On the Other Side
Two years ago, after some difficult trials, Avalon released an album representing their "mourning time." But their latest, Stand, shows that the mourning has turned to dancing.
by Maryann B. Hunsberger | posted 1/30/2006
 1 of 3
Avalon celebrated its tenth year as a group in December. Between recording seven albums, releasing 20 No. 1 hits, singing before 500,000 fans nationwide and winning numerous awards, they've found time to start and expand their families while recording their new studio album, Stand. Avalon's Jody McBrayer took a break from singing—and rocking his daughter—to talk to us about what's been happening with the group, about their new album and about what's ahead.
Melissa Greene (left), Jody McBrayer, Janna Long, and her husband Greg are still carrying on despite significant life changes in the last three years.
Your website mentions having dark times this past three years. What hard times have the group members been through?
Jody McBrayer It started three years ago with the loss of Grant Cunningham. He worked at our label and was responsible for putting Avalon together. He was almost like the fifth member. Then, Cherie Paliotta left the group after nearly four years. The next year, Michael Passons left as well. Janna and I wondered whether God wanted us to continue. Through those difficulties, we realized that anything worth doing is worth fighting for. God has turned our mourning into dancing. We have so many reasons to be excited and celebrate now.
What good things have been happening?
McBrayer We're all having babies. Janna and Greg have a 20-month-old girl, Lillian, and she is just amazingly beautiful. She rides on the bus with us. Then, my wife and I had a baby seven months ago. Her name is Sarah Clayton. She gives us a new perspective about how God cares for us unconditionally. We recently found out that Melissa and her husband, Ben, are expecting their first child.
How are you enjoying fatherhood?
McBrayer No matter what anybody says, nothing prepares you for what's about to happen. The hardest part is her lack of sleep. I told my wife I wanted sleep for Christmas this year! The positives are so incredible. I don't know if I could ever imagine loving someone as much as I love her. I hold her in my arms and rock her to sleep and she starts to snore a little bit, just like dad, and I'm just overwhelmed. I look up to heaven and say, "Lord, why did you bless me with such an amazing thing? I'm so undeserving of this." Yet, I'm so thankful that he did. I don't know how anyone can watch a baby being born or watch the heartbeat on an ultrasound and not believe in Christ. It's such a miracle.
How does having a new baby impact touring?
McBrayer We bought a bus a few years ago because we all knew we were going to start having families. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for our families to come along. Our bus driver is Greg's uncle. He drives at night and Greg and I take turns driving during the day. We did 17 Christmas gigs in five weekends in 2005, so it was very busy. Sarah didn't like traveling on the bus. She was great until she had to sleep and then she was like, "Why is my bed moving?" My wife just decided that we should keep her home.
You have another new "baby," your album, Stand. It's more up-tempo than your last album.
McBrayer When Avalon started, Christian radio considered us edgy. As time went on, we almost became "inspirational" for a couple of records. We wanted to get back a little of that edginess. We want to stay current without compromising who we are; that's something we tried to do on this record, giving it a little more edge. There are still some great ballad moments on the record, but we needed some energy. We're also in a different place as a group. There's a lot more joy these days, so we wanted to portray that on this record. When we made The Creed, the record before this new one, we were coming through the difficult period. If that record was our mourning time, this new record is our dancing time. It took us almost a year to make the record.
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free!
|
 |
|
Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.
If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
