My Favourite Music Gigs So Far ~ Part 2 of 2

Here is Part 2 of my musical highlights from my travels around the world.

See Part I here: My Favourite Music Gigs So Far ~ Part 1 of 2

7. Alvin Slaughter Concert ~ Christian Life Assembly, Langley, B.C., Canada

I can remember one awesome June evening at Christian Life Assembly with the church packed with around 1600 people. I conducted the choir and orchestra and our guest soloist, Alvin Slaughter, just rocked the place. Alvin was the former assistant director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and an incredible lead soloist. He is one of the best singers that I have ever worked with. It was one of those very special musical evenings!

8. Christmas Production at Centre Street Church

In 2016 I was blessed to be the Interim Worship Pastor & Music Director (covering a maternity leave) for a huge church (7000) in Calgary, Canada. One of the fun events of that year was conducting and performing in the Centre Street Church’s Christmas Production. I’m the little figure on stage leading a Christmas sing-a-long (and also on the screen).

9. Vivien Hibbert at the International Worship Institute ~ Dallas, Texas

For several years I was the Daytime Music Director for the International Worship Institute in Dallas and one morning I played with Vivien Hibbert. I really did not know what to expect. But God came down in a very tangible way that morning.

Musically speaking, it was very basic. Vivien lead a few worship songs and also played a very mellow large recorder type of instrument. I directed a small band and accompanied her on the keys and flute. But, God came down in such a heavy way that the whole place was kneeling before the Lord in reverence. The presence of God was amazing!

10. Promise Keepers Meetings ~ Vancouver, Canada

One year I was asked to be the Music Director for the Promise Keepers meetings in Vancouver, Canada. We got to put together a great team of some of the top Christian musicians from around the area and we lead worship for thousands of men that whole weekend. I can still picture the men worshipping God with their whole heart. What a great experience and honor!

11. Yoido Full Gospel Church with Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, Sr ~ Seoul, South Korean

One of the first places the ‘Living Sound Asian Team’ got to play at, on our five month Asian tour, was the largest church in the world. We played a number of Sunday morning services at Yoidi Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea and even got to have dinner with Dr. Cho. I think the church was around 70,000 people then and it is now grown to close to a million. I was totally impressed by the passion of those South Korean Christians.

12. Nicky Cruz Meetings ~ Cape Town to Durban, South Africa

Nicky Cruz was a former New York gang leader turned evangelist. He became well-known through the book ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ written by David Wilkerson. Nicky spoke at a number of meetings all over South Africa and our band, Living Sound, was asked to do the music for the meetings. We saw a great response to the message to know Jesus in great outdoor venues all over the country.

13. Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy ~ Honolulu, Hawaii

This was one of the last concerts of our Living Sound’s Asian tour and we could not have asked for a more beautiful setting. We got to do our music on Waikiki Beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Rainbow Towers playing in our shorts and t-shirts. We also got to play at Fort DeRussy just a few blocks down the beach. Both of those venues were some of the most relaxed and beautiful places that I have ever played. A cool experience!

Honorable mentions:

• Producing & Directing the ‘Singing Christmas Tree’ for 4 years – First Assembly (Calgary, AB). (1984-1988) This production was so popular we would pack the church up to 12 times over 2 weekends.
• Producing & Directing the ‘Easter Passion Play’ at Glad Tidings Church (Vancouver, BC), First Assembly (Calgary, AB) and Christian Life Assembly (Langley, BC) (1982-1994). We always had packed houses and doing live theatre and music always makes for great memories.
• Producing & Directing multiple ‘Christmas Productions’ at Christian Life Assembly (Langley, BC) (1988-1994). With an 80 voice choir, 35 voice children’s choir, 32 piece orchestra, great cast, spectacular sets, special effects and live animals: these performances still stand out as a great highlight from those years.
• Taking a music team to Nairobi in 1992 and doing some a great concert at Nairobi Pentecostal Church with thousands on Kenyans dancing and singing with us.
• Doing a music seminar and concert at Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda. My son, Josh joined me on the trip and we had so much fun worshipping and rejoicing with this great group of Ugandans. (1999)
• Speaking in Finland at a worship conference for thousands of Finnish worship leaders and believers. I can still remember sensing the Presence of God as praised God in that huge arena. (2004)
• In 1998 I was the music organizer for the choir and band accompanying Ron Kenoly at a Vancouver evening of worship as part of the Vancouver ‘Canada Arise’.  Glad Tidings Vancouver was packed with over 2000 people and we had a 100 voice choir and great band of some of the top Vancouver players.
• In 1974 I played with Living Sound as we did a Spectacular Finale Tour in major venues all over South Africa as we ended our 6 month concert tour there. One of my favorite evenings was in Cape Town with over 2000 in attendance at the Arts Theatre.
• In 2018 I was blessed to lead worship for a week in Richmond, BC at a Pastor’s National Convention. I was joined by some of my favorite musicians and singers for these powerful evenings of worship.
• In 2016 I was asked to lead at another National Pastors Convention in Calgary, BC. I was joined by some of my favorite Calgary musicians and singers for this fun week of worship.
• In 1986 I was asked to take the 80 voice First Assembly Choir and band to Edmonton to sing at a National Convention for the PAOC. It was so much fun to ‘rock the place’ for with some great soulful choir tunes.
• In 1997 I was asked to arrange the brass and rhythm and play with some of the Hillsong Worship Team in both the Vancouver and Portland Oregon areas. We packed out a number of venues and had some great times of worship.
• In 1983 I was asked to fly to California and play sax and flute for a night of worship with Grammy Award winner, Phil Driscoll. Great crowd, powerful music.
• One of my yearly gigs is with a small piano trio where I play piano at the Calgary Dream Centre Christmas fund raiser. It’s so much fun to play jazz versions of some great Christmas tunes with Glenn (drums) and Doug (bass).
• From 1990 to 1994 I produced multiple Canada Day Celebrations for thousands of attendees at Christian Life Assembly in Langley, BC. One of my favorite memories is directing a big band with a fun version of  the ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ theme followed by a huge outdoor fireworks display across the street at the Langley Airport.
• In 1978 I put a band together in the country of Taiwan and we did a 2 week tour sponsored by a radio station. I remember getting great crowds all over the country as we shared our music and love for Jesus. (Blog on this trip: Best Summer Job Ever)

Question: Have you been to any of these places? What have been your best place to play at or visit?

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