Humble Beginnings Lead to a Dead End

I do not read music. I cannot sing. I cannot play an instrument. So what would compel a person to set out to record music videos at a maximum security prison? You would have to be crazy to dream up such a thing. Good question! I asked the same thing of myself in June of 2007.

For years I have volunteered in various county jails and prisons. Volunteering my time has been a way for me to thank the many people who helped me rebuild my life since I was released from prison in 1977. When a man leaves prison it is not easy. There are many challenges and doing time does not always prepare you to meet those challenges in a positive way.

The “praise team” actually began rehearsing their music in May of 2005. With the assistance of Captain Welch they met for a few hours every Saturday. A cassette recording was made in October of 2005. Sixteen songs were recorded. Nine of the songs were original. It was a humble beginning. That original “cassette” recording is what is being played on our home page. Superintendent Ed Buss gave Commissioner Donahue a copy of the songs in November of 2005. The men rehearsed faithfully but the project did not move beyond the walls of the prison.

     Renewed Hope and Interest

On a Saturday afternoon in March of 2007 I was passing through the chapel at the prison. Several men were gathered rehearsing music. I thought they might be getting ready for Sunday’s service. As I listened I realized I did not recognize any of the music. To my surprise all of the music was original. “Brother Earl” and Martin wrote the lyrics and the melodies. I could not help but notice the equipment they were using. To say it was in need of repair would be an understatement! That night as I tried to sleep all I could hear is the lyrics of one of the songs: “something better than this.” That night another thing happened. I dreamed the same dream I had when I was in prison thirty years before.

     A Dream Remembered Three times

While I was incarcerated I was too bitter even for "jailhouse religion." While in prison, I went to the chapel once or twice. I’d like to say I went for spiritual nourishment or because I realized I needed help. But the truth is I was stir crazy and needed a change of scenery. At the services convicts made up the choir. Although I did not recognize the music the men seemed to really be enjoying themselves. It made an impression on me.

That night in 1977 I dreamed I was at a church with the prison choir. Strangest thing – I was leading the choir! The next morning I dismissed it as one of those jumbled up dreams you have while in prison. A few years after my release I realized I was spiritually bankrupt! I started attending church in Gary, Indiana. After attending church on Halloween night in 1979 I had the same dream for the second time. Same church, same choir, same everything! The dream made no sense - I did not play an instrument and I still cannot sing. So when I experienced the dream for the third time nearly thirty years later I knew I had to help the men with the choir project.

     Project Struggles to Survive

This is a maximum security prison. It is the only prison in the state of Indiana that allows an offender to own and possess a musical instrument. But equipment is costly and is not easy to come by. The music room was a hodgepodge of hand-me-downs and mixed-matched equipment. For every track laid recorded there seemed to be two road blocks. Soundboard would go down for no reason. Personalities would clash during long rehearsals. Cymbals cracking from old age, drum heads just worn out, men being transferred, strings breaking, cables shorting out and on and on.

But there was something in the music that transcended the poor equipment. The lyrics were from the hearts of men who had been transformed by their faith in God. I told everyone I knew about the music and invited them to come to the prison chapel. That passion kept the project alive from March of 2007 until January of 2008. Somehow in all the enthusiasm, I became the official “director” of the “prison choir project.”

     New Equipment and a New Energy

In late December it was decided we would take the equipment we had and try and laid down enough songs for a CD. Our first session was on a cold morning, January 5, 2008. You did not have to direct a choir or play an instrument to know we were in trouble. Friends (who actually knew something about music) agreed to help us. But it was so time consuming bringing all the recording equipment in from the outside each week through all of the checkpoints. My friends and I were worn out by the time we transported it to the “music room.” As the months drew on God was faithful. New drums, cymbals, strings and microphones were donated. Even a new sound board was donated! No more puffs of smoke coming from the soundboard!

At one point we were encouraged to video some of the songs during the chapel services. The more we stretched ourselves the more people from beyond the wall helped us. Camcorders and editing were purchased by a volunteer. Interest kept growing. There was a buzz about the project throughout the prison and beyond. But the greatest blessing came by way of an anonymous donor from California. After hearing the song, “Something Better Than This” he donated nearly $25,000 worth of recording equipment. We started giving staff and family members of the group single DVDs of the each song as we finished editing them. We never dreamed of doing anything more than that.

When the project started we had enough faith to put the songs on a cassette. It was a stretch to believe we would put them on a CD for family and staff. But to make music videos and have a web site was beyond our reach. The web site was actually the suggestion of Captain Welch. He knew of one prison in Montana where offenders had their music featured on a web site. We moved slowly making sure we did everything appropriately. Once again, God was faithful and people helped us all the way.

Can men who have committed crimes do anything positive while incarcerated? Can a man who cannot sing or play an instrument be used of God to produce music videos? Can men convicted of terrible crimes change? These men will tell you they have a debt to pay society and their freedom is rightfully limited. But they will also tell you “With God, all things are possible!”

     Our Challenge

While listening to the music consider this. If one of the songs touches your heart consider giving a donation, not to us, but to the victim’s assistance fund in your county or the charity of your choice. Better yet, why not volunteer some time in your community. The rewards are greater than anything you can imagine.