PICAYUNE — A local Christian band known for their rock ‘n’ roll approach to singing the Lord’s praises has been nominated for five Grammys, possibly a first for Pearl River County.
GodSpeed3, with band is composed of Michael Clogher, lead singer, Geri Grubbs on drums, Chris Spiers, guitar, Warren Beane, bass, and Travis Kennedy, guitar, has seen a meteoritic climb to stardom since the band’s inception three years ago.
The origin of the GodSpeed3 goes back to several years ago when band members Grubbs and Kennedy played with another group, performing gigs in bars and other venues, even signing a Nashville record deal.
But life on the road was not something the men were enjoying. “We got tired of being on the road all the time and the bar scene,” explained Kennedy.
So the two quit the music business and headed back home to Picayune. “Then about 10 years later I started going to church,” said Kennedy, adding that at first, he was asked to play along with the church’s praise band. “They knew I played guitar and they asked me, but I just said, no, I don’t think so.” Continuing, Kennedy said he was hesitant to join the band members for sessions because he wasn’t sure if he would like the genre of music.
Then one day, one of the band members was absent, so Kennedy agreed to play. “I found out I liked it,” he continued. “I really liked it.”
A seed was sown for GodSpeed3 with that realization.
During that same time, his friendship with Clogher was deepening and their discussions began to center on the possibility of starting their own contemporary Christian band. We had formed a strong friendship,” said Kennedy. “And we talked about forming our own band.”
From there, Kennedy asked Grubbs if he was interested in putting together a Christian band, and before long Spiers and Beane joined in. “We had our band,” said Kennedy.
It didn’t take long for the public to begin to appreciate their music style, and before the band mates knew it, their calendar was full with venues and they were finding their lives incredibly rewarding. “I never knew a Christian band would play so much,” said Kennedy of their booked schedule.
As their popularity has grown, so has the band’s opportunity to play with major names in the Christian music field. “We have been playing with a few big Christian bands,” said Kennedy, naming, among others, December Radio, Audio Adrenaline, and Casting Crowns.
Just finishing up the recording of their last five songs for their first album — GodSpeed3 — Kennedy said the first four songs of the album have already been released. Of those, “Redeemed” has been nominated for Best Gospel Song, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian category. The album, GodSpeed3, has been nominated for Best Pop Contemporary Album, while “You Are God” is nominated for Best Gospel Performance.
“I feel like I have already won,” said Kennedy, referring to the fact that just being nominated for a Grammy was an incredible experience. “We’re so excited.”
The Grammy awards is scheduled to be held Jan. 10 on CBS.
Features
Related Photos
-
Submitted photo
Christian band nominated for Grammys
- Features
-
-
Everyday Heroes: Officers and families of the Picayune Police Department
The Picayune Police Department held a Memorial Service on May 4th, at which Senator Tony Smith was the guest speaker.
-
Picayune Rotary Club inducts new members
The Picayune Rotary Club inducted two new members on Tuesday. They are from left: Paul DeVille of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC and Blake Travis of the Pearl River County Assessors Office, being inducted by Rotary President Mark Stockstill. Rotary is a service club who gave out $20,000 in scholarships and donations for 2011.
-
Back home in high school with memories of the summer
By Dr. Stanley Watson/Syndicated columnist
Before I hardly realized it the summer was ending and school would be starting soon. It never occurred to me to attend school any place besides Randlett. I was impatient to get back with the gang - my kind of people. I left California with a somewhat slanted view of that state. I was no doubt biased because of my limited social contacts. Also, on a few occasions I had been exposed to the bias of Californians against "Okies". -
Hard work gets rewarded for Picayune High biology students
Picayune Memorial High School biology students in Coach Kristi Mitchell’s class were rewarded last week for a full year of hard work by being taken to a local snowball shop during class time.
-
Main Street June Summer Blues Out 2012
This year’s event will be June 2nd, from 5 to 10 p.m., and features exciting performances by Biloxi’s The House Katz, Wardell Williams, Becky Eymard, Barbara Lane and many more.
-
Arboretum Paths
Now is the time of year when spring blooms are a distant memory but we still aren’t firmly settled into the sultry summer days that Mississippi’s coastal residents know all too well. Many our native shrubs and smaller trees are really using this time to shine.
-
Everyday Heroes
Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.
-
Community leaders participate in Jr. High Career Day
Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.
-
Lucille Gasecki:Volunteer, artist and winner of the June Summer Blues Out poster contest
Lucille Gasecki is the winner of the 2012 2nd Annual June Summer Blues Out Poster Contest and this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior.
-
South Miss. Branch Experiment Station in All-America Selections Design Contest
South Miss. Branch Experiment Station, located in Poplarville, is one of 22 select All-America Selections (AAS) Display Gardens competing in the 2012 AAS Landscape Display Contest.
- More Features Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
