The Band of Brothers Interview & Bio - ChristianMusic.com
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The Band of Brothers

MISSION STATEMENT: To present to people of all ages American folk music with humor, reverence, and respect, weaving spiritual, moral truths, and life's experiences into the songs presented on this album.

"At our early performances, we began to realize that our music was touching our audiences in ways that surprised us. We weren't certain whether anyone wanted to hear the sort of "fusion" music we offered. We have discovered that people of all ages welcome American Music presented with reverence, humor, and respect."

"We are humbled by the welcome our music has received and we thank God for His love and grace."

The Band of Brothers

Meet the Members:

 

Michael Scott Smith - Songwriter & vocals * (Plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, and harmonica).

*Michael Scott Smith was born in Rochester, NY of Irish/German/Dutch ancestry.
* A versatile songwriter who composes ballads in a variety of styles about a variety of subjects: sometimes inspired by the history of early America; sometimes reflect aspects of modern life. Many of his dozens of songs are in The Band Of Brothers concert repertoire.
* Associate's Degree from Genesee Community College. In 1970's worked as an addictions counselor.
* Day job: Since 1989, worked in prisons as an addictions counselor.
* Musical Influences: Many musical styles. Growing up, influenced by folk and rock music of the 1960s.
* Major influences: The Kinks, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan.
* Began playing guitar as teenager, singing in groups and solo gigs.
* 1970s -1980's - performed as a solo performer and with The Cotton Hollow Band throughout upstate NY.
* 1970s and 1980s - was a member of the Golden Link Folk Singing Society, member of their Sounding Board.
* 1980 - Michael was awarded "Announcer Of The Year" for his volunteer work with radio station WGMC.
* 1981 - Met and played with Pete Seeger at Clearwater Hudson River Revival.
* 2004 - Michael shared the stage with singer/songwriter Michael Peter Smith ("The Dutchman" et al) for a songwriter's concert at the Turtle Hill Folk Festival in Mendon, NY.

 

Alan Fox - Songwriter & vocals * (Plays bass, guitar, and mandolin).

* Alan Fox - born in Arcade, NY.
* Alan is known for his delightfully manic stage presence.
* Composes the band's most quiet and reflective songs: "Whisper," "True Friends", and "The Palm Of Your Hand".
* "What I have in my faith is hard-fought - I accepted the Christian faith when I was eighteen."
* Received his first guitar in his middle-teens. Learned to play guitar in college, leading prayer services.
* Choir director, Mrs. Carpenter influenced Alan's passion for music.
* A graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College.
* Day job: Serves the Lord as a Methodist Pastor.
* Music Influenced by Bruce Cockburn and James Taylor. Bruce Cockburn inspires Alan with his off-beat approach.

 

Rev. Dr. Jamie Stevens - Songwriter & vocals * (Plays 5 string banjo, mandolin, and guitar)

*Rev. Dr. Jamie Stevens - born in Hume, NY of Irish ancestry.
* The Band of Brother's musical and spiritual leader.
* Day Job: A Methodist Minister, (who originally earned a B.S. Degree in Animal Science.
at Cornell before going to Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky for my Master’s and Doctoral degrees).
* Composer of "The Mouth Of The Lion" and "Driving Granny Home" and co-composer of "Car Radio".
* Musical style Influenced by "American Folk Music."
* Musical Influences growing up: Peter, Paul & Mary, Doc Watson, Flatt & Scruggs, Bill & Gloria Gaithers, and of course, the John and Charles Wesley hymns.

 

Henry Robin - Songwriter & vocals * (Plays 12-string guitar, and classical guitar).

* Henry Robin - raised along the Hudson River, of Irish ancestry.
* As a songwriter, he is gifted in expressing his core Christian beliefs in such songs as "On God's Shore," "The Thief", "Which Way Are You Going" and "Through My Eyes" on this CD, which touches the heart and inspires the soul.
* Day Job: Works in a prison as a guard.
* Pete Seeger was once a neighbor of Henry's and taught him many songs when Henry was a teenager.
* Performed at many coffeehouses in the down-state NY area before moving his family to Western NY.
* Henry counts among his major influences: Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles.

