way, as well as unscrupulous promoters, producers, and other scoundrels just out to make a fast buck.

Randy’s career eventually included the talents of his wife, pianist/singer Lori. They moved from L.A. to Nashville where their lives became intertwined with the country music world while they raised a family. Randy wrote songs recorded by stars like Dolly Parton. He toured with Shania Twain and worked with Hank Williams Jr. and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Randy also operated a recording studio that welcomed some of the most famous people in the music industry. His career soared when “Butterfly Kisses” (co-written with Bob Carlisle) hit the top of the charts and won a prestigious Grammy award. He continued to ride a wave of creative hits and flops along with the excruciating financial trials of a cut-throat industry.

Throughout the book, readers discover (in the “Songstory Writer Tips” at the end each chapter) how the mysterious creative process of composing music and lyrics really happens. It is intriguing to learn from an insider, especially for those of us who have no musical skills! The book also contains deep spiritual insights with an undercurrent of Christian theology which added depth to his later hymn-writing career—which continues to this day.

Randy and Lori have been part of the life of First Church for several years as regular worship leaders of our Saturday night service, CenterPoint Praise. They have  also sung and led music at our summer reunion at the Cove in North Carolina. The Thomases moved to Southwest Florida in 2006, when Randy became the Director of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers. The duo performs frequently at area country clubs, weddings, and special events.

I am grateful that Randy is sharing his give as a writer of prose as well as songs. We invite you to pick up a copy of Songstory at the First Church BookCenter. You will love it.

Review by Pastor Doug Pratt