Kevin Max

by Jenny Bennett

dc Talk's Kevin Max remembers his first standing ovation during a high school Easter program after singing the American spiritual Lonesome Valley. Growing up in a Christian household with Gospel music a strong influence throughout his life, his upcoming album The Blood is a powerful testament to that musical journey. With the exception of one original track, each song is a "cover" of a work particularly significant to him. (Max calls The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power as sung by Andraé Crouch "fundamental to my musical upbringing.")

From The Old Rugged Cross (George Bennard, 1912) which his father used to sing to him on their way to church, to Prince's The Cross (1987), the album includes an eclectic mix of traditional and modern. Max calls Stevie Wonder's They Won't Go When I Go "a modern Gospel masterpiece." On the Web site devoted to the project, Max relays humbly, "I hope I didn't ruin it, Stevie."

In addition to blending the old with the new, the list of collaborating artists featured on the album reveals another layer of diversity: Mary Mary's Erica Campbell, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Ashley Cleveland, Joanne Cash, and American Idol's Chris Sligh. 

Chris chose to sing dc Talk's We All Want to Be Loved when competing on American Idol, so when he and Kevin met some months later, it was a strong connection from the beginning. Growing up, Chris was only allowed to listen to very traditional Gospel. His vocal quality is naturally influenced by that upbringing, which made him a good fit to sing with Max on Run on For a Long Time (heard performed live on Gospel Music Channel's debut of The Kitchen Sink which aired November 17), and was originally sung by Johnny Cash and titled God's Gonna Cut You Down.

"Much of the material on the record is older and more traditional, so it's been really fun to work with someone young like Chris," says Max.

Max had made other meaningful connections with artists that also helped inspire the album. Johnny Cash's music shaped him as a kid, and that influence culminated when he met Joanne Cash in Nashville.

"When we decided to make The Blood, I had just moved back to Nashville and had been invited to sing with Joanne Cash at B.B. King’s," explains Max. "That evening, singing with her on a song she wrote, the part that her brother Johnny had sung, something strange occurred. During the performance I felt that I was singing from another place, and afterwards I was told that at times I had sounded just like Johnny Cash.

"For the album, I wrote One Way, One Blood for Joanne to sing with me and I decided to make it sound a bit like a Johnny Cash track."

Songs by legendary artists Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Blind Willie Johnson – colorful threads in the fabric of early black Gospel music – round out the project. Tharpe's Up Above My Head, I Hear Music in the Air features Amy Grant’s vocals and Vince Gill on guitar.

What's interesting about this album of cover songs is that it could not have been more personal had Max written each song himself, and still has the potential to reach a wide audience.

"Gospel music has the power to make one understand the need for Christ and His power over death, the need for His blood, and the word to make us whole," says Max. "It's for the non-believer as much as it is for the believer. It's about understanding the pain that Christ exhibited on earth, knowing that only through trials and tribulations will we be set free."

Whether you're a fan of country, jazz, or gospel – traditional or contemporary – whether you're appreciative of American Idol, Johnny Cash, Prince, or all three, there is truly something for everyone on the record, and we have a member of the '80s Christian hip-hop turned rock/pop group to thank (along with a host of others for their contributions).

theblood.org
The Blood on MySpace
kevinmaxmusic.com

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