Bruce Bailey - (Vocals, and guitar)

* Bruce Bailey - born in New Bedford, Massachusetts of Russian ancestry.
* Moved to New Bedford as a teen.
* Self-taught guitarist; inspired by Doc Watson and Dan Creary.
* Musical influences: Jonathan Edwards, Shawn Phillips, and Stephen Stills. He would listen to their records by the hours, playing along with them.
* Musical Style: "My approach to music is eclectic and sprit-filled.
* Bruce was the guitarist for the mother/daughter duo The Two Of Hearts for several years, playing guitar on both of their CD releases and performing with them throughout New York and Pennsylvania.

ChristianMusic.com interview with The Band of Brothers

The Band of Brothers graciously answered some interview questions that Chrsitianmusic.com sent them to reflect upon, concerning their spiritual walk and their music. As they work together in their music, they discussed the questions as a group, before they individually answered these interview questions.

Concerning these questions, Michael Smith, told me, "All of us enjoyed answering them and entering into conversation while we considered our responses. Our weekly rehearsals are always as much a Christian men’s group as a musical evening - and it was fun and interesting having the format of the interview questions."

Did you grow up in a Christian home and / or have a Christian church family, or did the you find the Lord later? What influenced your growth as a Christian?

Rev. Dr. Jamie Stevens shares, "I grew up in a Christian family. My Dad directed the choir and my Mom played organ - she still does! My early enjoyment in music was the junior choir and my parents involvement in music ministry. My mentors were my Mom and Dad, Norb and Wilma Sylor, and of course, my hero was Roy Rogers, the singing cowboy. My spiritual influences came from being raised in the church and taking it seriously - I accepted the Lord at the age of five. I worked at Christian summer camps for six summers and always had a solid core of Christian friends in school - they were a good crew."

Michael Smith comments, " I was raised in a Catholic church-going family, the eldest of 9 children. I attended Catholic grammar school and high school - attending seminary as a high school student. My parents and grandparents were my source of guidance as a child - especially my father's parents. My paternal grandfather had a calm manner about him that always inspired me. . I always loved singing in church - the Latin hymns always seemed so beautiful to me. When I joined the United Methodist Church later in life, I found the Wesleyan hymns to be very meaningful - and useful in my everyday life. My wife has always been supportive of my music - I owe her more than I can ever repay.

Alan Fox shares, "I did not grow up in a Christian home. My father was raised Mennonite, but did not follow it - he would quote the Bible at times. My mother wasn't religious at all. What I have in my faith is hard-fought - I accepted the Christian faith when I was eighteen. My wife's aunt and uncle have been mentors to me - teaching me the meaning of earning to be generous."

Henry Robin reflects, " I was raised in a church-going Lutheran family. My pastor at the time played guitar - that's how I got started - he was a cool guy. Simon & Garfunkel were all the rage at the time - he would play their songs to keep us young ones interested - sometimes using their lyrics within sermons. My parents were my mentors. I was involved in music choirs in college - naturally, a lot of what you sing in those groups is religious music. We used to go around singing in nursing homes, etc. It was a great influence on me.

Bruce Bailey explains, "My father was Jewish and my mother was Christian, but I found the Lord later in life. The Lord put people in front of me and got me on the path. My spiritual influences are Bill Wilson - the founder of AA, and the author Thomas Martin. I began to grow spiritually when I got sober.

Any life-molding experiences the artist would like to share with us, which were pleasant or were difficult, but molded the artist's thinking, music, Christian walk, outlook on life?

Rev. Dr. Jamie Stevens shares, "As far as life-molding experiences, I've gone through some major family health problems and seeing the Lord's hand - that He hadn't abandoned me, that He was there helping me - that feeling of His presence has never left me."

