Larnelle Harris, Babbie Mason, and First Call's Bonnie Keen and Marty McCall all helped pave the way for what we now know as "contemporary Christian music." But for these veterans and pioneers, all accomplished singer/songwriters and performers, the path to success and stardom wasn't always easy.

Not so long ago, each of them enjoyed considerable time in the spotlight—on top of the music charts, on stage night after night performing for adoring fans everywhere. But as time passed, and as the music industry shifted and audiences grew older, the spotlight dimmed, leaving these artists to reconsider their true purpose in life. Along the way, they've rediscovered what it means to live by faith—true to the people they were created to be … before the music began.

Larnelle Harris:
What it means to be a star

Ask any Christian music fan over the age of 30 to list the incomparable voices in the genre, and you'll hear the name Larnelle Harris. The five-time Grammy Award winner remains one of the most admired vocalists of his generation. But it's the respect he engenders as a servant-leader, as a man who walks in humility and grace, that best defines him.

A natural storyteller, Harris speaks of his career in terms of his favorite sport. "Golf is a funny game," he says. "You hit the ball and unless you're going to quit, no matter where it goes, you hit it again. Reacting to every shot is awfully tiring, even if it's a good one. You can be thankful for every shot, but you grow weary.

"A Grammy is a nice thing," he continues, "but there is no eternal value to it. I knew it would get my feet in some doors that I wouldn't otherwise get in, but even back then, I knew that it was of no eternal significance. It gave me a sense of, Maybe I do belong, doing what I'm doing, but that was it."

For Harris, this journey of faith wouldn't have been possible without a deeply rooted family life.

"I started chasing Cynthia, my wife of 36 years, the moment I saw her on campus at Western Kentucky University. And not knowing the future, she made a promise to me: 'When we get married, we're moving home.' And we've been there ever since."

	"God has been so liberal with His love and faithfulness toward me." —Babbie Mason

The Harrises live just outside Louisville, Kentucky, within a few miles of their two grown children, Lonnie and Teresa, and their three grandchildren. They still go to the same church they've attended for over 30 years, where Larnelle is a deacon and Cynthia teaches Sunday school. And except for the 70-plus weekend concerts a year that Larnelle flies out for, theirs is as ordinary a life as they can make it.

"We have one life as public as possible, and another that is so stable and normal," says Larnelle. "And I need it, because this business can get ya. There's always going to be a pull, pulled between [being on the road] and being at home with my wife, family, and friends who have an everyday life. I do what I do [in music], and I enjoy it, but then I'm ready to go home."

Even though Harris says he's "getting stronger vocally" as he ages, he says that now, as a grandfather, he looks forward to the day he'll officially retire—even if he chooses not to call it that. "Music is a wonderful thing," he says. "But my wife is retired, and I have grandkids running around my house, and I want to be there because I've never been able to be there. I've never not traveled."

Sharing his faith through music "has been the greatest gig in the world," Harris says. "What a blessing to get letters from people who say, 'I heard this song at a particular time and it made a huge difference in my life.' When I'm wondering if I've done anything with my life, then that's enough."

Harris says little of his efforts on behalf of World Vision, for which he sponsors several children, or his recent efforts to build a well in Malawi that now supplies clean drinking water to several villages and thousands of people. One has to get that information elsewhere. That's just the kind of man he is.

So, don't call him a "star." Harris says we're all essentially stars, created to shine. "We've allowed the world to desecrate the word 'star,' to turn it into something that isn't real. But what if, when you thought of the word 'star,' you thought of Daniel 12:3, which says those that lead many to [righteousness] will shine like stars. I believe in that idea, because that's our testimony: Lord I'm going to shine anywhere you want me to!"

Babbie Mason:
As the Lord gives

If Babbie Mason gets her way, she'll be "singing until the day the Lord calls me home." In fact, the singer of hits like "Standing in the Gap" and "For the Cause of Christ" says she'd be disappointed if she didn't have a busy schedule.

"I'm really not surprised that I'm still singing, traveling, and writing as a full-time vocation after two and half decades," Mason says. "As long as the Lord gives me something to say, I'll continue to share it. But the fact that I'm able to enjoy my career and ministry to this extent has me pinching myself every day. This is my dream job—absolutely."

