Gospel music concert planned at Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church

J.D. Miller knows Gospel Music and Gospel Music fans across America and in many other parts of the world certainly know and love J.D. Miller. San Gorgonio Pass Area residents will get a chance to see and hear this inspirational singer, songwriter and Christian evangelist in person on Saturday, March 9 when Miller will perform a free concert at 6 p.m. at Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church, 10257 Beaumont Ave. in Cherry Valley.

In making the announcement of this special concert, Pastor Roy Polman of Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church said that Miller brings a message of “faith, hope and love and Jesus Christ.”

"Prepare to be seriously blessed,” noted Pastor Polman.

Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church has been a San Gorgonio Pass Area and Cherry Valley landmark since it was founded in 1950, on the corner of Beaumont Avenue and Vineland Street (just north of the Cherry Valley Grange) in Cherry Valley. The church also features a growing pre-school and school, which currently offers kindergarten and first grade classes but will be expanding to include second grade in the fall of 2013.

The chapel provides an excellent venue for a concert, and the J.D. Miller performance should be a special one for the entire family.

In an interview with Daniel J. Mount, of Southern Gospel Music, Miller spoke of his passion for his music and the message of Christian faith it delivers, while recalling some of his achievements, including a longtime relationship with the legendary Gaithers, for whom he has written music and with whom he performed on the road for five years.

“My primary recognition in Gospel Music circles is only through my association with the Gaithers. Prior to writing with them I wrote and produced jingles for Corporate clients such as ”Nationwide Insurance, McDonald’s, KFC, American Airlines, Valvoline, Humana, Hyatt Regency, and many more. I did that for 22 years,” said Miller.

He also had songs recorded by country artists Kenny Rogers, and J P Pennington, and co-wrote with over 60 other artists. He recalls when Jim Hill (of Stamps Quartet and Golden Keys fame) took a cassette of some of his Christian song demos to Bill Gaither and “made him ride in his car out through the Indiana back woods until he had listened to the entire cassette.”

Gaither called Miller soon after that and invited him to write with him and Gloria Gaither. After they had written several songs together, Gaither invited Miller to travel with the Gaither trio and before he knew it he was helping the Gaither family with product sales while playing  keyboard with the family as it performed and recorded.

“I have been an admirer of Bill and Gloria and their contribution to the church through their creative writing and productions since I was a young man playing for church for my Dad, who has been preaching now for over 55 years,” said Miller.

Among the number of songs Miller wrote with the Gaithers, two of the most enduring classics he helped write, that are still being played and sung are “I Just Can’t Make it By Myself” and “I’ll Worship Only at the Feet of Jesus.”

“Each song I co-wrote with the Gaithers were ideas they initiated,” recalled Miller. “Sometimes Bill would show me a beautiful lyric that Gloria had written that didn’t resonate with him musically. He would ask me to show him how I might treat the lyric with a melody. Then he would contribute his directions and very quickly we would record a piano version of the melody line with chords. Then Bill would send those rough demos to some of the most successful producers in the industry and get them recorded. I was always amazed to hear the final releases.”

“Peace Be Still” is a great example of how things would begin, notes Miller.

“The Gaithers had taken a tour of the Holy Land with some of their GM friends, singing at each famous spot on the tour. When they got to the Sea of Galilee, they found it difficult to come up with a song that was appropriate for that place and experience. It reflects the peacefulness of the Sea, the reminder that God was in control even through the storm. Bill wanted to capture that feeling in a song. So when they returned, Bill invited me to contribute music to the words, “Peace, Be Still.” Gloria added her beautiful lyrics after she heard the melody we created. It is still one of my favorite memories of writing with Bill.”

Miller has co-written or written dozens of songs that continue to be performed by many, especially in the Gospel Music community.

He recalls that Steve Green recorded “Let Us Praise The Almighty.” The Stone Brothers recorded “They Sing Glory” (with a little help of a bridge Lari Goss added after the original song was written). Scott Fowler and the Johnson Family Quartet both recorded “Yesterday’s Preacher,” a song I wrote about memories of my Dad preaching when I was just a kid. Wade Hammond recorded “He Whispered” and “A Soldier Volunteers”, all songs that I wrote alone. Others are out there but these come to mind.

After leaving the Gaithers, he has continued to produce recordings for Christian artists such as Gordon Jensen, Larry Orrell, Jerry Trammell, Roy Tremble and others.

”Like Bill, I have a deep respect for those Gospel artists that contributed to the recognition of quality Christian music, and want to do all I can to support and encourage them. I take at least two “mission trips” each year, taking Christian performers to places like China, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras, India, Jamaica and Mexico. I also have served full-time or part time as music director for local churches here in Kentucky.”

Somewhere in his calendar, he finds times, between productions, to write, take trips, spend time with his children and grandchildren and perform at small churches, such as Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church, where he can minister and spread the Christian message on a local level.

“I stay quite busy! I am blessed to be so active,” he says.

The free concert will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Cherry Valley Grace Brethren Church, 10257 Beaumont Ave. (at Vineland Street) in Cherry Valley. No tickets are needed, but Pastor Polman suggests that folks and their families come early in order to get a seat. There is no charge to attend the concert, but there will be a free will offering during the concert.