Alan Fox comments, "I believe I am graced with musical talent. I love music and I find a lot of personal expression there. When I was 25, I seriously questioned myself whether I was worshipping God or worshipping playing music - I believed I needed to sort that out in order to go forward. I had to trust God - allow Him to direct me."

Henry Robin reflects, "How was I led by the lord to write and sing songs? I don't know - just dwelling on my blessings and trying to follow His lead. I have many blessings - my children are the main ones. I've kind of centered my whole life around that. I probably got more than I deserve. They never cease to amaze me. Honestly - their actions and behaviors, and interest in religion is much more than I had when I was a child. They are an inspiration to me."

Henry Robin continues, "I work in a prison as a guard - seeing the adversity that some men (inmates) can overcome and still conduct themselves as human beings - I have seen this and it touches me. They're tough guys - they have to be in that environment - but if you see them alone, they can show surprising character. My song "Which Way Are You Going?" was inspired by working with inmates."

Any personal testimony you would like to share to encourage others, what the Lord has done for you?

Michael Smith declares, "I guess it is to never give up - the Lord has a plan for all of us. Be patient and trust in the Lord! As I wrote in my song ’The Patient Man’ - “It’s never to late or too early to walk in the path of God’s love”. I was in my late 40s when I rediscovered my Christian faith - I am so truly thankful for God’s guidance."

Alan Fox reflects, "I have discovered as I have matured, that if my general path is healthy, whatever musical direction I go to is fine to follow. I believe if you are in God’s Will, nothing is wrong. I think it's important to follow musical inclinations because I believe the Holy Spirit is behind most of them - the nature of music is to convey spirit."

Bruce Bailey testifies, "I believe I am alive and playing music by the grace of God."

How do you as individuals describe your music and how do you compose?

Michael Smith describes his music: "My music is based in the folk and rock 'n roll tradition. Of course, I try for original melodies and I have developed certain themes within my lyrics - love of family, tradition, and simple country living chief among them. I love a good moral story and believe song is a great way to accomplish it. For example, in "Big Fight In Canal Town" I used an old family story about a brawl at my grandfather's saloon, and attempted to explore the mindlessness of violence without being "preachy". I also just love to use humor in song.

Michael explains his creative process, "I normally compose by writing the lyrics first - then developing a melody in my head - then composing the music on a guitar. When I write the music first it can be YEARS before I find the proper lyrics! Sometimes songs come rather quickly, with very little rewriting; other times I must work on the lyrics for weeks or months to gain the quality I am after. One song on the CD was a co-composition - “Car Radio” - Jamie told me the story, I thought it would make a good song, I began singing our lyrics to my guitar accompaniment, Jamie added a few extra lyrics, and the following day I completed the lyrics. A week later I had the music completed."

Alan Fox shares, "When I compose, I have a sense of a tune - like a musical aroma - a tune that comes across - some clever phrase or twist that gets it going - and I choose to follow it, see where it goes. As to themes, they are juxtaposed to my personality - although my personality is zany, I often come up with spiritual songs. And it helps to have an artistic pool within our band to push us along."

Henry Robin shares, "I try to write meaningful music. There’s so much fluff and garbage out there masquerading as freedom of speech - but it’s really hatred - mass media loves to push it because it sells. Being around Michael and the other guys in the band has inspired me to write. But it gives me a headache - it’s hard! I do most of my composing in my head. I come up with an idea, then put some words in there, build up the lyrics, then put the rest of the song around what I have. I spend a lot of time thinking about the song - working on it in my head before I work on it with my guitar. For example, in my song.

Rev. Dr. Jamie Stevens - My music is fairly eclectic - I have a lot of things I enjoy listening to - Classical, bluegrass, jazz - but I guess my music is primarily written in bluegrass and blues modes. I usually write the lyrics down with a guitar in my hand. Most of my songs are humorous - I like humor in songs.