1 Degree of Andy

I think that one of the marks of a great artist is that you want to go back and listen to their music even decades later. Fernando Ortega's unique brand of songwriting, his soul-soothing vocals and his attention to Biblical detail definitely have something to do with it, a timeless and sometimes provocative mainstay in the history of CCM, and he's not done yet! Pro tip: Go listen to his "Crucifixion of Jesus" album as soon as you can.Support the showandychrisman.com

I've made a lot of great friends in my journey through Christian music, many of them friendships that have stood the test of time and distance. I got to know Mark and Mike Childers when we lived on the road together in TRUTH and then reunited with them for several tours during our 4HIM days. They've since gone on to play for artists like Twila Paris, Carman, Scotty McCreary and Carrie Underwood, but eventually all roads lead back to where we started - sitting around telling road stories and catching up on life. This episode, as you'll be able to tell, is very special to me.Find your real voice with the Andy Chrisman Vocal Method! Support the showandychrisman.com

The Imperials had some of the greatest vocalists of a generation ride their bus in the 1980s, including my guest today Paul Smith. Paul not only filled Russ Taff's shoes after his departure from the group, he carved out his own legacy as a singer/songwriter and gave us, in my opinion, one of the greatest solo albums of all time - Live And Learn. I love talking to my musical heroes, and this hour with Paul Smith doesn't disappoint!Support the showandychrisman.com

My guest today always makes me laugh, and that's a good way to get on the podcast! Comedian Jeff Allen has been a mainstay in Christian entertainment for decades and his unique comic delivery is timeless. From playing comedy clubs in NYC and Vegas, to his breakout opportunity with Bill Gaither to his explosion in popularity with Dry Bar Comedy, Jeff has had an amazing career. And it's not over yet - not by a long shot. Get ready for a lot of laughs and some unfiltered advice on life coming up on this episode of 1 Degree of Andy!Support the showandychrisman.com

From playing keys for Frank Zappa to writing and producing some of the biggest songs in pop history (We Built This City, Everybody Wang Chung Tonight) to producing several songs for 4HIM, Peter Wolf has had a career that nearly defies description! He and his wife Lea join me on this episode to talk about his journey through the entertainment world, some wild song stories, how he and Lea reignited their faith, and what he's up to now.Support the showandychrisman.com

One of the keys to success for any artist is getting your single on the radio on the biggest stations in the country. Not only did my guest Frank Reed play 4HIM's songs on KLTY in Dallas, but he also became a lifelong friend. But Frank's story goes way beyond the boundaries of Christian music. He's a legend in the radio industry and I know you're going to love his story!Support the showandychrisman.com

I'm in the presence of CCM royalty on today's podcast because I'm sitting down with Jim Murray, one of the original members of the Imperials. To hear first hand stories about performing with Elvis and creating possibly the greatest group in Christian music history blows my mind! We also dive into the stories of some of those classic Imperials albums and - MAN! - I'm still geeking out!Support the showandychrisman.com

Big Tent Revival is one of my favorite 90s CCM bands. Their unique blend of pop, rock and folk with a Memphis twist gave us classic songs like "Two Sets of Jones" and "Choose Life". Their music left a lasting impression on those of us who listened to Christian radio in that era and their frontman Steve Wiggins is my guest on this episode. Get ready for 90 minutes of pure gold!Support the showandychrisman.com

If you're between the ages of 30-60 years old you probably know every word to Audio Adrenaline's song "Big House" or else you didn't grow up on Christian radio! Mark Stuart is with me on the podcast  to share his story and take us on an incredible journey of his career and personal life that I know will leave you believing that God is ALWAYS up to something good our lives.Support the showandychrisman.com

On this episode I'm going full on fan-boy because Ron Hemby - one of the greatest voices in music history and a member of The Imperials in the late 80's - is my guest today. If you haven't listened to The Imperials "This Years Model" in a while get it cued up cuz you're gonna want to listen to it once this episode is over, or put it on in the background like I did when I listened back through this conversation with the legend himself - Ron Hemby.Support the showandychrisman.com