RIP FCCM

I recently saw a Facebook page (in association with my friendship with Sam Smith, who once created some pretty cool Christian multimedia presentations in association with Heavy Light Productions, with titles such as Black Dog) at this address (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Fellowship-of-Contemporary-Christian-Ministries/223177977770436).

It's the Facebook page for the Fellowship of Contemporary Christian Ministries. That ministry held a national conference in Kansas City MO, and I hitchhiked about 185 miles, all the way from the College of the Ozarks, when I was a student there in the late 70s when it was still known as the School of the Ozarks.

That was the first time I ever learned about the Sweet Comfort Band, which I later booked to perform at my college. I remember that there was also a Christian southern rock band at that conference, and I spent one very fun night jamming on the piano with the sax player for the band.

Eventually, the FCCM was no more, but they played an important role in the growth of the genre known as Christian rock music.

By the way, Sam Smith was the first person who told me about the salvation of Kerry Livgren, member of Kansas and composer of "Dust In The Wind" and "Carry On, Wayward Son".