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In the ever-changing music world, Phil Keaggy and Steve Green look past image to integrity

by Melissa Riddle

What bothers you about your image?" I asked two legends of Christian music, Phil Keaggy and Steve Green. Without missing a beat, Keaggy began, "I'm short. I've got nine fingers. I'm going bald. I've got wrinkles. I'm going gray … "
"That's the reality, not the image, right Phil?" Steve Green laughingly interjects.

"Ohhhh." Keaggy finally gets it. "The image."

In Christian music, like elsewhere in the world, hitting the big time counts. Every year, on average, 500 demos of Christian music wannabes will arrive at a major record company; of these, 50 will warrant a serious listening, according to a record company insider. One talented musician will be offered a contract, though there is no guarantee of survival. Longevity is rare. Keaggy and Green are both rare ones.

Both have recorded eighteen albums each, captured numerous Dove awards (seven for Green, five for Keaggy), and received Grammy nominations (four for Green, two for Keaggy). Green's solo voice has produced sixteen #1 Christian radio singles; Keaggy's guitar skills receive accolades from the biggest names in secular rock 'n' roll.

The most remarkable thing on their long list of accomplishments? They're still a couple of regular guys who know what they're about.

Green, 40, the missionary kid who first learned music in Argentina as part of the family's ministry, and Keaggy, 45, the northeastern-Ohio native with roots in rock 'n' roll bands, have effectively dealt with the dangers of image.

Neither claims great charisma; their performances don't rely on glitz.

Dangers of being Green

Growing up in South America, Green and his two brothers (who also played instruments and sang) would often attract a crowd with their musical talents before Dad would take over with the preaching. At 18, he came to the United States to begin a pre-law major at Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, Arizona. In his sophomore year, he switched to music. Soon after, when the Christian group Truth came to town, the opportunity for full-time music ministry opened without Green even thinking of the possibility. While with Truth, he met his wife, Marijean.

After two years on the road, the couple decided to go back to a "normal" lifestyle-teaching for Marijean and more college for Steve-until the call came from Bill Gaither's office. Would the two of them consider being backup singers for The Gaither Vocal Band? Another two years of touring went by, and baby Summer arrived. Green continued singing backup with the group for three more years, eventually becoming a regular member. In 1983, with the Gaithers' support, he left to sing on his own.

To this day, Marijean remembers something Steve's father said.

"Once during a family gathering, he was telling his sons how he would specifically pray for each of them. 'All three of you are in dangerous professions. Randy [who at the time was a sheriff in Los Angeles], you're always around physical danger. I pray for you in that area. David [a banker], you're working around money all the time. I pray that you won't be tempted by riches. And Steve, you're in the public eye. When people are clapping for you and telling you how great you are, you'll be tempted [by pride]. I'll pray for you."

Out of a rocky world

Keaggy first picked up a plastic guitar when he was four years old. As a youngster, when an old backyard water pump's base caved in, Keaggy severed a middle finger. But that didn't stop him from learning to play a $19 Sears Silvertone when he was ten. Growing up in a home filled with musical tastes as diverse as Debussy, Ravel, and Montovani on the classical side to Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers on the rock 'n' roll side, his musical prowess developed in high school and picked up speed with the rock group, Glass Harp. By the spring of 1972, they had pressed their third album for Decca Records and had been regularly opening for such rock groups as Chicago, Yes, Humble Pie, Traffic, and Iron Butterfly. But more significant things were happening.

When his mother was tragically killed in a car crash in 1970, Keaggy's sister Ellen talked to him about the peace only God can give. Keaggy didn't hesitate; he trusted Christ as Lord and Savior.

"When I did that," says Phil, "everything changed-including my music." In those first years of faith, he performed original songs with Christian lyrics alongside the high-energy rockin' stuff. He also met Bernadette, whom he introduced to Jesus and married in 1973. With the three-record contract fulfilled with Decca, it was time for a clean break from secular rock. Hitting the contemporary Christian music scene in its budding years, Keaggy was a regular on the college, church, and youth rally circuit.

Looking back after more than two-and-a-half decades of artistry, Keaggy confesses, "I've been a professional entertainer, trying to show people the best side of me-my whole life has been spent like that. But eventually, most Christian musicians do come to grips with what real honesty is about. The industry itself may be an image-maker, but if you're honest, you know your calling before the lights are turned on and after they've burned out, you still should know that your purpose is to serve God."

Survival tactics

It's evident Green and Keaggy have a clear view of the bigger picture. Maybe it's due to the years of experience, perhaps spiritual depth. Both are comfortable in their own skins. They know that their actions and choices-fame or no fame-are important. Integrity requires accountability.

"Accountability to me is unnatural," Green says, "because my tendency is to only let you know enough about me to give you a good impression. I am a recovering hypocrite."

"That's everyone's story," agrees Keaggy. "Steve's just got the courage to say it."

