Something to Sing About Big Valley Jamboree Artists share a love for God and country music.                 by Teresa Lockhart Faith and Fun     Good things come to those who wait.     But Sawyer Brown fans won’t have to wait much longer. After five years of wanting to bring the band to Camrose, concert promoters have booked Sawyer Brown for this year’s Big Valley Jamboree, August 3-6.     “Canada is absolutely one of our favourite places to play. We’re excited,” said founder and lead vocalist Mark Miller during a recent telephone interview from his home in Nashville, Tennessee. Promising fans a great show, the singer added the band would be playing “loud, fast, and long” at this year’s Jamboree.     Sawyer Brown has won countless awards, including Top Vocal Group honors from the Academy of Country Music, as well as six consecutive TNN / Music City News Top Vocal Band prizes. However, it’s the band’s creativity and boundless stage energy that set it apart from other groups.     What fuels the fiery passion the guys display during each performance?     “I just think we as a band really love music, and we really kind of get into it when we play. I think when we go out on stage, we just let our hair down and have fun,” explains Miller.     Miller is a man who loves his family and God. And it’s from those two sources that he finds the happiness that allows him to enjoy life to the fullest both on stage and off.     Although the group is a mainstream act, album notes acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. A close listen to their music can also reveal their relationship with God.     “It’s one of the greatest compliments to us when [the fans] hear something in the music that made them feel that there was something positive in our lives that underlays everything,” says keyboardist Gregg Hubbard on the Silent Witness video.     Hubbard believes that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. “It wasn’t until I moved to Nashville and was completely alone that I realized how important a personal relationship with God was going to be, He says. “I knew nobody in town; I had no money. My daily Bible study became the best part of the day.”     When it comes to the group’s videos Miller leaves most of the work to director Mike Salomon. He is however, careful to ensure the final product doesn’t celebrate or endorse values the group is opposed to.     “Quite honestly, my kids don’t want to see me hugging or kissing anyone but their mama, and I’m not going to do that. If there are women in the video who might insinuate something, I’m not too keen on that either,” says Miller.     While they might not be party animals off stage, Mark Miller and Sawyer Brown know how to drive fans wild on stage. Yet, Miller says this energy and creativity are God inspired.     “He created us. He created our imaginations and our minds. I just think you can find God’s love everywhere you turn. Love comes from God, and that includes joy and happiness.”         Making a Difference     Sawyer Brown aren’t the only Big Valley Jamboree artists who profess faith in Jesus. John Berry is a devout Christian as well. Thanks to his powerhouse vocals and sensitive lyrics, Berry’s music has become an integral part of the last decade of country music. His songs continue to move people and make an impact on their lives.     In fact, two of Berry’s biggest fans are George and Barbara Bush. Berry was even invited to perform this past year at the former president’s birthday bash in Houston.     “A few days later,” says Berry, “we received a hand written note from George Bush thanking me for being part of the event and saying Barbara had raved about my voice the whole way home.” Berry adds his wife Robin wanted to frame it in his office because “it’s not often you get a note from a former president of the United States.”     Berry says his success in country music won’t be measured by the number of records he sells. He sees music as a calling and as an emotional tool.     “If there is a way that we can do things that may help make a difference, we should do them,” he says. “After all, I just have to think about how blessed I’ve been in my life.”     Berry hopes to share the hope and happiness he has in life through his music.     “Done properly, it can change your outlook, it can change your perspective on a particular subject and can bring to light certain things people might not otherwise see.” He adds, “I’m very grateful that I’m able to sing, but the only thing that matters to me is if I move you or not. If I sing all the notes right and I don’t move you, who cares? But if I sing completely off-key but it moves you, that’s what it’s all about.”     Berry’s music keeps him busy. In addition to appearing at the Jamboree, he will continue to tour the United States for the remainder of this year. This November Berry will co-host the Christian Country Music Awards in Nashville with Linda Davis.     Gene Higgins, president of the Christian Country Music Association and publisher of Power Source Music Magazine, says there are several reasons why Berry was chosen to host the show this year.     “John has released a lot of records with Christian content. He’s a family man and a believer with a good reputation,” Higgins said. “He came to the Christian Country Music Awards show last year and requested to meet me after the show. I took the opportunity to ask him to host this year’s show on November 2, and he accepted. I feel he’ll do a great job representing our organization and will create a lot of interest [in the organization].”         Spreading the Word     Fans can also look forward to seeing Ty Herndon this year. Herndon is no newcomer to country music. He has three albums, two No. 1 singles, and a multitude of accolades, inluding being named Best New Artist at the 1995 Country Radio Music Awards.     Though Herndon has experienced many blessings, his life hasn’t always been perfect. But like Berry, and members of Sawyer Brown, Ty Herndon’s faith in God has enabled him to overcome personal tragedy to find triumph.     Raised in Alabama, Herndon developed his vocal abilities singing southern gospel at church meetings and camps. Later he landed a job at Opryland in Nashville and attended college at Belmont University until his scholarship ran out. Then he supported himself singing jingles for American Airlines and Pepsi. However, he never got his break in music until he moved to Dallas and started playing honky-tonks. It was there that Herndon first began to gain national attention as a singer. In 1995 he debuted with What Mattered Most, which went gold and produced a No. 1 single.     But it was also in 1995 that Herndon found himself facing the worst time in his life. He was arrested for possession of speed and spent five weeks in rehab. It was an experience he says that helped him become a more spiritual person and somewhat of a “soldier.”     Now Herndon uses his own life experiences to inspire others who are going through similar problems. In fact, Herndon is one of seven major country artists, including Charlie Daniels and Ricky Skaggs, who volunteered to work with the American Bible Society (ABS) by telling others about the importance of the Bible in their lives. Herndon’s own story was one in a series of public service announcements distributed to 500 radio stations across the United States.     “These stars are human like the rest of us. They’ve dealt with big problems and big success. The common bond among them is the Bible,” said Mike Maus, ABS Director of Communications. [LLN-Online] [Adopt-a-Block] [Newsbriefs][Event Calendar] [Lifestyles] [Juke Box] [Cover to Cover] [Movieguide][Casting the Net] [Viewpoints] [General Info] [Rates & Sizes][Marketplace/Classifieds] [Volunteer Ops] [Writing Guidelines] [Contact Us] [Subscribe][Archives][Good News] [About Us][Links]