S0 while her peers are considering where to settle down to relax and retire, Mason happily keeps right on going with a dizzying slate. She continues to write and record, having released her 19th album, All the Best, last fall. She has a recording studio in her home. She hosts a tv show, Babbie's House, on Sky Angel and other cable outlets. She writes books; her second, Faith Lift, recently released. She teaches college-level songwriting classes, speaks at Women of Faith conferences, and hosts the annual Babbie Mason Music Conference for up-and-coming artists. Eager to share what she's learned over the years with a new generation of Christian artists, she gives songwriting tips on her official website, babbie.com.

"Without a doubt, I appreciate my successes now more than ever," says Mason. "I know where every blessing comes from, and I want to share what I have with anyone I can. God has been so liberal with His love and faithfulness toward me. Of course, there have been plenty of mistakes and disappointments along the way. But I can say that God has used every setback as a setup to launch something greater in my life."

Although she seems to have mastered the art of multi-tasking, Babbie says her main priority remains her family, which includes Charles, her husband of 27 years, and two grown sons. "We live on 32 acres of woods, water, weeds, and wildlife outside of Atlanta, so life is always exciting," Mason shares. "My husband and I like to play in the dirt. Charles believes you shouldn't grow anything you can't eat, so he grows great vegetables. At home, I enjoy flowers, interior design, fishing, and chick flicks."

While her life seems idyllic, Mason is quick to point out that it's just a reminder that God is willing to use anyone who's willing. "He constantly reminds me that my best and brightest days are still ahead of me. He has taught me that He has a plan for every age and stage of my life. He has also taught me not to believe man-made myths like 'You have to be white, young, thin, and blonde for God to use you.' He's also reminded me not to keep what I know about music and ministry a secret, but to share it."

First Call:
New ventures, new challenges

For Bonnie Keen, being in a group where she could sing about her faith was revolutionary. She grew up in the Church of Christ, which typically shuns instrumental music, opting only for a capella. So when she sang back-up vocals for Russ Taff and Amy Grant before landing her own gig with First Call, it opened up a new world to her.

	"I came into this with the excitement of being able to write songs and sing about your faith." —Bonnie Keen

"Singing contemporary Christian music was so exciting to me," Keen says. "Being from a musical theater background, I didn't know anything about Christian music. So I came into this with the excitement of being able to write songs and sing about your faith. There was something really, really special about that."

After meeting in Nashville as studio singers, Keen, Mel Tunney, and Marty McCall forged a friendship and eventually decided they'd market themselves as a ready-made trio for back-up vocals and other studio recordings. Naming themselves "First Call" as the first choice for studio work, the moniker would later serve as a symbol of unified purpose—of making God first in their lives.

Even with several lineup changes over the years, First Call remained a formid-able force in Christian music with several Dove Awards, multiple Grammy nominations, and a slew of Christian radio hits. But in 1994, scandal came to the group when MaraBeth Jordan (who had taken Tunney's spot) was involved in an extramarital affair with fellow artist Michael English. Jordan, who became pregnant as a result of the affair, left the group, and First Call continued as a duo with Keen and McCall and released a couple of albums, before they decided to pursue different professional endeavors.

Keen began releasing solo cds and writing books to encourage those who've suffered with depression, as she has. In her latest book, A Ladder Out of Depression, Keen shares the circumstances that pushed her to despair and walk "through molasses," plus the steps she took to regain emotional, physical, and spiritual health. In addition to continuing her musical pursuits, she also speaks to women about depression and other pertinent spiritual issues.

McCall, meanwhile, moved on to church life; for the past seven years, he has been Creative Artists Pastor at McLean Bible Church in northern Virginia. "My family and I were ready for an adventure," McCall says. "It's been amazing because everything I've ever done—all the experiences in First Call and in the group Fireworks before that—has culminated in this job. I lead worship, which I'd never done before. I've also been able to teach, something I quickly discovered I really love. It's been such an incredible experience."

Unfortunately, McCall was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. He is tackling the disease with a combination of chemotherapy and mega-supplements, including intravenous vitamin C treatments. And he remains decidedly optimistic.

"My wife has been an amazing partner in this," he says. "It's become a whole lifestyle, but I'm still working and feel great. The Lord has strengthened me to withstand the chemo. I've actually had two surgeries from the cancer, but I've recovered really well. And I'm very hopeful that the Lord is going to heal me completely from the cancer."

Melissa Riddle is a writer, editor, and media consultant who lives in Franklin, Tennessee. Christa A. Banister, a writer who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently released her first book, Around the World in 80 Dates (NavPress).

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