Green continues. "To survive and flourish, I need to live an examined life. I need other people to look at me. It's often embarrassing. I mean, I'm 'Steve Green.' But really, I'm nothing except by the grace of God."

Green has formed an accountability group of sorts with Michael Card, another of the veterans of contemporary Christian music. Within this "Covenant Community of Artists," the men agree to be open enough to ask anything of each other and to pray for each other consistently. They carry beepers using codes that signal a need for prayer or maybe a personal phone call offering advice or encouragement.

"In the context of Christian brotherhood," Green explains, "there's great encouragement when we know each other, of being able to call up Michael Card and say, 'Michael, I want to confess something to you,' and hearing Jesus speak through him forgiveness, blessing, and affirmation. It's what the body is supposed to be about."

"That was what the body was about long before contemporary Christian music became popular," says Keaggy. "There was a trust between a pastor or priest with his parishioners. There was confession. Each of us longs for the slate to be clean, because when our conscience is clean, we live a better life. That's the way it was designed to be."

Both musicians still enjoy what they do. And both are surprised that after all these years, people show up at their concerts.

"I'm amazed at that," laughs Keaggy, but Green is more reflective. "It isn't necessarily about me; I think God brings them-and he brings them for a purpose. The purpose is why he's given me this to do-to tell them the truth in love and be God's expression through music. This is my job in the body of Christ."

Keaggy cares that his listeners care. "When I'm out there [on stage] I want to remember that every person is important. That's why I try and meet people. People are more important than any schedule I might have except for that flight home."

Family focused

Both artists traveled with their families early in their careers and are convinced that the time together was essential to the strong family life they have now.

Bernadette Keaggy remembers those early days on the road. "We didn't travel luxuriously. We thought it was great to end up at Motel 6. But we enjoyed being together. It would give Phil more security on the road if we were with him.

"Later, when Phil started doing longer tours and I stayed home with the kids, it would take us both some time to integrate back to being together, to Phil being the father and husband. Living with a musician is not a normal lifestyle."

Whether they're home or on the road, both Green and Keaggy consult their wives on every decision. Keaggy's conversation is peppered with Bernadette this and Bernadette that, noting that she's the "human I'm joined to 24 hours a day." Green credits Marijean's faithfulness and grace for making his ministry possible.

Like Bernadette, Marijean remembers the early years of living out of suitcases as she traveled with her budding young artist-husband. But she appreciates that Steve keeps her informed on everything. "I've never felt like an outsider on anything Steve is doing."

Marijean also looks to her husband as a fine example to emulate. "He has influenced me to really walk with the Lord and be humble before him."

As more and more new Christian artists, some with wives and families, begin their careers, Bernadette invites them to "Surrogate Sisters," a once-a-month meeting in the Nashville area for wives of artists who travel. "I have a heart for women [in this business] because it can be a struggle to survive in the midst of so much pressure. So many marriages get laid by the wayside." Her and Phil's own personal struggles are recounted in her book, A Deeper Shade of Grace, telling the story of the loss of five children by miscarriage and premature birth.

"God puts people together in marriages," she says. "He put me here to be a loving balance and enhancement to Phil's life and he to mine. Phil takes his music very seriously whether he's playing for 30 people or 3,000. Even today, when I hear him play, he still amazes me. I appreciate the fact he's always striving to be more creative."

The musical excellence both Green and Keaggy have achieved will make their names long be remembered in the Christian music world. Green's songs introduced many Christians to a deeper faith and some, like "People Need the Lord," "He Holds the Keys," and "Household of Faith," have found their way into church worship. Keaggy's masterful songwriting and guitar-playing has opened hearts to the gospel message. To watch them sing and play, offering their gifts back to the One who gave them, is only part of what makes them truly great. The larger part is found in Philippians 2 where the apostle Paul describes the humility of Christ.

I heard it once said that "All of us, whether we're famous or not, need to learn how to deflect praise, because all praise goes to him. Somebody said there are only two roles to play in life, one of them is to humble ourselves, the other is to be exalted. One of them is your role, one of them is God's role. Your role is to humble yourself, his role is to exalt you. If you insist on doing his role, he'll insist on doing yours." [Don Finto].

Phil Keaggy, father of three, is tooling around town in a rusting 1974 pea-green Mercedes, a regular guy, doing regular stuff, hoping his teenage daughter doesn't wreck the car.

Steve Green, father of two, is building rocket engines for the neighborhood kids, cutting the grass and weed-eating, hoping his teenage daughter doesn't wreck the car.

Some weekend soon, they may be hitting the stage or the church sanctuary in your neighborhood and be the Steve Green and the Phil Keaggy.

God's got his role, and they've got theirs.

A Christian Reader original article.

Copyright © 1996 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
Click here for reprint information.

Last updated: September 10, 1996

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