On Saturday, July 19, Phil Keaggy will be featured in the next installment of An Evening at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.
The popular year-round concert series features well-known artists who are passionate about the Gospel. Concerts include a gourmet dinner and are held at the peaceful, mountainous Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.
Click here for tickets.
One of the most respected guitarists in the United States, Phil Keaggy, will once again delight a Cove audience with his music. Keaggy’s career spans more than 30 years and includes more than 50 vocal and instrumental albums and numerous GMA Dove awards. Keaggy says he has a calling to deliver the Gospel through music.
With his event coming up fast, we asked BGEA Facebook and Twitter followers what they would like to know about the prolific guitarist.
Below are five questions for Phil and his answers.
Q: What do you believe is the most important thing a guitarist should know about music? (from Randall)
A: That other musical instruments can inspire guitarists – don’t just listen to guitar players.
Q: Is there a story behind the album The Wind and The Wheat or any individual songs on it? “March of the Clouds” is one of my favorite songs. (from Pete)
A: That song and the title songs are my two favorite songs on the album. “March of the Clouds” was originally composed in the basement of my Kansas City home in 1980. I always knew that something would come of it. When I recorded it in 1985, I kept pretty true to the arrangement. It’s one of the more spiritual instrumentals that I have ever composed.
Q: When one is as gifted as you are, the fame could go to your head so easily. How do you keep your head and give all the glory to God? (from Alana)
A: We have to trust the Lord each day—I do, and as a family we do. Music provides an opportunity for me to play and do concerts, but I have to depend on the Lord because He is ultimately our provider each and every day. Fame is an illusion; without the breath that God gives us, we have no life anyway. If we are honest with ourselves, we depend on God so there’s not a whole lot of room to get puffed up.
Q: Would you mind sharing one trial or tribulation you have been given during your journey with Christ? (from Manasa)
A: In (my wife) Bernadette’s book, A Deeper Shade of Grace, she talks about our early struggles with marriage and losing babies. That was probably the biggest trial we went through. Also, I had a health scare a few years ago, and no matter how much career success you have, if you’re not healthy, you don’t have anything.
Q: What’s your favorite song to play to the Lord when it’s just you and Him? (from SaraJane)
A: It depends on the day. I don’t have one thing that I play. Just whatever comes to me I play.
Click here to learn more about Phil Keaggy’s upcoming concert, as well as additional performances at The Cove featuring Mark Schultz, Rend Collective, Fernando Ortega, Point of Grace and others.
