About the songwriter, poet & artist

WHERE GOD LEADS

Looking back I now seemy song writing as a journey God paved for me. I was born with music and lyrics running through my veins. It wasn’t until I was attending St John’s College, Hamilton, that I first came to put the concept to the test when a musical colleague, Noel O’Donnell and I entered a diocesan talent quest held at the Embassy Theatre in 1967 and won. We went on to make the finals at the Auckland Summer Show Talent Quest and had the song “Peace For My Mind” played on Radio Hauraki. Despite not playing a musical instrument, I found other musicians who took a liking to the songs I wrote and would team up to play them.

After making new friends at Hamilton Teacher’s College we formed a folk group and entered talent quests singing many of the songs I wrote. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Geraldine, that through her encouragement I learned to play guitar. A break came when Radio Waikato announced a “Write Lyrics For Elton John” competition. Elton was touring New Zealand at the time and was asked to judge the top six submissions. Mine was one of them. He chose mine and although I didn’t know who Elton John was at the time I was given tickets to his concert in Auckland, a portable tape recorder and his “Yellow Brick Road” double album, which I thrashed.

This encouraged me to write more, despite having no real outlet for what I was writing. Deep down I desired to write songs of worship and praise but didn’t know how. I wrote a couple of songs which referred to Christ, one being “Looking For The Promised Land”, which eventually went on to become one of my most streamed songs, once the age of digital recording  presented itself 20 years later.

I moved from Hamilton to Taupo in 1987 to teach physical education at Tauhara College. Although I was there for only three years, Taupo became my Antioch. Geraldine and I were involved in the Renew programme before leaving Hamilton and wanted to continue involvement with prayer groups, but having a new baby restricted us from going out in the evenings. We began a combined Catholic and Anglican prayer group in our home and were blessed by those who attended, including two wonderful nuns, sister Lynn and sister Beverly who looked after our youngest two once a month to give Geraldine a break.

It was during one of these prayer meetings that Geraldine’s minister suggested we run a “Life in the Spirit” course. Towards the end each member was prayed over requesting the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I had never seen people slain in the Spirit before and when I saw my very pragmatic wife fall backwards while being prayed over I realised something very powerful was happening. I asked for prayer and while I was not slain in the Spirit, both Geraldine and my lives were changed as were those of others attending. Two went on to become ministers in the Anglican church. Geraldine became a much-wanted vocalist for praise and worship singing within both Catholic and Anglican groups and I began writing songs of praise and worship.

It wasn’t until I took a new position at what was then Waiariki Polytechnic School of Nursing and Health Studies in Rotorua, that things started coming together. Once again we started a combined home prayer group that included a number of devout Catholics including Jack and Anna Ponting. I had seen an advertisement for a Catholic Men’s weekend conference in Auckland and asked Jack if he wanted to join me in going. We attended and enjoyed the experience of the Joshua Men’s Fellowship so much that we decided to set up our own branch of the fellowship in the crypt of St Michael’s church in Rotorua.  Beginning with a small number of locals, meeting once a month, the word quickly spread as up to thirty men began attending regularly. They came from Tauranga, Whakatane, Taupo, Putaruru, Te Aroha and Hamilton. Initially I led the praise and worship and within a year had formed a band made up of David Jones (pianist), Phil Redmore (lead guitarist) and Francis Karl(bass). 

Looking back I now see it as a journey God paved for me. I was born with music and lyrics running through my veins. It wasn’t until I was attending St John’s College, Hamilton, that I first came to put the concept to the test when a musical colleague, Noel O’Donnell and I entered a diocesan talent quest held at the Embassy Theatre in 1967 and won. We went on to make the finals at the Auckland Summer Show Talent Quest and had the song “Peace For My Mind” played on Radio Hauraki. Despite not playing a musical instrument, I found other musicians who took a liking to the songs I wrote and would team up to play them.

After making new friends at Hamilton Teacher’s College we formed a folk group and entered talent quests singing many of the songs I wrote. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Geraldine, that through her encouragement I learned to play guitar. A break came when Radio Waikato announced a “Write Lyrics For Elton John” competition. Elton was touring New Zealand at the time and was asked to judge the top six submissions. Mine was one of them. He chose mine and although I didn’t know who Elton John was at the time I was given tickets to his concert in Auckland, a portable tape recorder and his “Yellow Brick Road” double album, which I thrashed.

This encouraged me to write more, despite having no real outlet for what I was writing. Deep down I desired to write songs of worship and praise but didn’t know how. I wrote a couple of songs which referred to Christ, one being “Looking For The Promised Land”, which eventually went on to become one of my most streamed songs, once the age of digital recording  presented itself 20 years later.

I moved from Hamilton to Taupo in 1987 to teach physical education at Tauhara College. Although I was there for only three years, Taupo became my Antioch. Geraldine and I were involved in the Renew programme before leaving Hamilton and wanted to continue involvement with prayer groups, but having a new baby restricted us from going out in the evenings. We began a combined Catholic and Anglican prayer group in our home and were blessed by those who attended, including two wonderful nuns, sister Lynn and sister Beverly who looked after our youngest two once a month to give Geraldine a break.

