Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509290093
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Doesn't exactly fit the profile of the contemporary Christian music artist, does it?
But Michael Card has been one of the most solid artists in the field for 15 years. He's won five Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and is generally recognized as Christian music's resident biblical scholar.
So, what's with the guns and motorcycles?
Card, who will perform a solo acoustic concert Sunday night at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium, explained the appeal in a telephone interview. He rides motorcycles with his record producer, Phil Naish, as a male bonding thing. Card, 38, is married and has four children.
Shooting guns goes back to his college days, when he was a member of his school's pistol team. He still enjoys target shooting.
``As a true measure of concentration, there's nothing better,'' he said.
And it isn't like he's a card-carrying proponent of the National Rifle Association. He doesn't even hunt.
As for Christian music, Card doesn't have much patience for it.
Musically, it has never been much of an influence. Instead, he was inspired more by folk singers like Peter, Paul & Mary, and by singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg. In fact, early in his career, Card was often compared to Fogelberg.
Christian music has not had much of a spiritual impact on Card, either. Instead, it was the writings of Christian authors like C.S. Lewis, Frederick Buechner, Brennan Manning and Calvin Miller that moved him to become a writer himself.
Plus, Card has trouble accepting the idea of Christian music as big business, and of Christian musicians as big stars.
``That can have a devastating effect on creativity,'' he said.
He pointed to rock music as an example, how it went from a sort of cultural movement to an industry to finally becoming irrelevant.
``When you think of rock 'n' roll today, creativity and excellence is not what comes to mind,'' Card said.
That's not to say he disdains all industry as evil. He concedes it can operate fairly and with integrity.
``But biblical values call for so much more than integrity,'' he said. ``It calls for sacrifice. I'm not sure industry is capable of that level of sacrifice.''
At the same time, he acknowledges that the contemporary Christian music industry has been good to him. Card has sold more than 2 million albums. ``Obviously, I've made a lot more money than I ever dreamed I would doing this, and I'm grateful.''
Card said he was 14 when he felt called to become a Bible teacher, and he was on track to becoming a university professor before he turned to music. Card has a master's degree in biblical studies from Western Kentucky University.
He has used that background to skillfully weave biblical concepts and scripture into his music, a practioce that has earned him a reputation as Christian music's resident scholar. He also has published a selection of Christian books.
But Card shrugged off his reputation. ``I've probably reached more people than I would have as a teacher at a university, but in a more superficial way,'' he said.
He sees a time, in fact, where he leaves the music business altogether and returns to more scholarly pursuits.
He doesn't see a time, however, when he gives up motorcycles and guns.
by CNB