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by Lynetta Smith After two decades, Diamond Rio is still sparkling. They’re enjoying an impressive career — chart-topping hits and awards. Though playing for the Christian market is new for the band, for most of them their faith in Christ isn’t. “We tried our best to make our music positive and reflect who we are,” says lead singer Marty Roe. “Country music screams out for honesty from the artist, and if you try to be something you’re not, usually [audiences] will find you out pretty quick.” All along, their music has reflected their faith, setting them apart from typical country bands. Gene Johnson (vocals, mandolin) says their songs “touched people beyond their ears, and got down into their hearts.” Recently they’ve seen a revitalization in their spiritual lives that Roe calls a “driving force” in their career. One of the catalysts for change was Roe’s development of vocal problems that affected his pitch, rendering him unable to perform some of the songs.
“I didn’t enjoy what I’ve been given vocally,” he says. “I didn’t take care of it, and because of that I got into some really bad habits. I couldn’t fix it on my own.” He calls the three-year ordeal a learning and humbling experience for all of them, noting the rest of the guys had to have even more faith than he did because they had even less control. Roe has been a Christian since he was young, growing up on a farm near Lebanon, Ohio. He participated in church ensembles throughout middle and high school, traveling as far as Nashville to sing for church services. Yet, Roe realized he’d taken the focus off of God at some point and put it on himself. “It’s easy to get caught up in yourself and what you do for a living. How you live your life becomes somewhat about you,” he says. “My business became a lot more about me than my gift and trying to live for God.” It took some time for him to admit he needed outside help. Finally, he came to a point of surrender, where he was willing to ask for help. Shortly after, he met Diane Sheets, vocal coach and a fellow Christian who would pray with him before beginning the work. Within a few days, Roe was back up to 95 percent of his usual performance. “It was a miraculous feeling. I was able to recognize God’s hand in it, which is what He wanted. I don’t think He wanted me to have my gift back until I had a full appreciation of not having it,” he says. Their new label, Word Records, is a dramatic change from recording with mainstream studios. They begin meetings with prayer and feel free to talk about their relationship with Jesus more openly. “There has always been a veil on [my] Christianity and the veil is off,” says Jimmy Olander, who plays lead guitar in the band. More than any previous album, The Reason reflects the new direction in which God is taking their career. It “deals with some lessons to be learned and coming to a point of brokenness and surrender — remembering that God’s in control and we’re here to serve and glorify Him,” explains Roe. Some in the music business would see the change from mainstream country to Christian music as risky, but Diamond Rio continues to put their trust in God for everything to do with this project. Roe used to watch the charts and worry about how their songs were selling, but this album is different. “I’m probably most at peace with this project than any one I’ve ever done as far as knowin’ where God wants us at the moment and whoever it’s supposed to touch. God will provide the harvest.” He thinks people who’ve gone through struggles themselves will have no trouble relating to the message on this album. “Nobody’s that much different from me. Most people have gone through some tough times and have to come to the point of surrender.” Putting feet to their faith, Diamond Rio participates in various charity projects. In their recently released biography, Beautiful Mess (Thomas Nelson), drummer Brian Prout says, “The biggest part of getting a blessing is not keeping it. It’s passing it along and paying it forward, so to speak.” Through golf tournaments and the Music City Marathon, they raise money for Big Brothers and Sisters. Roe also mentors young people in a church-related program. Two years ago, he and a neighbour started Both Hands, an organization providing for widows and orphans. A group of volunteers solicits sponsorships to make home improvements on a widow’s house for a day. Funds raised go to help families adopt international and American orphans. “It changes their life and it’s just not that much work; then we walk away with some cash that goes to help people adopt these beautiful kids,” he says. Where does a band go after all the album sales, accolades, and awards? Roe knows right where he’ll be. “Whatever the Lord wants for you, you’ve got to say, ‘I’ll be there.’ He wants us to remember that He is God and He’s in control.” photo by Russ Harrington [LLN-Online] [Adopt-a-Block] [Newsbriefs]
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