It was during one of these prayer meetings that Geraldine’s minister suggested we run a “Life in the Spirit” course. Towards the end each member was prayed over requesting the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I had never seen people slain in the Spirit before and when I saw my very pragmatic wife fall backwards while being prayed over I realised something very powerful was happening. I asked for prayer and while I was not slain in the Spirit, both Geraldine and my lives were changed as were those of others attending. Two went on to become ministers in the Anglican church. Geraldine became a much-wanted vocalist for praise and worship singing within both Catholic and Anglican groups and I began writing songs of praise and worship.

It wasn’t until I took a new position at what was then Waiariki Polytechnic School of Nursing and Health Studies in Rotorua, that things started coming together. Once again we started a combined home prayer group that included a number of devout Catholics including Jack and Anna Ponting. I had seen an advertisement for a Catholic Men’s weekend conference in Auckland and asked Jack if he wanted to join me in going. We attended and enjoyed the experience of the Joshua Men’s Fellowship so much that we decided to set up our own branch of the fellowship in the crypt of St Michael’s church in Rotorua.  Beginning with a small number of locals, meeting once a month, the word quickly spread as up to thirty men began attending regularly. They came from Tauranga, Whakatane, Taupo, Putaruru, Te Aroha and Hamilton. Initially I led the praise and worship and within a year had formed a band made up of David Jones (pianist), Phil Redmore (lead guitarist) and Francis Karl(bass). 

Later two methodist men; Graham Parkinson (rhythm guitar), who later converted to the Catholic faith and Brian Worthington (keyboard) also joined with us.  The following year I was approached by the Joshua Auckland branch leader Maurice Schicker who asked whether the band would like to lead the praise and worship for the next National Joshua Catholic Men’s gathering at Willow Park Christian Centre, Buckland Beach. I needed a drummer  and 

Looking back I now see it as a journey God paved for me. I was born with music and lyrics running through my veins. It wasn’t until I was attending St John’s College, Hamilton, that I first came to put the concept to the test when a musical colleague, Noel O’Donnell and I entered a diocesan talent quest held at the Embassy Theatre in 1967 and won. We went on to make the finals at the Auckland Summer Show Talent Quest and had the song “Peace For My Mind” played on Radio Hauraki. Despite not playing a musical instrument, I found other musicians who took a liking to the songs I wrote and would team up to play them.

After making new friends at Hamilton Teacher’s College we formed a folk group and entered talent quests singing many of the songs I wrote. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Geraldine, that through her encouragement I learned to play guitar. A break came when Radio Waikato announced a “Write Lyrics For Elton John” competition. Elton was touring New Zealand at the time and was asked to judge the top six submissions. Mine was one of them. He chose mine and although I didn’t know who Elton John was at the time I was given tickets to his concert in Auckland, a portable tape recorder and his “Yellow Brick Road” double album, which I thrashed.

This encouraged me to write more, despite having no real outlet for what I was writing. Deep down I desired to write songs of worship and praise but didn’t know how. I wrote a couple of songs which referred to Christ, one being “Looking For The Promised Land”, which eventually went on to become one of my most streamed songs, once the age of digital recording  presented itself 20 years later.

I moved from Hamilton to Taupo in 1987 to teach physical education at Tauhara College. Although I was there for only three years, Taupo became my Antioch. Geraldine and I were involved in the Renew programme before leaving Hamilton and wanted to continue involvement with prayer groups, but having a new baby restricted us from going out in the evenings. We began a combined Catholic and Anglican prayer group in our home and were blessed by those who attended, including two wonderful nuns, sister Lynn and sister Beverly who looked after our youngest two once a month to give Geraldine a break.

It was during one of these prayer meetings that Geraldine’s minister suggested we run a “Life in the Spirit” course. Towards the end each member was prayed over requesting the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I had never seen people slain in the Spirit before and when I saw my very pragmatic wife fall backwards while being prayed over I realised something very powerful was happening. I asked for prayer and while I was not slain in the Spirit, both Geraldine and my lives were changed as were those of others attending. Two went on to become ministers in the Anglican church. Geraldine became a much-wanted vocalist for praise and worship singing within both Catholic and Anglican groups and I began writing songs of praise and worship.

It wasn’t until I took a new position at what was then Waiariki Polytechnic School of Nursing and Health Studies in Rotorua, that things started coming together. Once again we started a combined home prayer group that included a number of devout Catholics including Jack and Anna Ponting. I had seen an advertisement for a Catholic Men’s weekend conference in Auckland and asked Jack if he wanted to join me in going. We attended and enjoyed the experience of the Joshua Men’s Fellowship so much that we decided to set up our own branch of the fellowship in the crypt of St Michael’s church in Rotorua.  Beginning with a small number of locals, meeting once a month, the word quickly spread as up to thirty men began attending regularly. They came from Tauranga, Whakatane, Taupo, Putaruru, Te Aroha and Hamilton. Initially I led the praise and worship and within a year had formed a band made up of David Jones (pianist), Phil Redmore (lead guitarist) and Francis Karl(bass). 

