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Comedy, songs and a little faith for Mark Lowry concert

BY SUSAN SCAFFIDI Contributing writer | Friday, Jan 13 2012 05:34 PM

Last Updated Monday, Jan 16 2012 12:37 PM

Performer Mark Lowry is one of the superstars of the contemporary Christian music world, but he is much more than that. Lowry is also a storyteller, a songwriter and -- a comedian. He's bringing his unique show to Valley Baptist Church on Friday.

Lowry has been wowing packed houses for decades with his blend of passionate devotion, clever songs and mischievous humor. His musical versions of Bible stories, his personal messages on life and living, humorous anecdotes about his childhood and especially his hilarious ribbing of his mentor, Southern gospel superstar Bill Gaither, have made Lowry a favorite since he first started performing with Gaither's Vocal Band in 1988.

Lowry will be accompanied by Dove Award-winning pianist Stan Whitmire, who came to prominence performing at Billy Graham's crusades, and also with Gaither. Lowry and Whitmire have been touring the U.S., focusing on Lowry's latest recording, "Unplugged and Unplanned," which he will feature at the Bakersfield show.

Lowry is an alumnus of the group that started the careers of many of his famous colleagues, including Whitmire, Sandi Patti, Carman, Amy Grant and Steve Greene, also "discovered" by Gaither. Although he already had considerable performing experience before joining Gaither's Vocal Band, his tenure with that wildly popular group was not only a showcase for his singing, but also for the comedic chemistry between him and Gaither, with Gaither as the hapless straight man to Lowry's wisecracks.

"Put me in (the key of) G-flat," Gaither says to his accompanist.

"Just put him in G, he'll flat it himself," Lowry quips back.

Lowry left Gaither's group in 2001 to embark on a solo career, which has included the comedy, but also a serious singing and songwriting career, featuring original songs to tell Bible stories and personal experiences, such as his rendition of the story of David and Goliath --"That giant's not too big to hit, that giant's too big to miss!" told in a fast-moving patter song.

If you are not a regular consumer of contemporary Christian music (known as CCM) or watch CCM-based television shows, you might not have heard of Lowry. But having just emerged from the Christmas season, you probably heard Lowry's most famous composition, the mega-hit "Mary, Did You Know?"

Lowry wrote the lyrics to that song in 1984 while writing a script for a play. Recognizing he had the basis for a very good song, he searched for a dozen years for someone who could write music for his text. In 1996 he met composer Buddy Green, who took the song on a Friday and called Lowry back at the beginning of the next week, and played the now very familiar melody for Lowry over the phone. The song has been recorded by dozens of artists, with Amy Grant's rendition probably the most popular version.

Lowry's work, however entertaining, is not without controversy. There is a debate among many fundamentalist churches about the value, and even the danger of contemporary Christian music, with critics pointing to people like Lowry, Gaither and others of similar stature. Complaints include the reliance on rock music and jazz styles bringing a secular element to church worship, and what critics call the "generic message" in the texts, rather than following the Bible more faithfully.

Certainly, the style of music has enormous appeal. Lowry's recordings have achieved "gold" and even "platinum" status; he has also won Dove Awards for both his hymn collections and comedy albums. Patti, Grant and others are well established in both the CCM and pop music categories. Gaither's "Homecoming" tours have sold over 1 million tickets worldwide.