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Dear Heart of the City Friends,
This Friday night, October 20th at 7 PM, we're bringing back one of my favorite singer/songwriter/guitarists to the Music Factory - Bob Bennett! We had him here for the first time about a year ago, and I'd put his concert as one of my top 5 concerts here at the Music Factory so far.
I've been a real fan of Bob's for many years. His songwriting is always creative - musically and lyrically - and he has such an honest vulnerability in his lyrics as he talks about life, failures, fears and struggles - in light of God.
Years ago, I booked Bob at Church of the Open Door when I was working there. At that time, he'd recently gone through a divorce and instead of sort of hiding in shame and failure, he put out an album entitled "Songs from Bright Avenue" with a collection of songs reflecting the pain of divorce and what his life and faith was like at that time. On that project, he has a moving song entitled, "There's No Such Thing As Divorce" - which was for his kids - saying that there is no such thing as a divorce between parents and their children. Also, on that project, he has a song that I thought was particularly honest and vulnerable and that I could relate to entitled "Singing for My Life" where he talks about how doesn't know sometimes if he's doing a favor for the audience who listens to his songs or for himself when he performs. I was so moved by that honest concert, that after the concert, I had to quickly go to a dark back room at the school where we met and just sob my eyes out for a while! I've never been so moved in that way by an artist before or since! Of course, all of his songs aren't heartbreaking and sad, but it's just an example of his ability to really craft exceptional songs.
Bob is another one of these classic Contemporary Christian artists that we've been honored to host that has been out there for years. Back in 1985, he was actually voted as the number one songwriter in Christian music! Michael Card wrote, "Bob Bennett is one of the most gifted songwriters any of us know about. He is able to listen to the parable of his own life and share with us what he hears the Lord is saying to him and to us all."
He’s recorded eleven critically acclaimed solo albums and artists such as Glen Campbell have recorded his songs. He’s worked in concert with Amy Grant, David Wilcox, Pierce Pettis, Barry McGuire, Phil Keaggy, Bruce Carroll, Randy Stonehill and Steve Bell.
To me, Bob is also one of the best Christian acoustic guitar players out there. Of course, Phil Keaggy has made his mark as sort of the grand master guitarist of Christian music. But in my mind, Bob is one of the next guitarists in line! He's not so much a solo guitarist like Phil Keaggy, but in his fingerstyle picking, he embelishes almost every phrase of every song in the most creative and pristine ways.
ALL THAT TO SAY, we still have tickets for Bob Bennett available for this Friday night, Oct. 20th at 7 PM and I'd hate for you to miss out on experiencing an intimate concert with this great artist! Tickets are $35.00 in advance and $40.00 at the door. Click the link below to order - and invite a friend!
God bless!
Dan Adler
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