Since this is my first blog entry, I thought it was probably best to start at the beginning and give a little background as to how and why this blog came to be.
I worked for 26 years in the Christian music recording and publishing industry – first as Director of A&R for Brentwood Records, then as Creative Director for Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. During that time I wrote and arranged dozens of cantatas and oversaw the creation and production of hundreds more. In the late 90’s I stared going to New York and seeing musicals on Broadway as well as catching many of the touring shows that came through Nashville. As I would watch these shows and be moved by the music and the stories, I kept asking myself “Why can’t we do this kind of musical in the church”? No cantata (even the ones I had written) ever moved me the way a Broadway-style musical did. That was when the dream was born of writing a Broadway-style musical for the church. As time went on, the dream was expanded from just creating a musical to creating a company that produced dozens of them.
I finally started the process of incorporating and creating Church Musicals, Inc. in August of 2002. In November, I was told that my label, Brentwood Records, would be shut down in January of 2003 and they basically turned me loose at that point to pursue other interests. Within 2 days, I was having lunch with the President and VP of Brentwood Benson Music Publishing and was offered a job. It took 6 months to materialize because the company was being purchased by BMG, but it finally happened. During that 6-month period, I wrote, arranged and recorded my 3rd Broadway-style musical (I had actually written 2 for Brentwood Benson while I was working for the record company.). This time, I owned it – which was a great feeling. I launched Church Musicals, Inc. with that musical, “The Gift” (based on O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”) and I was off and running.
As time went on and I saw how well the musical had been received, I knew I was on to something and that this would be a unique business that would meet a definite need.. Since I was employed full-time at Brentwood Benson, I put the growth part on the back burner and let it simmer. Fortunately, the company just ran itself with no marketing or promotion on my part. People would just find me on the web and commerce would take place. I often wondered what would really happen if I put time and energy into it. I assumed I would do that when I retired – which was steadily drawing closer.
Finally, in January of this year (2011), I left Brentwood Benson and knew immediately what I would do. I hit the ground running and haven’t looked back. It’s been exciting and exhilarating to see things take shape. Church Musicals is filling a definite void in the church music market and, though Broadway-style musicals are a niche, it’s a great niche for a small entrepreneur.
I was recently interviewed for an article in the Baton Rouge Advocate and the lament from church music directors who were looking for Broadway-style musical was that there was nothing available from the major publishers. (Hey! I’m over here!!!) Anyway, you get the picture. So, if you or anyone you know is looking for high-quality music theater for the church, check out www.churchmusicals.com . The website is brand new and more musicals are on the way.
Of course, with an internet-based business comes all the necessary social networking necessary to promote it. Thus ....a blog! Hopefully, this will be interesting, helpful, informative and fun. Stay tuned......
