ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210063
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
BEING one of the featured performers at this weekend's awards program for the International Country Gospel Music Association in Texas is a big break for Salem's Richard Kiser.
But the label ``country gospel'' may be a bit narrow for the range of Kiser's virtuoso guitar performances.
Like Chet Atkins' - a major influence on his style - Kiser's performances transcend any single genre. His instrumental performances range from Southern gospel, to spirituals, to contemporary Christian, to traditional hymns, to country gospel.
What is consistent is his devotion to music as a Christian ministry - which is why, no matter what the style, the message he hopes to send is always the same. That is, a message of hope in and praise for Jesus Christ.
In Kiser's case, it is a message conveyed almost exclusively in the melodies he plays - not lyrics. And last fall it won Kiser the Silver, or national, award for country gospel instrumentalist of the year from the Country Gospel Association.
The notion of an ``international'' association for country gospel music might seem far-fetched, at first. But the organization has members in about 50 countries. As is the case with other performance associations, its members - such as Kiser - cast ballots for the group's awards.
Winning the U.S. award qualified Kiser for consideration for the international award, to be presented this weekend. He also was invited to perform at the awards ceremony, which will have Willie Nelson as its host.
The road to international acclaim began when Kiser, now 48, was 8 or 9 years old and got his first guitar.
By the time he was 13, his parents recognized that his skills deserved a better instrument and bought him one. His grandmother, an uncle and a neighbor in the Norwich section of Roanoke showed him chords that he soon began to perfect.
Within a year or two, he was captivated by Atkins' guitar style and began mimicking his recordings. ``I literally would play them so many times I would wear out the groove in the record.''
By the time he graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1965, his talents were becoming obvious to those around him. Though he might have performed for more money with country groups or a rock 'n' roll band, Kiser's upbringing in the Church of God already had led him to ``develop a personal conviction - a commitment - to only play gospel.''
The next year was a big one. He joined a gospel group, the Sunnyside Singers. He was drafted. He married. He was sent off to Korea.
Though it interrupted his performing career here, his ``two-year sabbatical'' didn't stop him from playing. He formed a gospel group in the service that performed as an opening act for USO shows. He also spent weekends playing and singing at a Christian servicemen's home in Korea, which was sponsored, in part, by the Assembly of God Church. Kiser now attends one of its churches in Salem.
Back home, he went to work for Pitney Bowes in January 1969. He's been there ever since, working as a computer technician.
He remained interested in music. Throughout the early 1970s he played with gospel quartets working all along the East Coast. But the demands of being a husband and a father to three sons led him in 1975 to abandon what many thought was a promising musical career.
He continued to do occasional session work, playing on other people's recordings, but that was limited by his family obligations.
Now his children are grown and Kiser felt ``the Lord was saying `now's the time''' to resume the musical path he left almost 30 years ago. He is performing in concerts around the country and has recorded his first complete album.
Kiser is convinced that his faithfulness to his conviction not to play other types of music and to devote the first years of his marriage to his family ``has opened doors now."
``I don't know how far it will go,'' Kiser says, ``but I hope someday to be able to quit working'' at his secular job and devote full time to his music ministry.
His wife, who once played piano for the Sunnyside Singers, is ``completely behind this,'' Kiser said.
In the past few months, Kiser has traveled as far as California to perform in churches. He depends on voluntary, or ``free-will,'' offerings for financial support.
Re-entering the world of gospel music as a solo artist, Kiser says he wasn't sure how people would respond to an unspoken gospel message.
The reaction has ``been very surprising ... very gratifying.'' After his recent California concerts, he said, he was touched that so many people came up to tell him how they were moved by the music.
With the instrumentals, those listening ``write their own words, their own lyrics, their own song,'' Kiser said. The music ``touches you inside.''
What he's discovered, he says, is that through instrumental music he is ``witnessing in a way that somebody preaching or talking may not do.''
In addition to performing recognizable standards such as ``Jesus, There's Something About That Name'' or seasonal songs such as ``Silent Night,'' Kiser performs some original compositions, such as ``Damascus Road,'' inspired by the story of the Apostle Paul's conversion to Christianity.
Kiser just finished recording his first album at Salem's Flat Five Press and Recording studio. It should be available next month.
Some musical clips are available by computer as well.
``I spend a lot of time on line,'' Kiser says. He's sending e-mail daily to hundreds of people, including what is known as a ``WAV'' file that contains audio clips of his music.
Like most gospel artists, Kiser hopes that eventually - in as soon as two years, perhaps - sales of his recordings will provide a significant portion of the financial support needed for a full-time ministry.
``The doors are opening.''
For information about Kiser's music ministry, cassette purchases or concert dates, write him at 2018 Electric Road, Box 119, Roanoke, Va. 24018.
LENGTH: Long : 117 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. & 2. KEITH GRAHAM/Staff Richard Kiser (above)by CNBrecords at Flat Five Press and Recording Studio in Salem. (Top)
Kiser and Tom Ohmsen listen to a recording that Kiser and his niece,
flutist Leslie Minnick, made at the studio. colro
3. Award- winning gospel guitarist Richard Kiser: ``I don't know how
far it will go, but I hope someday to be able to quit working'' at
his secular job and devote full time to his music ministry. color
4. KEITH GRAHAM/Staff Guitar legend Chet Atkins has had a major
influence on Kiser's style. Later, Kiser developed ``a personal
conviction - a commitment - to only play gospel.'' color