Avalon
I met Jody McBrayer this morning.
I just walked into church like I always do, and there was this guy up there, getting ready to sing and I thought, 'That guy looks exactly like Jody McBrayer', even though it's been 15 years since the only other time I ever saw him in person. Then he started to sing and I knew it was him. Then I checked the program b/c my brain was telling me there was no way, and what do you know, it was. Apparently he grew up about a block from me and he grew up in our church until he was 18, when he moved out to CA to pursue music.
I can't even tell you guys how nostalgic it made me, seeing him again. Avalon helped shape my life in ways that aren't really describable. If I had to pick one band that would have been the soundtrack of my middle school and high school experiences with my church, it would be them. I've had the privilege of singing their music on choir tours all across America and even Jamaica and Italy. Testify to Love was in every single one of our programs, I can even play it on the piano. Jamie and Chad Stone used to sing Adonai together and it was always devastating, just totally awesome when they got together. Two of Avalon's songs still push me through it when I feel discouraged. It's been years since Jody had to leave Avalon because of a heart condition, but he will always be the face of the band for me. I had one of their CDs out 2 weeks ago, no joke.
He sang Mercy Said No. I shook his hand. I told him Hide My Soul is one of my all-time favorite songs and he lit up like a Christmas tree and said his too, and it never really took off with people and that always made him sad, so he was glad to hear me say that and it meant a lot to him. He said he thinks it was better in concert and I laughed and said I SAW it in concert and he said ah-ha, well, did you start liking it before or after the concert? And I said BEFORE, lol, but even more after, and he grinned huge and told me I had a good ear.
I'm pretty sure my teenage self can die happy now. ♥
Hide My Soul
Music montage
I just walked into church like I always do, and there was this guy up there, getting ready to sing and I thought, 'That guy looks exactly like Jody McBrayer', even though it's been 15 years since the only other time I ever saw him in person. Then he started to sing and I knew it was him. Then I checked the program b/c my brain was telling me there was no way, and what do you know, it was. Apparently he grew up about a block from me and he grew up in our church until he was 18, when he moved out to CA to pursue music.
I can't even tell you guys how nostalgic it made me, seeing him again. Avalon helped shape my life in ways that aren't really describable. If I had to pick one band that would have been the soundtrack of my middle school and high school experiences with my church, it would be them. I've had the privilege of singing their music on choir tours all across America and even Jamaica and Italy. Testify to Love was in every single one of our programs, I can even play it on the piano. Jamie and Chad Stone used to sing Adonai together and it was always devastating, just totally awesome when they got together. Two of Avalon's songs still push me through it when I feel discouraged. It's been years since Jody had to leave Avalon because of a heart condition, but he will always be the face of the band for me. I had one of their CDs out 2 weeks ago, no joke.
He sang Mercy Said No. I shook his hand. I told him Hide My Soul is one of my all-time favorite songs and he lit up like a Christmas tree and said his too, and it never really took off with people and that always made him sad, so he was glad to hear me say that and it meant a lot to him. He said he thinks it was better in concert and I laughed and said I SAW it in concert and he said ah-ha, well, did you start liking it before or after the concert? And I said BEFORE, lol, but even more after, and he grinned huge and told me I had a good ear.
I'm pretty sure my teenage self can die happy now. ♥
Hide My Soul
Click to viewMusic montage