Later two methodist men; Graham Parkinson (rhythm guitar), who later converted to the Catholic faith and Brian Worthington (keyboard) also joined with us.  The following year I was approached by the Joshua Auckland branch leader Maurice Schicker who asked whether the band would like to lead the praise and worship for the next National Joshua Catholic Men’s gathering at Willow Park Christian Centre, Buckland Beach. I needed a drummer  and having met Bill Meehan at the National Charismatic Conference in Cambridge in 1991, contacted him. He agreed and we continued playing annually at Willow Park and on three occasions at the Keswick Christian Centre in Rotorua. At times we were short of a piano/keyboard player or a bass player. Bill introduced me to two Hamilton Catholic musicians Mike Conroy and Tony Frogley, who proved their worth to be greater than gold. All live presentations, including praise and worship, were recorded reel to reel by Warkworth recording technician and engineer Peter Cornwall. These recording proved to be of great significance in later years through the advancement of technology and the internet, eventually going world-wide through Spotify and other music platforms through the Joshua Band’s “Emmaus Road” album. 

After ten years at the polytechnic, where I initiated a course in Sport and Fitness Management, I left to return to secondary teaching at John Paul College. At the same time Geraldine and I led praise and worship once a month at St Mary of the Cross McKillop’s 5.00 p.m. Mass. It was following one of these Masses that the principal of John Paul College, Patrick Walsh, approached us and asked if we would like to lead a weekly praise session at the College hostel. We agreed and for three years enjoyed the association with the students and hostel management, including Patrick and Pauline Walsh, until the hostel was eventually closed. Towards the end of that time Patrick approached me again and asked if I might like to establish a campus youth group. Approval was given by the Board of Trustees and I set about forming a monthly meeting with interested students at the church following the 5.00 p.m. Mass. As Geraldine and I were leading the songs for Mass I asked pupils from the school to play and sing alongside us. The Masses became the monthly student College Mass. 

A good number of students demonstrated high levels of musical ability both vocally and in playing instruments. I asked whether they would like to studio record an album of songs I would write for them. They agreed and we set about recording for many hours during holiday breaks in what was then Tui Studio in Rotorua. It was 2006 when we first started recording and all with the exception of one , they were finishing school at the end of the year. We managed 5 songs and in 2007 had enough pupils make themselves available for the album of 10 songs to be completed. To fund the project I approached Bishop Denis Browne for a loan from the Diocese. Although reluctant at first he agreed providing I paid it back. It was during the second stage of recording when I heard about the World Youth Day proposed for 2008 in Sydney, Australia. I applied to the organisers in Rome to ask whether the youth band (Metanoia) could present their songs at the Youth Day and was sent an application form. The band was selected from out of six hundred applicants of which twenty were required.

I became busy with members of the band (eleven in total) selling CDs so we could pay back the Bishop and help fund band members to Sydney. We achieved the goal and in the end had three singers Peter Kim and Ashleigh Areli (nee Jensen) and Angela Jensen available to present the songs using a backing CD. 

I didn’t travel to World Youth Day as I had started a new position as a Healthy Lifestyles Coach with a local Primary Health Organisation. Owen Kowelewski and Maree Stuart did the honours in looking after the group as they took other students from John Paul College with them. 

Time passed as record and video shops closed and recording studios disappeared. The digital age had come and the music industry took a new turn. God’s timing is amazing and I decided to make the most of it in promoting His Word through music. I had submitted songs I was writing to the Christian Parachute organisers and attended one of their song-writer’s conventions in Auckland. It was through them that I became aware of the digital songs distribution organisation DRM.  I contacted their managing director and explained that I was a Christian song-writer and whether there might be audiences around the world who might be interested in such songs. His response was quite positive and encouraging. Many of the songs that had been recorded reel to reel were now on disc as were the songs recorded by the youth band. I transferred these to digital sounds and distributed them through DRM. Because I was still writing quite prolifically, I took the next step to set up a home studio. The learning curve was most challenging and after one year of reading over one thousand pages of references, downloading, experimenting and trialling songs many times over I decided to make a new album. Unfortunately, latency between tracks became an issue and the album sank like a lead balloon. I learned from this and set about writing and recording again.

Reports from DRM gradually rose showing the number of streams made in various countries were increasing. An average payment less than one cent per stream does not make song writing profitable however, unless you tour and have an established name. I delight in reading which countries stream the music the most and was surprised following the last Christmas break to find one of the songs I had submitted at the start of December “Before You Lord” recorded 600 streams from 25 countries. The most streams in one month however, came recently from Iraq. Most come from the U.S.A with India and other Asian countries taking it in turn for second place. 

Marketing music is a lottery and getting onto essential playlists is costly. I leave it to the Lord to take the songs to the hearts and lives He desires. The most recent album “No Greater Love” is a collection of prayer songs from when I first began writing Christian music “In The Stillness of my Soul” up to the present day “Just You and Me”. It is the gift given for me to share.